Apple today announced that it has officially launched its Self Service Repair program, letting United States customers repair their iPhones from their homes. To do the repairs, Apple is offering a $49 rental kit that consists of all the tools needed to repair an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 lineup model and the third-generation iPhone SE, and possibly unexpectedly, the kit is rather large.
On its Self Service Repair website, Apple says that the rental kits include two cases, one weighing 43 pounds and the other weighing 36 pounds. Stacked on top of each other, the cases will measure 20 inches in width and 47 inches in height. Thankfully, both cases include wheels for easy transportation.
On the website, Apple details what comes inside of each case, including a battery and display press, protective covers, and screwdrivers. For repairs of the third-generation iPhone SE, customers will only receive one case with tools designed specifically for the smaller iPhone.
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Apple is planning a series of "major design" and "format changes" for iPhones over the next few years, according to The Wall Street Journal's Aaron Tilley and Yang Jie.
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I said this before many many many times. When you go to the random dude down the local shop and get a "repair", he's not using proper tools or parts. Same as the guys on YT baking the glass and replacing it and showing you this shiny looking frankenphone which looks like the original but retains none of the quality or mechanical and resistive strength of the original.
When I worked in the defence sector years ago there were all sorts of jigs and things to make sure that gaskets were correctly fitted so the IP ratings of the devices could be maintained. This is the sort of stuff you need to use to actually correctly assemble stuff.
I'm glad they're being realistic about it and revealing exactly what is involved.
The local repairer here, my sister-in-law was sent to, didn't even know what a display calibration was when he replaced her display...
Apple hardware devs: Let's make our products so difficult to repair that the customer needs to rent a specific kit from us to even get in them. We can make even more money that way Tim: make it so.
I worked on a product that was designed to be field repaired. It was only 11Kg and man luggable.
The repair kit was shipped in via Hercules transport plane on two pallets.
YMMV but I think your assumptions here about how things are manufactured and repaired are completely wrong.
