Apple has announced 'Self Service Repair', a programme that will allow people to repair their iPhones and Macs from home. Initially, the programme will cover the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series, but Apple plans to expand it to 'Mac computers featuring M1 chips'. Hopefully, Apple means those with M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, rather than the first iteration of Apple Silicon.
Self Service Repair will arrive in the US first at the beginning of 2022. However, Apple states that it will expand the programme to other regions throughout next year. Incidentally, if you order a spare part from Apple, it will give you a credit note when you return the defective part.
In a press release, Apple explains that the programme will 'focus on the most commonly serviced modules', including batteries, cameras and displays. Additional repair options will be added 'later next year' too.
Apple emphasises that it only intends people who already have 'knowledge and experience' of repairing electronic devices to use the new programme. Until Apple opens its Self Service Repair programme, it will reserve the supply of spare parts to its 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers and 2,800 repair shops worldwide.