Apple’s New Repair Policy Isn’t a Total Fix
It’s a step in the right direction, but the company still has a ton of control over your iPhone
Last week, Apple made a stunning change to its repair policy. After years of tightly controlling who can fix its devices, independent repair shops will now be able to buy parts and get repair guides directly from Apple without paying the tech giant. But while the move sounds like a change of heart, it may be just the smokescreen Apple needs to avoid Right to Repair laws that could cost it a lot more in the long run.
Prior to the change, Apple’s preferred method for users to repair their iPhone would be to take it to an Apple store or what is known as an Apple-Authorized Service Provider (AASP). The latter third parties had strict limitations. They had to pay Apple in order to qualify for the program, and Apple would only allow them to perform certain common repairs like replacing a battery or screen. For other repairs, even those that might be just as simple — like replacing a charging port or camera — they would be required to send the customer’s phone back to Apple itself.
This made life hard for independent repair shops. Their choices were either to comply with Apple’s rules — limiting both their choice in parts suppliers and services they could offer — or to…
