15/08/2023
Repair your iPhone yourself
In all aspects of society, you can notice an increasing focus on sustainability, and this also applies to education. This is evident from the fact that 21st Century Economics has developed educational material around repairability, which is now widely used in economics classes. Repairing has become a very relevant topic, as people are becoming more aware of the amount of electronic waste we produce each year and how harmful it is to the environment. Apple, for example, recently announced the Apple Self Service Repair program.
Previously, if you wanted to repair your iPhone using official Apple parts and avoid voiding your warranty, you had to go to an Apple Store or another authorized repairer, also known as an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Although Apple Stores in the Netherlands are only located in Amsterdam, Haarlem, and The Hague, there are many other Apple service providers in other cities. The downside, however, is that such repairs can become quite costly, especially if they are not covered under warranty or if you don't have insurance.
Additionally, this repair program will initially only be available to iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 users. It is unclear whether older models will be added later. However, it has already been announced that other parts will also become available for self-repair in the future. It might even become possible to refurbish a Mac with an M1 chip.
Replace or Repair?
By repairing your electronic devices instead of immediately replacing them, you can significantly extend the life of your phone or computer. This helps reduce the amount of electronic waste disposed of annually and slows the growth of the E-waste pile. However, repairing is still not the common choice. It is often forgotten that you have a few years of warranty after your purchase.Previously, if you wanted to repair your iPhone using official Apple parts and avoid voiding your warranty, you had to go to an Apple Store or another authorized repairer, also known as an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Although Apple Stores in the Netherlands are only located in Amsterdam, Haarlem, and The Hague, there are many other Apple service providers in other cities. The downside, however, is that such repairs can become quite costly, especially if they are not covered under warranty or if you don't have insurance.
Apple Service Repair Program
To make it easier for everyone, Apple announced last November that anyone can now perform key repairs on their iPhone themselves with the Apple Self Service Repair program. With this program, you can repair the display, battery, and camera yourself. Unfortunately, it will be a while before we can do this in the Netherlands. In 2022, the program will first be rolled out in the US, and later in the year, it will expand to other countries.Additionally, this repair program will initially only be available to iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 users. It is unclear whether older models will be added later. However, it has already been announced that other parts will also become available for self-repair in the future. It might even become possible to refurbish a Mac with an M1 chip.