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          Apple Expands Self Service Repair Program; Have You Used It?

   Adam Engst

   Apple announced it has [1]expanded its Self Service Repair program to
   include the iPhone 14 lineup and the M2 models of the 13-inch MacBook
   Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. [2]Self Service Repair is also now
   available for M1 Mac desktops'the 24-inch iMac, the Mac mini, and the
   Mac Studio'along with the True Depth camera and top speaker in the
   iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups.

   In addition, Apple says it has simplified the System Configuration
   process necessary to authenticate genuine Apple parts, update firmware,
   and calibrate parts. Previously, users had to contact the Self Service
   Repair support team to run the final step of the repair; that's no
   longer necessary.

   I continue to find Apple's messaging around Self Service Repair
   intriguing. Just read this bit from the announcement where Apple
   simultaneously pats itself on the back for its support of the Right to
   Repair movement and warns users against using Self Service Repair.

     Self Service Repair is part of Apple's efforts to expand access to
     repairs. Widespread repair access plays an important role in
     extending products' longevity, which is good for users and good for
     the planet. For the vast majority of users who do not have
     experience repairing electronic devices, visiting a professional
     authorized repair provider with certified technicians who use
     genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a
     repair.

   But perhaps that's an accurate representation of the modern world,
   where a lot of people think they want to be able to repair their own
   devices and philosophically support the Right to Repair movement, but
   they don't actually trust themselves to complete a repair successfully.

   Have you taken advantage of Apple's Self Service Repair program? How
   did it work out?

References

   1. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/06/apple-expands-self-service-repair-and-updates-system-configuration-process/
   2. https://support.apple.com/self-service-repair

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