Repair services can't be cheap, especially for a company like Apple. And it turns out the company is certainly not making any profits from the endeavor, either.
Repair
Apple now permits independent repair shops to fix out-of-warranty iPhones using official parts
In another change designed to boost its services revenue, Apple today unveiled a new program that permits independent repair shops to service out-of-warranty iPhones using the same official genuine parts and other resources as its Authorized Service Providers.
Apple is ‘locking’ some iPhone batteries in an attempt to discourage third-party replacements
Apple is not a big fan of user-replaced pieces within its devices. The company has long fought against the "Right to Repair", and this latest move to do just that may irk some users out there.
1,000 US Best Buy stores now provide expert service and repairs for Apple products
Apple today announced a partnership with Best Buy for expanded repair service.
2016 13-inch MacBook Pro now has a Display Backlight Service Program
"Flexgate" cropped up earlier this year in a big way, with owners of the 13-inch 2016 MacBook Pro expressing their dissatisfaction with a backlight issue in their machines. The problem gave a "stage lighting" effect on afflicted models, an apparent issue with the cables under the hood.
Apple’s Keyboard Service Program now includes 2018 MacBook Pro, 2018 MacBook Air and 2019 MacBook Pro
Apple launched a Keyboard Service Program in 2018, meant to help those afflicted with issues with the butterfly keyboard in select models. However, despite launching last year, the program didn't include any 2018 model Mac notebooks for service coverage, even by the time 2019 rolled around. But that's finally changing.
Apple to replace some Series 3 watch repairs with Series 4 models due to part shortages
Customers looking for a repair or replacement of their LTE-enabled stainless steel Series 3 watch will be getting a brand new stainless steel Series 4 model with cellular connectivity.
Apple may be prepping to comply with right to repair legislation
Apple may be softening its stance on repair laws after vehemently fighting for years, across nearly two dozen US states, against right to repair legislation.
Apple updates its repair policy, will now fix iPhones with third-party replacement batteries
Apple has informed its Genius Bar employees and Authorized Service Providers (AASP) that it's now OK to fix iPhones that have aftermarket batteries installed by third-party repair shops.
iFixit extends its discounted DIY $30 iPhone battery replacement service through 2019
Apple's iPhone battery replacements are no longer available at a deep discount so repair site iFixit has decided to extend its own DIY iPhone battery discount through 2019.
iFixit wrote:
When Apple first announced their $29 battery replacement program in December 2017, we lowered the price of our DIY iPhone battery kits to match. Last month, Apple’s discounted battery replacement program ended, and they raised the price of their battery service from $29 to $49 (or $69, depending on your model).
In the wake of last year's iPhone throttling drama, the repair site lowered the price on all of its DIY iPhone battery fix kits to $29 or less. According to Barclay’s, 519 million iPhones were eligible for Apple's discounted program but the company replaced only eleven million batteries.
That means there are still hundreds of millions of affected iPhone owners who didn’t get a battery replacement—or didn’t know they needed one. So in a fit of righteous solidarity, we’re guaranteeing our iPhone battery prices will remain at $29.99 for at least the rest of the year.
The iFixit kits include everything you need to open up and swap your own battery. And unlike Apple's own program, iFixit's battery kits are available for older iPhones like iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.
iFixit notes that the eleven million batteries Apple replaced is ten times the company's average repair rate of about one to two million iPhone battery replacements a year.
A year ago, Apple was charging $79 for iPhone batteries.Apple currently charges out of warranty battery replacements at $69 a pop for iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. Older models like iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus "and all other eligible models" are subject to a $49 battery replacement fee.
Of course, if you have AppleCare+ protection, battery replacements are free.
Apple’s introducing software locks that could hurt third-party repair shops
On Thursday, Motherboard and MacRumors both reported that Apple has added software locks on the 2018 MacBook Pro and 2017 iMac Pro. The digital locks could make it harder for independent and third-party repair shops to do their work.
Apple launches free iPhone 8 logic board replacement program
Apple has determined that a small number of iPhone 8 devices contain logic boards with a manufacturing defect. Phones affected with the problem may experience unexpected restarts, a frozen screen, or won't turn on. To resolve this issue, the company has implemented a logic board replacement program, which is free of charge.