Has Apple caved to the Right to Repair movement?

With Apple's Self Service Repair coming in 2022, people within the Right to Repair movement were cautiously optimistic. iOS 15.2 is also releasing later this month, where you can see the parts and service history, and whether its a 'Genuine Apple Part', of your iPhone.

Offering parts, tools and repair manuals online, people with a bit of knowledge will be able to repair their own Apple Devices - or the iPhone 12 and 13 in the US, then Macs with M1 chips later in the year.

Laws surrounding the Right to Repair

"Where Apple goes, the whole industry follows," said the founder of iFixit, Kyle Weins, but legal systems across the globe are also shifting.

The US FTC is drafting rules to make repairing gadgets easier, while the European Parliament voted to strengthen the right to repair phones, and is aiming for consumer electronics to last at least ten years. Manufacturers of white goods and other electrical appliances must now have spare parts available in the UK, and companies must state how long software will be updated for.

Who can repair Apple devices

Self Service Repair is a major shift for the notoriously closed company. In June last year, they sued Henrik Huseby, who owned a small repair shop in Norway, for importing 'counterfeit' iPhone parts.

Now, their Self Service Repair clearly discusses Genuine Apple parts - linked to your iPhone's serial number - implying that third market parts and tools, such as Huseby's, still won't be an option. "There is also no guarantee that spare parts and repair services will be affordable," said Libby Peake, environmental expert and head of resource policy at Green Alliance.

It's an impressive first step, but we will have to wait to see how it plays out in reality.