Is the Apple Self Service Repair Kit Worth It?

It’ll happen to nearly every iPhone owner at some point. The dreaded repair. All of a sudden, an issue like a dead battery, mobile connection problems, or an unresponsive phone sends you scrambling to get it repaired. But what if you could do it yourself? Now you can with the Apple Self Service Repair Kit.

On November 17, 2021, Apple announced their “Self Service Repair, which will allow customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts and tools. Available first for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, and soon to be followed by Mac computers featuring M1 chips, Self Service Repair will be available early 2022 in the US and expand to additional countries throughout the year.”

Rather than taking your iPhone to a local repair shop or sending it to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, this new option lets you take care of it yourself.

That said, you definitely need some tech-savvy skills to utilize it. And if you struggle to navigate the basic features on your phone, it’s probably not the best choice. But it’s a viable option for certain users.

First, you visit the Self Service Repair page on Apple’s website. From there, Apple has users complete a four-step process.

You read through the repair manual to determine what’s required to make your specific repair, including the parts, tools, and materials. Next, you order the necessary parts and tools. Note that you have the option to either buy genuine Apple parts or professional-grade parts via the Self Service Repair Store.

Once you’ve received the parts and tools, you follow Apple’s instructions found in the repair manual to fix your device. And finally, you can send Apple the old parts you replaced, which they will refurbish or recycle. In some cases, Apple may give you credit points that you can put toward future purchases.

The kit costs $49, ships for free, and you can keep it for up to one week. However, the replacement parts cost additional money and will vary depending on the specific repair you need to make.

Sean Hollister, senior editor at tech news site the Verge personally tried out the Apple Repair Kit and paid $69 for a new battery, which he said was “the same price the Apple store charges for a battery replacement, except he got to do all the work and assume the risk.” He also noted that there was a $1,200 credit card hold for the toolkit, which he would lose if he didn’t return the tools within a week after receiving them.

So while the Apple Self Service Repair Kit itself is pretty reasonable, the additional costs can add up in a hurry.

The idea of bypassing repair shops and fixing your iPhone at home is certainly innovative. And for those who are tech-savvy and up to the challenge, it may be worth trying. However, when you consider how much you still have to pay for replacement parts and the steep credit card hold, the idea is a lot less appealing.

On top of that, the kit is incredibly bulky, with Hollister saying his kit weighed in at a hefty 79 pounds. When you put that all together, we can’t say we recommend it for most people at the moment.

That said, this is a brand new idea, and the Apple repair kit will likely be improved and refined over time. So it could be worth reconsidering a few years down the road as they work out the kinks. But for now, most people will just want to stick with traditional iPhone repair or replacement.

An iPhone is no cheap investment. As of early 2021, the average cost was $873. Unfortunately, the Apple Limited Warranty only lasts one year and doesn't cover accidental damage. As a result, it’s important to get an extended iPhone warranty so that you stay covered once that period lapses.

Upsie offers extended iPhone Subscription Warranties that costs less than extended warranties from retailers, manufacturers, and competitors. The coverage overlaps with the manufacturer’s warranty and takes over completely when the limited warranty ends. Customers get comprehensive coverage. Upsie also includes accidental damage protection to provide coverage for drops, spills, screen cracks, and more.

If you need to make a claim, you can do so conveniently 24/7 through Upsie.com and get a prompt repair or replacement. Upsie gives you access to affordable and comprehensive coverage.