this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2024
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Following today's launch of the new iPhone 16 models, Apple has shared repair manuals for the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The repair manuals provide technical instructions on replacing genuine Apple parts in the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, and Apple says the information is intended for "individual technicians" that have the "knowledge, experience, and tools" that are necessary to repair electronic devices.

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[–] [email protected] 81 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Define "full". Full schematics, board layouts?

^PPBUS_G3_HOT^

[–] [email protected] 63 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If I had to guess, this is a service manual for approved third party repair shops that they've simply released to the public. So it likely wouldn't contain any proprietary information that wasn't explicitly necessary for the physical repair of the device.

[–] [email protected] 90 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

And they've almost certainly only released this due to the upcoming EU laws related to user replaceable batteries and wider right to repair.

Apple isn't doing this because they grew a conscience. They're doing it because it's a legal requirement they can't lobby (bribe) their way out of.

Never forget. Corporations are not your friend, and never will be.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

As far as releasing these manuals and making parts available is concerned, we already have these laws going into effect in the US

[–] [email protected] 62 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

But... are you allowed to read them unless you got an official reading certificate from Apple?

/s

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago

It’s only $99/ year!

Though you can only read it on registered devices.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 3 weeks ago

Not because they wanted to, but because they had to....

[–] [email protected] 36 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I see a lot of commenters really hate Apple, but to clarify, the manual isn’t what’s important here.

According the article, the manuals indicate that the iPhone 16 is actually easier to repair. This is good news for consumers, independent repair shops, and the environment.

You can use a 9-volt battery to remove adhesive and they’ve added more support for Face-ID when replacing the LIDAR sensor.

We still have a long way to go for our right to repair but, the pressure that we put on companies and governments to make change is working. We should celebrate that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I watched a Hugh Jeffrey's teardown video yesterday where he showed using a 9 volt battery to remove the iPhones battery. I have to say, that is pretty neat.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

In case anyone else wants to see it, I've even queued up the link https://youtu.be/8CTX8W4UZUA?si=uv_bvwoHD40B0YDJ&t=846

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (4 children)

Step one: take to Apple Store
Step two: get repaired at Apple Store

[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

oop sorry it would cost $1,999.99 to repair this face ID scanner, would you like to purchase our new iPhone 18 Ultra Pro Max Lite ++ with Wii motion+ inside instead?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

lol I just saw a video about Wii motion plus so this hits extra hard

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago

Because you admitted to an employee over the phone that your glands occasionally produce sweat, we've determined your damage is in fact water damage not covered by warranty and all data is therefor unrecoverable. You may now purchase a new device.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The closest Apple store to me is a 90-minute drive. The closest place to me selling Apple devices is a Walmart a few miles away.

There is a place in town which repairs Apple devices. It is not an Apple store.

Which place would I rationally take it to if I wanted to get it repaired?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Step one: take to Apple Store
Step two: get repaired at Apple Store

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

See the 'rationally' part and explain how the 90 minute drive is the rational option.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Think different. /s

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

My front facing camera on my iPad stopped working. My device is pristine, has always been in a case, has zero cracks, and has never been dropped. I brought it in to an apple store and they said they could fix it for half the price of a new one. Fuck 'em. I'd rather just do it myself. It was out of warranty by a few months maybe. I don't remember. The front camera isn't worth half the price of a new device.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Same experience every time I’ve gone only repair cost is always more than 50% of the cost of replacement.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

This is good news. I hope we get similar concessions on (fairly priced) spare parts availability 🤞

E: I'm guessing the downvoters want fewer spare parts available? Strange opinion but ok.

E2: Oh! I am stupid. Could just be an Apple investor

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 weeks ago

I thought this was the onion for a second

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

is this this same repair manual they follow in the store?

you know, the one where they break something else and/or claim it was your fault and refuse to repair it and only give it back to you in pieces.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I’ve…never had a bad experience at the Apple Store, personally. I have a lot of complaints with the company, but I’ve always been impressed with the technicians at the store.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

I've never been able to get anything just fixed there. It's always come back and pick it up in X days or a week or 2 weeks.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It took them more than 4 hours past my appointment time to do a simple battery replacement.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

It's an apple device; I'm surprised it didn't take them longer.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

but I’ve always been impressed with the technicians at the store.

Yeah me too. Each time they gave me the price for a repair I was very impressed. It was always more than I expected. :D

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah me too. Each time they gave me the price for a repair I was very impressed. It was always more than I expected. :D

Bahahaha

I’ve had the opposite experience, but I have AppleCare. I’ve seen the prices without it and you’re not wrong! I had cracked the back glass on my phone a year or so ago and it cost me like, $30 to fix. Without AppleCare it would’ve been almost $700. And that’s because—due to the ridiculous design—replacing the back glass involves replacing the entire phone other than the screen and camera module. New battery, new SoC, new storage, new everything.

I later confirmed with an acquaintance who works at the Apple Store that, as long as your battery is still in decent-ish shape, this is a cheaper way to replace the battery. Break the back glass and get that replaced with AppleCare, and you get a new battery. But if you wait for the battery to drop below whatever threshold it is for them to replace the battery (I believe 80% life), it’s more expensive. This acquaintance told me this kind of thing is why he genuinely thinks AppleCare is the best deal they offer. It’s basically a way to inexpensively swap your phone with an identical replacement under certain circumstances.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Recent iphone models have “easily” removable back glass, and it’s actually the main entrypoint for replacing the battery, lowering costs due lower risk of a broken screen (see new google pixels with screens that almost always break on removal)

After this, apple also lowered the cost of most repairs, including on models that don’t get the new replaceable back. the non applecare cost for a battery replacement ranges from 80-100 dollars roughly. which is comparable to the cost of a replacement with even a generic battery from a 3rd party shop.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I really miss repairable devices. Repairing the cracked screen of the iPad Pro I bought a few years ago would cost over 60% of the price I paid for the device. I would have gladly taken a thicker device if that meant it were repairable.

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