Apple’s products aren’t known for being easy to repair – in fact you could accuse Apple of making them difficult to repair by gluing and soldering components into place and using special security fixtures which make them difficult or impossible to remove.
In addition, the company has always indicated that only authorised service providers should perform repairs and upgrades. Changing a broken iPhone 18 Pro Max screen at home isn’t considered safe for consumers. In fact, only businesses with an Apple-certified technician are supposed to perform repairs on Apple products.
With no choice but to pay for an expensive repair or buy a new iPhone, consumers frequently choose to replace their Apple product. The problem is that, according to the Right to Repair website, over 53 million tonnes of electronic waste is produced each year, and only a fraction of this is recycled.
Added to this, the fact that Apple stops supporting software updates for various products after a number of years, and the availability of parts for servicing becomes more scarce the older the product gets, means that the lifespan of Apple products isn’t as long as it could be.
Apple is by no means the only electronics company guilty of making hard to fix products that end up being thrown away before their time, but it can certainly do its part by improving the repairability of its products, and making repairs easier and cheaper.
Whether you are an environmentally conscious person looking for a new product that will have a good few years ahead of it before it becomes landfill, or someone who doesn’t want to be landed with an expensive or difficult to repair device, we have details of just how repairable Apple’s products are. And if you are looking to get an Apple product repaired we also have advice for you.
Can I repair my Apple product?
People do attempt repairs and upgrades at home, but they risk damaging their machines – and will void their warranty.
Apple sends genuine Apple parts to authorised service providers, and, since August 2019 for iPhone, independent repair businesses can also get access to genuine parts. In the past iPhones have shown error messages if non-Apple parts are used, so this isn’t an issue you can ignore.
iPhone should only be serviced by a trained technician.
For the average person we’d recommend making an appointment at an Apple Store or seeking an Apple Authorised Service Provider to carry out the repair for you. We’ll discuss how to do that next.
How do I get my Apple products repaired?
The next question is where can you go to get Apple products repaired. The obvious answer is Apple, but that’s not your only choice. We’ll run through your options below:
Apple offers you three different ways to get a product repaired, you can:
- Visit an Apple Store.
- Send your product to Apple.
- Use an Apple Authorised Service Provider.
The latter option might be best if you don’t have an Apple Store nearby and don’t want to be without your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max while it’s being fixed.
Some people might be wondering if they can just walk into an Apple Store for a repair. Unfortunately that’s not an option. We’ll summarise the steps below.
How to book a repair with Apple
- Go to Apple’s website.
- Enter your Apple Account and password.
- Choose your product.
- Click Start a Service request.
- Choose the topic that best represents your problem.
- You’ll eventually be offered the options to talk to Apple Support, Chat, or Bring in to Repair. The latter option will allow you to make an appointment at a Genius Bar. Click on that option.
- Enter your Apple Account and password again if required.
- Enter your serial number. Click on the correct model.
- The next screen will ask you to Bring in for Repair. You will be able to search for your closest Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider.
How to ship a product to Apple for repair
If you’d prefer not to go to a shop then Apple will send you a box you can use to ship it to an Apple Repair Centre. You need to ship it within 30 days.
You can arrange shipping your device to an Apple Repair Centre either over the phone or online. Apple says this service is available for most Apple products.
- Go to Apple’s repair website.
- Click Start a repair request.
- Choose the product you wish to send to Apple (or enter your serial number if the product isn’t listed).
- Choose one of the options, e.g. Set Up Online or Express Replacement (which might be an option for you if you have AppleCare+).
Does Apple repair or replace?
If you have AppleCare+ you can take advantage of the Express Replacement Service that is available for some Apple products. In this case Apple will send you a replacement product before your damaged or non-working product is returned to them (you have ten days or you will pay the full price of the replacement). There may be an additional fee.
How long do Apple repairs take?
If you are able to take your Apple product to an Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider they might be able to fix it there for you, depending on whether they have the equipment.
However, some problems may be more complex and require being sent on to an Apple Repair Centre, in which case it should take from 6-8 days.
Apple advises that iPhone repairs take between 6-8 days if you send your iPhone 18 Pro Max to an Apple Repair Centre, for example.
How much do Apple repairs cost?
The cost of Apple repairs depends on a number of factors. Generally battery and screen replacements are cheaper than other replacements. And if you have AppleCare+ you may be able to get your Apple product fixed for nothing or just a small fee – and a replacement product almost immediately.
How much does an iPhone 18 Pro Max repair cost?
iPhone battery repair
If your iPhone is still in the one year warranty period, or you have AppleCare+ the repair is free.
Can I get my Apple product repaired somewhere else?
You could use an independent repair shop but be aware that they cannot provide repairs covered by Apple’s warranty or AppleCare plans.
In 2020 Apple extended a scheme that allows small independent shops to legitimately fix iPhones.
Does Apple do free repairs?
If your product is within warranty – which is one year from the point of sale (even if you were purchasing a refurbished Apple product) – and goes wrong you can get Apple to fix it for free.
Other reasons that might help you get a free repair is if your product has been recalled or qualifies in a repair program.
How easy to repair are Apple products?
When you are choosing a new Apple product you would be wise to take into account how likely it is to get broken and how easy it will be to repair. One of the main killers of smartphones these days are batteries, another is the ease at which we break the screens – despite all the technical advances of the glass used in the manufacture of smartphones.
Apple has improved the repairability of the iPhone in terms of the screen and battery.
French legislation has already forced Apple to label products to show a repairability score. The result of the changes should lead to more reparable products with extended lifespans so that they are less likely to end up in landfill early.
Apple – and other companies – now have to indicate a ‘repairability index on products.
The repairability of a product should be part of the decision when choosing a new product to buy, and thanks to the French legislation Apple is now being forced to reveal this information.
The company includes a repairability score for many of the products it sells on its French Apple Store.
Apple’s scores are based on the following:
- Access to documentation.
- Disassembly (how easy it is, what tools are required, etc).
- Availability of spare parts.
- Price of spare parts (compared to buying new).
- Access to software updates, free technical support and the ability to reset the software.
Apple isn’t the only one revealing how easy (or hard) it is to repair Apple products. iFixit is famous for offering guides to the repairability of various Apple products where they highlight the issues that might lead you to needing a repair in the first place – for example, the smashable glass on the front and back of the iPhone. Luckily the glass front of the iPhone is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive to repair, but replacing the glass back could be an expensive job.
Another thing to bear in mind is that there comes a time in every Apple products life when it becomes Obsolete or Vintage. Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Once a product is vintage Apple will only repair it if it has the parts (and then at a price, obviously). Once a product is Obsolete then there is no possibility that Apple will repair it.
How easy to repair is the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Wondering what is the easiest iPhone to repair? Unfortunately the iPhone isn’t getting any easier to repair, although the two things most likely to need repair – the screen and the battery – are easy enough to access (although even those aren’t repairs you could perform at home).
So to wrap up, Apple products aren’t easy or cheap to fix. Apple has made it easier to replace the screen and battery in the iPhone, which is a bonus, but given that they are the things most likely to go wrong, an essential bonus.
