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.
What is it with the constant cynicism even in the face of actual good news? This is absolutely a step in the right direction on Apple’s part.
Apple has a long history of working against right to repair and third party repair shops. This includes making it difficult for third parties to source the parts needed and changing the designs to requiring part pairing in the name of security. It got to the point where repair shops were buying broken Apple products so they could hopefully source the parts needed.
Looking through what they provided now, it’s basic stuff any third party repair shop could do if they could source the parts. It’s useful. However good electronic technicians can go beyond that and do board level repairs. But that requires schematics and diagrams. A lot of times they would have to get those through other parties who in turn got them through less than official means or violated NDAs.
Guess what Apple isn’t providing? Board level information. This is just doing the minimum the law requires them to do.
Bonus: Louis Rossmann talks about Apple’s history of right to repair [10 minute video]
Because this is not out of the goodness of their little hearts. It’s legislated straight out of the EU and huge campaign coverage at just how ant-repair they are, like luis rossman has been covering ad-nauseam
Apple literally only is doing this because the EU forced them. They are an evil company whose entire mo is to keep control over the device you pay for
