Starting June 21, Apple will expand its self-service repair program to include the latest products, including the iPhone 14 lineup and M2-based MacBooks. But more importantly, the company seems to be responding to feedback by removing unnecessary friction from the process. The “system configuration” verification step required after a repair — and which involves calling Apple on the phone — has been criticized as burdensome. With the new changes, you no longer need to call the company’s repair support team.
“Self-service repair users can now initiate system configuration by placing their devices in diagnostic mode and following the on-screen instructions,” Apple wrote. Today’s press release. “Users will no longer need to contact the self-service repair support team to run the final step of the repair, but the team will still be available to assist as needed.” No more time-wasting phone calls? Sounds like the right move, Apple. Our own Sean Hollister found that the previous requirement was one of the leading frustrations of the iPhone repair experience.
According to the company, System Configuration “recognizes genuine Apple components, upgrades firmware and calibrates components to ensure maximum performance and quality.” Starting June 21, you will be able to order parts for iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is in addition to the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air and M2 Pro / M2 Max MacBook Pro laptops. The just-launched 15-inch MacBook Air isn’t as lucky, but clearly, some lead time is needed here, with the current iPhone lineup taking nine months to join the program.
Self-service repairs for the M1’s True Depth camera and top speaker are also available for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups and Mac desktops in the US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. , and the UK,” Apple wrote in today’s news release. The company has been trumpeting its efforts to increase “wider repair access” through self-service repairs and a growing network of authorized service points.
But the message for most consumers remains the same: It’s better to seek professional help than to do it yourself. “For most users with no experience repairing electronic devices, visiting a professional authorized repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair done,” Apple said.
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