Apple ’s ware are n’t known for being easygoing to animate – in fact you could incriminate Apple of making them difficult to repair by gluing and bonding components into place and using exceptional certificate fixtures which make them difficult or impossible to remove .
In addition , the ship’s company has always designate that only authorised service of process provider should open a Mac and execute reparation and upgrade . Changing a broken iPhone screen at household , orreplacing a MacBook battery , is n’t considered safe for consumer . In fact , only business with an Apple - certified technician are supposed to perform haunt on Apple product .
With no choice but to pay for an expensive fixture or buy a new Mac , iPad or iPhone , consumer frequently choose to replace their Apple product . The job is that , accord to the Right to doctor website , over 53 million tonnes of electronic dissipation 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 Cartesian product after a act of eld , and the availability of section for servicing becomes more scarce the old the product gets , mean that the life of Apple products is n’t as long as it could be . For more selective information read : How long do Macs last ?
Apple is by no substance the only electronics company guilty of making punishing to fix product that finish up being thrown away before their prison term , but it can certainly do its part by ameliorate the repairability of its products , and make hangout easier and cheaper .
Whether you are an environmentally conscious person looking for a new product that will have a respectable few year beforehand of it before it becomes landfill , or someone who does n’t need to be land with an expensive or difficult to repair equipment , we have details of just how repairable Apple ’s products are . And if you are looking to get an Apple Cartesian product repaired we also have advice for you .
Can I repair my Apple product?
People do set about repair and upgrades at dwelling house , but they run a risk damaging their machine – and will nullify their warranty .
If you did want to attempt a repair or upgrade at home you ’d require to arm yourself with a ambit of specialised tools , include heating plant pads to relax the adhesive that hold in the display in place . You ’d also require to get handle of the right scanty parts . Read : Best Mac and iPhone tools for fix and upgrade .
Apple sends genuine Apple parts to authorised table service providers , and , since August 2019 for iPhone and August 2020 for Mac , sovereign repair businesses can also get access to actual portion . But as a consumer you wo n’t be able to get hold of these parts . In the preceding iPhones have shown fault messages if non - Apple parts are used , so this is n’t an issue you’re able to snub .
Despite this we have aguide to upgrade the components inside a Mac , and one of our colleagues on TechAdvisor did oncereplace an iPhone CRT screen , but these are n’t thing we would recommend unless you are really really surefooted tinkering with electronics .
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 choice below :
Apple offers you three different ways to get a product repaired , you’re able to :
Click the link above to jump to those instructions .
The latter option might be good if you do n’t have an Apple Store nearby and do n’t want to be without your Mac , iPhone or other Apple production while it ’s being fixed .
Some people might be wonder if they can just take the air into an Apple Store for a repair . alas that ’s not an pick – even when stock are n’t exclude due to Coronavirus . We do explainhow to make an Apple Store appointment at the Genius Barin a separate article , but we ’ll summarise the step below .
Before you begin we advocate that you check out to see if the mathematical product qualify for a loose fixture . We have a disjoined articles about the various repair scheme and think .
We have a number of clause that offer advice about getting Apple products quicken . Read :
How to book a repair with Apple
How to ship a product to Apple for repair
If you ’d opt not to go to a shop then Apple will send you a box you could expend to ship it to an Apple Repair Centre . You need to send it within 30 days .
you may set shipping your twist to an Apple Repair Centre either over the phone or online . Apple says this service is available for most Apple products . It seems that most Macs are exempt ( at least in the UK ) , but Apple Watches , iPhones , and iPads can be posted in , for case .
Does Apple repair or replace?
If you have AppleCare+ you may take advantage of the Express Replacement Service that is available for some Apple products . In this case Apple will broadcast you a replacement product before your discredited or non - running production is devolve to them ( you have ten day or you will make up the full price of the replacement ) . There may be an additional fee and you only get to apply this feature of AppleCare+ for the first two instances of accidental damage . Read : Is AppleCare+ worth it . We alsocompare AppleCare+ to normal policy .
How long do Apple repairs take?
If you are able to take your Apple ware to an Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider they might be able to fix it there for you , look on whether they have the equipment .
However , some problems may be more complex and expect being send on to an Apple Repair Centre , in which guinea pig it should take from 6 - 8 days .
Apple advise that iPhone repairs take between 6 - 8 twenty-four hour period if you institutionalise your iPhone to an Apple Repair Centre , for deterrent example .
How much do Apple repairs cost?
The cost of Apple hangout reckon on a number of component . Generally bombardment and screen switch are garish 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 repair cost?
iPhone screen repair
scratch at £ 136.44/$129 for an iPhone 6 , rising to £ 316.44/$329 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max ( once it is out of warrant ) . you’re able to see all the priceshere . If you have AppleCare+ the repair is devoid for the first two incidences , but you postulate to pay £ 25 for any additional cover haunt .
iPhone battery repair
Starts at £ 49/$49 for iPhone SE , 6 , 6s , 7 , 8 and the 2nd genesis iPhone SE French telephone . shelling fix for the iPhone X , XS , SR , 11 and 12 serial iPhones is £ 69/$69 . If your iPhone is still in the one year warranty period , or you have AppleCare+ the repair is complimentary . More informationhere .
Other damage could be as much as £ 566.44/$599 if your iPhone is out of warranty . Morehere .
How much does an iPad repair cost
iPad screen repair
unluckily Apple does n’t offer the same form of service for replacing iPad screens as it does for replacing iPhone screens . If your iPad screen is accidentally break , you have the option of replacing your iPad for an out - of - warranty fee . AppleCare+ does include inadvertent damage protection , but there may be an excess fee .
An out of warranty fee to supersede an iPad stretches from £ 206.44/$199 to £ 616.44/$649 . More informationhere .
iPad battery repair
A battery substitute on all eligible iPad models be £ 99/$99 ( or is free if its in guarantee or you have AppleCare+ )
How much does an Apple Watch repair cost
Apple Watch screen repair
As with the iPad , if your Apple Watch projection screen gets damaged , you have the option to serve your Apple Watch for a fee . AppleCare+ return you accidental damage protection where you may be subject to an excess fee .
An out of warrantee fee to interchange an Apple Watch stretches from £ 156.44 to £ 476.44/$499 . More informationhere(Actually the damage could be a lot in high spirits than that , if you had the original Apple Watch Edition , which cost £ 8,000/$10,000 unexampled , the out - of - warranty service fee is £ 2,600.44/$2,800 .
Apple Watch battery repair
If your Apple Watch battery nurse less than 80 per cent of its original battery capacity and it ’s covered by AppleCare+ , you will get Apple Watch battery Robert William Service for no additional charge .
If your picket is out of warrantee then the battery service fee is £ 82.44/$79 . More informationhere .
How much does an Mac repair cost
If your Mac is still in warrantee , or you have AppleCare+ your repair will be free . The Leontyne Price of a repair will vary depending on the nature of the problem .
Mac battery repair
Apple will compensate the battery in MacBook laptop computer , prices vagabond from £ 129/$129 to £ 199/$199 . Check thispagefor contingent .
For example , a 16 in MacBook Pro Battery replacement costs £ 199 .
Mac screen repair
The cost of a screen repair calculate on whether you have AppleCare+ insure . If you purchase AppleCare+ for Mac then for three years from your AppleCare+ purchase particular date you will have cover for two incident of accidental damage protection every 12 months , each subject to a service fee which is £ 79/$99 for screen damage and £ 229/$299 for other damage . Morehere .
See : How to use a Mac laptop computer or iMac with a interrupt video display .
Can I get my Apple product repaired somewhere else?
You could use an independent repair store but be cognisant that they can not provide haunt cover by Apple ’s warrant or AppleCare plan .
Apple has this link to information aboutApple - certified repairs of the iPhone .
In 2020 Apple extended a system that allows humble autonomous shops to legitimately furbish up iPhones . Now theseworkshops can also fix Macs .
Does Apple do free repairs?
If your product is within warranty – which is one class from the point of sale ( even if you were buy a refurbished Apple product ) – and plump incorrect you’re able to get Apple to fix it for free .
Other cause that might aid you get a free fix is if your ware has been recalled or qualifies in a repair program . As we mentioned originally , we have a separate articles about the various mend schemes and recall . Read : MacBook recalls and mending programs – is your Mac included?andApple product recalls & free repair programmes for iPhone & iPad .
How easy to repair are Apple products?
When you are choosing a new Apple product you would be wise to take into news report how potential it is to get transgress and how easy it will be to recreate . One of the chief killers of smartphones these days are electric battery , another is the ease at which we damp the CRT screen – despite all the expert advances of the methamphetamine used in the fabrication of smartphones .
Apple has meliorate the repairability of the iPhone in term of the screen and battery , but what of its other product ? Replacing a screen on an iPad is not as simple as on an iPhone , for example , and the price is a raft in high spirits .
Hopefully that will change . The EU backedRight to Repairmovement and is aiming to put in place police force that will make it compulsory for new devices to be easier to repair due . Hopefully lead manufacturers to build products with removable and replaceable parts .
As a result of this safari , Gallic legislation has already squeeze Apple to label products to show a repairability score . The final result of the changes should lead to more reparable mathematical product with extended lifespans so that they are less probable to end up in landfill early .
Apple – and other fellowship – now have to bespeak a ‘ repairability index finger on products . Read more about why Apple ’s beenforced to unveil repairability of products in France .
The repairbility of a product should be part of the decision when choosing a newfangled product to buy , and thanks to the Gallic lawmaking Apple is now being forced to reveal this entropy .
The troupe includes a repairability score for many of the products it sell on its French Apple Store .
Apple ’s scores are base on the following :
Apple is n’t the only one revealing how prosperous ( or heavily ) it is to repair Apple products . iFixit is notable for bid guide to the repairability of various Apple products where they foreground the issues that might lead you to needing a repair in the first plaza – for instance , 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 come a meter in every Apple products life when it becomes Obsolete or Vintage . These are terms that Apple habituate to describe ware once they have n’t been sell for more than five or eight years . Once a product is vintage Apple will only vivify it if it has the part ( and then at a price , obviouly ) . Once a Cartesian product is Obsolete then there is no possibility that Apple will repair it .
WithApple sum the 2015 MacBook to the vintage listthe inclination of unsupported products is grow . Read more here : How long do Macs last ?
How easy to repair is the iPhone?
Wondering what is the prosperous iPhone to repair ? Unfortunately the iPhone is n’t getting any easier to repair , although the two things most likely to require mend – the screen and the battery – are promiscuous enough to access ( although even those are n’t repairs you could perform at plate ) .
However , since launching of the iPhone XS and XR , repair companies and base fixers have found that it is no longer potential to change the battery without finalising the change using System Configuration , an on-line instrument Apple make available to its own stores and authorised fix company .
iPhone 12 series repairability
iFixit gives the iPhone 12 series a score of 6/10 for repairability . In favour of the 2020 compass of iPhones is the easygoing memory access for cover and battery replacement and the fact that most components are modular . The main criticism is the methamphetamine hydrochloride back – the problem being that if the back glass breaks , it is necessary to remove every portion and replace the integral physique . iFixit report that the replacing of the concealment and camera of the iPhone 12 serial must be activated via the System Configuration app – which again counts our household - synthetic heroin .
Apple ’s own scoring ( which you may see on theFrench reading of its website ) sees the iPhone 12 series awarded 6/10 .
iPhone SE 2020 repairability
iFixit has n’t rack up the iPhone SE 2020 , but Apple has – in that case it gets 6.2/10 .
iPhone 11 repairability
iFixit also gave the iPhone 11 series 6/10 for like reasons to the iPhone 12 series , mention that replacing the stamp battery had been simplify , but again criticising the fact that the rearward shabu can only be fully supervene upon with a ended trapping barter .
Apple ’s grading sees the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro getting 4.6/10 , while the iPhone 11 Pro Max gets 4.5/10 .
iPhone XR repairability
The iPhone XR father the same score of 6/10 from iFixit , with the the ease of replacing the screen and battery highlighted , and the same problem with replacing the field glass back highlighted .
Apple gives the XR 4.5/10 .
iPhone XS series repairability
The iPhone XS is the same , gaining a scotch of 6/10 from iFixit for the same reasons . Apple gives the XS Max 4.5/10 , and the XS 4.7/10 .
iPhone X repairability
The iPhone X was also given 6/10 by iFixit who mention the accessibility for display and battery repair , but knock “ grumpy cables bind unrelated components together into complex assembly – expensive and troublesome to put back ” . Apple gives the iPhone X 4.8/10 on the French Apple Store .
iPhone 8 repairability
The iPhone 8 was given 6/10 , with the glass back being highlight as a possible job . Apple gives both the 8 and 8 Plus 6.6/10 .
iPhone 7 repairability
The iPhone 7 – enclose back in 2016 – marked the last time an iPhone got a scotch of 7/10 from iFixit . Here the improvements offered by the substantial state home button was take note as a point in favor , because the honest-to-god mechanically skillful push was a common stop of unsuccessful person in older models . Apple break the iPhone 7 6.6/10 while the 7 Plus gets 6.7/10 .
How easy to repair is the Mac?
Looking for a new Mac and enquire what is the easiest Mac to repair ? The job with many Mac laptops is the fact that Apple use a lot of mucilage and solder to stick constituent down . By soldering or gluing constituent into place Apple makes access code to wrong constituent impossible . by from meaning you might not have been capable to get a busted MacBook Air amend , this is n’t smashing news for the environment as Macs that ca n’t be fixed generally finish up in landfill .
Just as with the iPhones , Apple is now revealing the repairability scores for some of its Macs . iFixit also offers this entropy for some Macs .
MacBook Air repairability
iFixit has n’t yet given the M1 Macs a rating . Apple however has : the M1 MacBook Air gets 6.5/10 , which is the same score as it awards the 2018 MacBook Air .
The 2018 MacBook Air get 3/10 from iFixit . Here the criticism is the keyboard being integrated into the top case , making replacement difficult and expensive ( a particular matter given the keyboard problems of the 2016 - 2020 MacBook Airs ) . These laptop are also book back by the fact that storage and RAM is soldered on . In the Air ’s party favour , iFixit does take down that the port , rooter , loudspeaker and some other components are aboveboard to access .
iFixit also take down that Apple made changes to the layout of the part inside the former 2020 MacBook Air tomake servicing and repair easier .
However , the old aim of the pre-2017 MacBook Air actually had a better score award by Apple – 7/10 .
MacBook Pro repairability
The M1 MacBook Pro gets 5.6/10 from Apple , while the older 2020 2.0GHz model gets 6.3/10 .
To get an musical theme of how that might read to iFixit ’s scores , the 2019 13 in MacBook Pro ( the entry - level model , but the repairability most likely apply to all models ) was given a score of 2/10 by iFixit . The negatives they take down admit Apple ’s consumption of Proprietary pentalobe screws , the glued in battery , and the soldered - down RAM .
The 2/10 account is a tenuous improvement on the 2018 model at least : here iFixit criticize the fact that the processor , read/write memory , and flash memory are solder to the logic circuit board and the keyboard , battery , and talker are glued together . The Touch ID button is also highlighted due to it being paired with the T2 Saratoga chip . Apple awards the 2019 13 in MacBook Pro a score of 5.6/10 , while the 2018 model make 6.2/10 .
consort to iFixit the 16 in MacBook Pro is not one to recommend . They give it just 1/10 for repairability , take down that the processor , RAM , and newsflash memory are all solder to the logic board , making surrogate unmanageable . They also take down that glue and/or rivet secure the keyboard , battery , speakers , and Touch Bar , so those repairs would also be difficult . Also the Touch ID sensor is the king switch and locked to the logical system board and mate with the T2 microchip , which would make repairs of that constituent unmanageable .
The senior 15 in MacBook Pro was no good , also scoring 1/10 , for essentially the same cause as the 16 in simulation . Apple awards the 16 in MacBook Pro 6.3/10 .
iMac repairability
As for desktops , the 2020 27 in iMac gets 4/10 from iFixit . Here the criticism is the fact that Apple makes it so laborious to remove the sieve to reach the components – and it ; ’s hard to return it to the state you started . Once you are privileged , the give away power supply is a business . And interpolate the internal storage is impossible . Apple has n’t rated these poser yet .
The iMac Pro generate 3/10 . Here the criticisms are that cardinal components are bury behind the logic dining table , requiring a lot of disassembly for access , the loss of the external RAM access hatch – a feature of other 27 in iMac model – means RAM is a more unmanageable upgrade , and the GPU is soldered in place . Apple has n’t rated these models yet .
Mac mini repairability
The 2018 Mac miniskirt got a repairability score of 6/10 from iFixit . Here the criticism were that the CPU and storage are both soldered to the logical system plank and not substance abuser - upgradeable and the fact that If any of the many embrasure is damage or assume , the entire logic board will need replacing . In its favour the Mac mini constituent are n’t held in place with adhesive and RAM can be easily upgraded . Apple has n’t rated these models yet .
How easy to repair is the iPad?
It ’s disappointing really that the iPad is n’t as easy to repair as the iPhone . In fact the difficulty of replacing the covert and the battery are emphasised by the fact that both these repairs are comparatively easy on the iPhone . We think it ’s metre Apple made the iPad easy to fix .
What is the easiest iPad to repair?
The iPad from 2019 gets a repairability score of 2/10 from iFixit . Here the criticisms are the barrier of very strong adhesive pull in getting inside almost impossible , and the overutilisation of adhesive once you do get inside . The Lightning port – note as a “ common point of failure ” is unfortunately difficult to replace because it is soldered to the logic board .
The iPad Air from 2019 also scores 2/10 from iFixit . Here the bombardment replacement is at least note as being potential but they kvetch that it is “ unnecessarily difficult ” . Again , there is too much adhesive bear part and cables in spot . The lightning port is unmanageable to replace because its soldered to the logic circuit card . But at least other components are modular and can therefore be replaced independently ( once you get inside ) .
The 2019 iPad miniskirt is interchangeable . It score 2/10 with iFixit noting how knockout barrage replacement is , and how there is adhesive holding down parts and cables . They also note that removing the home clit is unmanageable and a necessary part of exhibit substitution if you like to keep Touch ID functionality .
The 2018 iPad Pro does get a slightly better score – 3/10 . Here the criticism is again all the glue that Apple use inside the case . But at least here the barrage is secure with easy - to - remove tabloid . Another point in its party favor is the USB - C port which is modular and can be independently replace .
How easy to repair is the Apple Watch?
Like the iPhone the Apple Watch screen is potential to be the matter that breaks , although , unlike the iPhone we are n’t so likely to drop our Apple Watches . But just how easy is it to doctor an Apple Watch ?
What is the easiest Apple Watch to repair?
The Apple Watch Series 6 have a repairability sexual conquest of 6/10 from iFixit . The covert and battery are sensibly straight to replace . The main ailment is that many of the component cables are mounted directly to the S6 and involve skilled microsoldering if they are damage .
The Series 5 also scores 6/10 for the same reasons .
The Series 4 and 3 rack up 6/10 but in both cases there was the extra criticism that the “ resin - incase S4 scheme makes most board - level repairs unsufferable . ”
iFixit has n’t yet score the repairability of the Apple Watch SE .
So to wrap up , Apple products are n’t light or tacky to get . Apple has made it easier to substitute the screen and assault and battery in the iPhone , which is a bonus , but generate that they are the things most likely to go wrong , an all-important bonus . We hope that the new EU legislation coming in will mean that Apple and other companies are more focused on the repairability of their products , extending their lifespans .
