Apple's self-service repair kit is one expensive monstrosity

[bexwhitt]

Wrong! Just because more companies make the same kind of phone, it doesn't mean they're essentially different. It's just different models, same OS and likewise Apple has different models, same OS, it doesn't have just one phone that you buy over and over. Every year, it's an incremental upgrade and so it is for your typical Samsung. Can you argue Samsung, Xiaomi, whatever are any different? Instead, you may ask yourself why every Android phone out there tries to copy Apple? Bashing on iPhone users is getting old and dumb. Iphones are the fastest phones by far and have always led the industry. Pricewise, the gap has also closed for top models. I, personally, own both worlds and I appreciate each for their particularities.

no other companies phone throws an error if you change the screen or the battery it's just protectionism.

 

[emmzo]

They all have pros and cons - sure. But your statement that Android devices are 'all the same' because the OS is, is inaccurate. Between the manufacturer UIs that are put on Android phones (I.e. Samsung, HTC, OP), and the physical and software differences amount to a very different experience.

Not so much for Apple. I could take a screenshot of my Iphone 12 pro max and compare it to a screenshot from an 11, 13, XS, or XR and not know any difference.

You are free to disagree, however you're comparing an apple to a hand grenade here.

Comparing screenshots from the same manufacturer with different UI`s from different manufacturers. Ok. Why don`t you compare just one manufacturer? Are Samsung phones all that different? Are they so special from one model to another that lead to "very different experiences"? Nope. They probably have the same screenshots too. My point was you can only say iPhones are the same based on OS and so you could say about any Android. NOT that they are the same. And I`ve clearly explained why.

 

[emmzo]

no other companies phone throws an error if you change the screen or the battery it's just protectionism.

I agree they suck with proprietary sh!t. That`s why I also own a Xiaomi.

 

[BigRedPDX]

I trash the iPhone and buy a new Samsung or Pixel and problem resolved.

I did that but had problems with the Samsung. Went to another iPhone and it's been fine. I might just flash the Samsung to another operating system. It's basically useless the way it is right now.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Except it's not the same phone, it's the same OS. Those two concepts are light-years apart, unlike any iPhone made since it's inception.

But your typical iPhone user wouldn't understand that. They're too used to overpaying for the same cookie-cutter device they overpaid for last time.

Were all sheep, including us Android users.
We are no different than "Apple Sheep" we all run out and pay for the next new Android device we can get out hands on.

The difference is Apple sheep don't call us Android Sheep.

smh

 

[BigRedPDX]

Were all sheep, including us Android users.
We are no different than "Apple Sheep" we all run out and pay for the next new Android device we can get out hands on.

The difference is Apple sheep don't call us Android Sheep.

smh

I have uses for both apple and android devices. It's not really one or the other for me. Apple products are definitely more limited on what they can do, which I find great for an everyday phone, and my android devices are generally subjected to experimentation. Both work great and we're all sheep lol

 

[Anorax]

The Verge and the Apple professional phone repair kit = Generator of a thousand mediocre tech journalist clickbait articles.

 

[shark975]

Look people I'm all for rights to repair but modern smartphone are basically unibody frame superglued if not welded shut. This is not the tree I think we really need to be barking up. Buy the insurance or buy a new one if you break it TBH. Also at least Samsung has decently reasonable prices (like, a couple hundred bucks I think) to send it in and have them repair it or you can probably have it done locally (I dont own Apple so unfamiliar with that). I have even seen Samsung run $99 specials on screen repair which I thought was a pretty cool idea. Granted you might be without a phone if you send it in but you can get a prepaid crap burner smartphone to tied you over for literally 50 bucks if you dont have one laying around. Smartphones are a commodity nowdays. Not to mention many times you can get decent trade in value even on cracked screen phones. Plus just the fact that after 2-3 yrs your battery will be losing capacity fast so, it's not like your phone is a long term investment. Again, this strikes me as barking up the wrong tree. I personally dont ever carry the insurance, I go with a good case and taking my chances, but my sister does and when her phone broke they literally come to your house with a new one to swap.

America should worry about IMO more relevant right to repair such as with cars, which due the far left environmental movement are often extremely difficult to repair now. I was looking into getting one of those for mavericks for example and read you have to take a air shield off the bottom involving 15 bolts (!) just to change the oil. All this is because of the EPA's ultra draconion MPG regulations that increase every yr, the air shield is so it get .1 more mpg or whatever. Not too mention same truck is running a turbo engine because of same regulations, with less mechanical reliability, issue of fuel valve deposits etc. The inside of modern engine bays is a disgusting mess of wires and hoses and most of it is due to ridiculous environmental regulations that BARELY save any mpg anyway. I hate Trump but he was right on when he mentioned that in one of the debates.

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

Not too hard to see the possible complexity of R2R in the future as this is just the beginning. Although Apple is allowing the consumer to repair their devices they're going to make it hard without specific tools. I wonder how many other companies will follow? If there are profits to be made there are always ways to stay within the law at the same time.

As for Apple I'm sure their lawyers have read the R2R laws that States have passed up and down, left to right and in between the lines to find loop holes. But then all big companies do this.

 

[PEnnn]

Except it's not the same phone, it's the same OS. Those two concepts are light-years apart, unlike any iPhone made since it's inception.

But your typical iPhone user wouldn't understand that. They're too used to overpaying for the same cookie-cutter device they overpaid for last time.

So, you still think Android phones are cheaper?? Last time I looked, the Samsungs are as expensive! Guess who is overpaying these days??

Unless you're talking about the $300 junk phones, then good luck to you!!

 

[Dd663]

Unless you're talking about the $300 junk phones, then good luck to you!!

What a world we live in, where a $300 phone is considered "junk" by some.

I guarantee the vast majority of people have no real need for a phone more expensive than $200, if not lower.

 

[terzaerian]

America should worry about IMO more relevant right to repair such as with cars, which due the far left environmental movement are often extremely difficult to repair now. I was looking into getting one of those for mavericks for example and read you have to take a air shield off the bottom involving 15 bolts (!) just to change the oil. All this is because of the EPA's ultra draconion MPG regulations that increase every yr, the air shield is so it get .1 more mpg or whatever. Not too mention same truck is running a turbo engine because of same regulations, with less mechanical reliability, issue of fuel valve deposits etc. The inside of modern engine bays is a disgusting mess of wires and hoses and most of it is due to ridiculous environmental regulations that BARELY save any mpg anyway. I hate Trump but he was right on when he mentioned that in one of the debates.

It's almost as if the corporations are using the un-elected officials to end-run around the will of the people while the elected officials are paid for by their donations to make re-assuring noises to the rest of us, while they appoint the un-elected officials

Guess I'll vote [other party] next election, I'm sure that will right it

 

[terzaerian]

Were all sheep, including us Android users.
We are no different than "Apple Sheep" we all run out and pay for the next new Android device we can get out hands on.

The difference is Apple sheep don't call us Android Sheep.

smh

The sheep are anyone invested in the smartphone paradigm at any point beyond "this is garbage, and I hate it"

 

[GregonMaui]

Yah think? I could spend $69 to get my battery replaced professionally. Or take a whole lot of risk, time, etc and try to get it right. No thanks. I totally get the right to repair issue, but there are items where that is simply not feasible, like modern smartphones, and laptops where they soldered the RAM to save energy, it is a laptop after all.

So kudos to allowing right to repair, but seriously, that is like repairing your car without any tools at all. Maybe you can have someone rent you an alignment rig so you can self align wheels. No, self repair only works if you give up lightness, water tightness, and rigidity (glue helps structurally).

 

[terzaerian]

So kudos to allowing right to repair, but seriously, that is like repairing your car without any tools at all. Maybe you can have someone rent you an alignment rig so you can self align wheels. No, self repair only works if you give up lightness, water tightness, and rigidity (glue helps structurally).

It's so sad that we've lost the secrets that allowed rigid, structurally robust wonders like this to exist

Passed from history, like greek fire

 

[Hexic]

So, you still think Android phones are cheaper?? Last time I looked, the Samsungs are as expensive! Guess who is overpaying these days??

Unless you're talking about the $300 junk phones, then good luck to you!!

Android phones are still on average, including the cherry-picked higher priced Samsungs you stated, cost significantly less to purchase than iPhones. Unsure where you were going with this.. but alright.

As far as equating cheaper phones to purchase to inferior phones in general... That's the exact rhetoric that you shouldn't buy into, because it's patently false. But if you want to remain convinced that expensive phones must be better.. then good luck to you!!

 

[GregonMaui]

It's so sad that we've lost the secrets that allowed rigid, structurally robust wonders like this to exist

Passed from history, like greek fire

So modern looking. I bet it can send and receive phone calls. Of course companies could still make them, just that not very many would buy them. Or maybe the EU will ban smart phones. And Congress will require all phones utilize this classic footprint

 

[terzaerian]

So modern looking. I bet it can send and receive phone calls. Of course companies could still make them, just that not very many would buy them. Or maybe the EU will ban smart phones. And Congress will require all phones utilize this classic footprint

The bare fact I was miraculously able to finally find a somewhat rugged PKB Android, the Unihertz Titan, is the only reason my last phone "upgrade" wasn't to a feature phone. Everyone I've ever talked to about smartphones has only referred to the bendable, fragile, touchscreen era of smartphones as a situation that has been forced upon them by the market rather than an innovation which they actively sought out, and a situation that they've largely passively acquiesced to because fighting it is too hard. The enormous "demand" for the smartphone paradigm you're referring to is just part of Apple's reality distortion bleeding out to manufacterers ran by CEOs that have never had an original f*cking thought in their lives scrambling to please shareholders and investors that are even more devoid of intelligence.

 

[krisstarr]

So you spend $118 to do it yourself rather than spend $69 to have a certified Apple Repair place to do it. Makes sense.

We cant have Apple using expensive tools to do it right, and expect them to ship them to us for free.

By the way, my Samsung S20 battery cost $95.84 to replace. Makes me reconsider my options when it comes to a new phone.

If the $30 difference in battery replacement every few years is a deal breaker, please spend hundreds more to buy an I-phone so you can save $30.

 

[krisstarr]

This is so shady it's unreal.

Sounds like normal Apple SOP to me.
I will never buy anything Apple due to their customer predatory practices.
This is just more of the same.

 

[GregonMaui]

Android phones are still on average, including the cherry-picked higher priced Samsungs you stated, cost significantly less to purchase than iPhones. Unsure where you were going with this.. but alright.

As far as equating cheaper phones to purchase to inferior phones in general... That's the exact rhetoric that you shouldn't buy into, because it's patently false. But if you want to remain convinced that expensive phones must be better.. then good luck to you!!

Depends what you consider better. Cheaper phones do make sacrifices to keep price lower. But they still work. Good luck to you

 

[krisstarr]

Yes, they are cheaper yet paying more money for an Iphone to save some money on the costs of the battery is foolish.

The benefits of more expensive phones are beyond my use, so I buy inexpensive phones that work well until the battery wears out and then I buy a new one. Currently, I buy Moto's for less than $200 and will buy another one when the battery wears out as the cost is almost 1/2 of what the phone will cost.

The fact that Apple makes expensive products with and limits upgrades while generally forking you to use an authorized place fix them is not a company that I will support.

This latest move is due to their finding a way to meet the letter of the law while avoiding the spirit.

 

[GregonMaui]

Yes, they are cheaper yet paying more money for an Iphone to save some money on the costs of the battery is foolish.

The benefits of more expensive phones are beyond my use, so I buy inexpensive phones that work well until the battery wears out and then I buy a new one. Currently, I buy Moto's for less than $200 and will buy another one when the battery wears out as the cost is almost 1/2 of what the phone will cost.

The fact that Apple makes expensive products with and limits upgrades while generally forking you to use an authorized place fix them is not a company that I will support.

This latest move is due to their finding a way to meet the letter of the law while avoiding the spirit.

Not true, other companies also make premium phones, if you don’t need or want, that’s fine. Also, there is literally no way to repair these phones without equipment, period. That’s a little bit like wanting to align your own vehicle and complaining that you need expensive tools to do it

 

[GregonMaui]

Sounds like normal Apple SOP to me.
I will never buy anything Apple due to their customer predatory practices.
This is just more of the same.

Don’t ever let facts get in the way of a perfectly good argument. I do understand comparably equipped Samsung phones are only $100. Oh wait, quality for quality they are competitive, who knew. I guess that’s old Samsung and their customer predatory practices. Darn. Can’t repair them with a screwdriver and a hammer either, who knew?

 

[Loadedaxe]

If the $30 difference in battery replacement every few years is a deal breaker, please spend hundreds more to buy an I-phone so you can save $30.

It was sarcasm.