At the end of the day, Apple repairs are often expensive due to the Apple brand and its well-known history of costly repairs. The company needs to be inflexible about the services it provides due to the high volume of repairs, its reputation, and its warranty. While the cost of parts and labor is a major factor in the high repair prices, there are other contributing elements. For instance, almost all large technology companies have a virtual monopoly on most of the repairs that are done on their devices. This appears to be a significant source of income as they are investing heavily and lobbying against laws that would make it easier for users to repair their own products.
I wish Apple, given its size, would defend user control over products. The cost of Apple repairs depends on several factors. Battery and screen replacements are usually cheaper than other replacements. Additionally, if you have AppleCare+, your Apple product may be fixed at no cost or for a small fee, and it may be changed almost immediately.
Apple recommends that iPhone repairs take 6 to 8 days if you send your iPhone to an Apple repair center. The right to repair movement is backed by the EU and its goal is to pass laws that make new devices easier to repair. You can go to an independent repair shop, but keep in mind that they can't offer repairs covered by the Apple warranty or AppleCare plans. Apple products are not known for being easy to repair; in fact, Apple could be accused of making them difficult to repair by gluing and soldering components in place and using special safety accessories that make it difficult or impossible to remove them. Apple is far from the only electronics company guilty of making it difficult to repair products that end up being discarded prematurely, but it can certainly do its part by improving the repairability of its products and making repairs easier and cheaper. Since the launch of the iPhone XS and XR, repair companies and home repairers have discovered that it is no longer possible to change the battery without finalizing the change through the system configuration, an online tool that Apple makes available to its stores and authorized repair companies. Other reasons that may help you get a free repair are if your product has been recalled or meets the requirements of a repair program.
If your Mac, iPhone, or iPad is included in one of these recall or repair programs, you might be able to repair it for free. iFixit is famous for offering guides on the repairability of several Apple products that highlight problems that could lead to you needing a repair in the first place, such as the breakable glass on the front and back of the iPhone. In conclusion, Apple repairs can be expensive due to several factors such as brand reputation, warranty requirements, parts costs, and monopolies on repairs. However, there are ways to get free repairs such as through recalls or repair programs. Additionally, iFixit offers guides on how to fix certain issues yourself if you feel comfortable doing so.
