iFixit questions Apple’s Right to Repair commitment and lowers the repairability score of the iPhone 14. It has to do with the software only approving brand new parts.
DIY repair guru IFixit has just issued a bold rebuke to Apple, affirming the company’s self-proclaimed commitment to the right-to-repair movement. Additionally, the organization retroactively downgraded the repairability score for the iPhone 14 after initially being quite impressed with the phone’s easily accessible hardware.
How easy it is to repair “at home”, in fact, the iPhone 14
The iPhone 14’s score dropped from a respectable 7 out of 10 to a “do not recommend” 4 out of 10. In other words, iFixit says the phone is no longer a viable DIY option, even though Apple sells replacement parts through the program Self Service Repair of the company. This is because auto repair is more than just parts. So there’s software involved, and iFixit says Apple’s code intentionally limits repair options for most tasks.
The company in question mocks Apple for creating a “maze of obstacles” for both consumers and third-party repair technicians. It all boils down to software that requires and verifies parts bought directly from Apple. Otherwise, you will lose functionality and receive endless warnings during use, as the system will not successfully pair aftermarket parts.
The repair must also be validated by a proprietary chat system that requires personal information from the customer. Third-party technicians didn’t relish the prospect of sharing their customers’ private information just to replace a battery. Additionally, consumers and technicians alike typically rely on used or third-party parts, and Apple’s system discourages both options in favor of purchasing expensive brand-name components.
A post on the iFixit website about the matter stated that it heard from several repair professionals who were excited about this rather than dealing with Apple’s constant obstacles.
