Apple Shipped Me a 79-Pound iPhone Repair Kit to Fix a 1.1-Ounce Battery

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 21, 2022, 4:19 PM UTC

tinus_hn wrote: post #178

MereInterest wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has a very easy way to win here. If they take repairability into account while designing phones, such that repairs can be made using commonly available tools, then this entire situation can be avoided. This is especially the case for parts that have predictable degradation over time, such as batteries. If Apple backs itself into a corner, it doesn't get to complain about having no longer having reasonable optio…

If it was this simple, the other manufacturers would be doing this. But it is not this simple. If the device can open easily using basic tools, it can’t be thin, light and waterproof. But anyway, I didn’t hear Apple ‘complaining about having no longer having reasonable options remaining’. I heard you complaining about Apple providing the tools and parts required to repair their phones.

Post by kd913 » Sat, May 21, 2022, 4:20 PM UTC

starky wrote: post #269

jt2190 wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The adhesive they use to bind the screen to the body has gotten consistently tougher over the years... Unless they ditch the adhesive... We talk about this adhesive as if it's easily replaced with some screws, but I wonder if that's really true anymore. I can imagine that as devices and their tolerances get smaller that simply screwing something together might actually make the device a lot more delicate. Do you kn…

The reality is that with the way devices are designed to be IP rated and as compact as possible, your only option is these fancy PSA adhesives. There is a direct disagreement between what a consumer wants in their device and making it easy to repair, especially since most people don't expect to repair the device they are buying.

Post by snowwrestler » Sat, May 21, 2022, 4:24 PM UTC

frosted-flakes wrote: post #313

snowwrestler wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whoa whoa hold on. You can pay Apple to replace your battery. That’s been true for years. I’ve done it with multiple phones. We just had Apple replace the battery in my wife’s iPhone SE (the original version) and it’s working great. The metaphorical tires are not welded on; you can keep an old phone going with a new battery. But just like tires, if you insist on doing the work yourself , you’re going to need some spe…

You absolutely do not need any special equipment to change a wheel. In fact, the only equipment you need comes with the car , a jack and a wrench, and a spare wheel (or at least they used to). Sure, you need to buy the tires, but you also need to buy the battery.

Post by snowwrestler » Sat, May 21, 2022, 4:27 PM UTC

MereInterest wrote: post #319

snowwrestler wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whoa whoa hold on. You can pay Apple to replace your battery. That’s been true for years. I’ve done it with multiple phones. We just had Apple replace the battery in my wife’s iPhone SE (the original version) and it’s working great. The metaphorical tires are not welded on; you can keep an old phone going with a new battery. But just like tires, if you insist on doing the work yourself , you’re going to need some spe…

> But just like tires, if you insist on doing the work yourself, you’re going to need some special equipment. That is not a constant of the universe, and is entirely dependent on the design. A long time ago, I had a Palm Treo 650. The removable back cover didn't require any tools to remove, after which the battery could be popped out. I could carry spare batteries with me and swap them out as needed. Does this change…

Post by notriddle » Sat, May 21, 2022, 4:27 PM UTC

sokoloff wrote: post #180

nicoburns wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it was, say $40 more or even $100 and was marketed as being repairable, I bet a lot of people would buy it. They would after all be actually likely to get that money back over the lifetime of the phone, and it’s much more environmentally friendly. This isn’t a case of “market doesn’t want it”, this is a case of Apple don’t want to offer that choice because they make money off of the repairs.

I can’t see how Apple can make a net profit on the repair itself at $69 for modern phones, so the profit motive/outcome must come from tilting people towards replacing a phone with a trade-in credit. There is a sliver of the market who would rather replace their own battery on a 30 month old phone. There is a gigantic wedge of the market who looks forward to their battery dying so they can get the swankiest new phone…