Apple to expand device repairs by independent shops under Biden's 'right to repair' push

A director from the White House announced that Apple plans to significantly expand access to device repairs for independent repair shops and consumers across the United States. The move is part of the Biden administration's push for "right to repair" reforms.

According to a statement by National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard (via Reuters), Apple will make parts, tools, and documentation needed for repairs available to independent repair shops and consumers nationwide. This will allow third-party technicians and do-it-yourselfers to fix Apple products at fair and reasonable prices quickly.

Brainard noted that several states, including California, Colorado, New York, and Minnesota, have already passed right-to-repair legislation. She said Apple supports a nationwide right-to-repair law and will support any federal law that is passed.

A couple of years ago, Apple started making it harder for third parties to perform repairs on its devices thanks to the T2 security chip in its Macs. Repair advocates criticized the company for doing so.

But in recent years, Apple has begun touting the longevity of its products and making repairs more accessible. The tech giant kicked off its independent repair service program for third-party providers in 2019 to help customers in the US get their devices fixed by non-Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) beyond the warranty period.

As part of the program, Apple supplies genuine parts, training, and resources to small repair centers. These repair parts and manuals are similar to what the Cupertino tech giant already ships to its authorized service providers.

The repair providers also go through training sessions for free. In order to qualify, they must also agree to allow an Apple-certified technician to do the repairs.

In 2020, Apple announced that the program would expand outside of the US, with Canada and 32 countries in Europe gaining access. The latest move should increase competition in the repair market and potentially lower repair costs for Apple device owners in the US.

Source: Reuters