The cost of the tools required for device repair and the cost of genuine components make self repair almost as expensive as getting a repair from an Apple retail location or an Apple Authorized Service Provider
Malicious compliance accomplished.
Apple's instructions for all of the battery repairs include expensive equipment like an iPhone battery press to put a replacement battery back in place.
It's like they just copy-pasted their production line processes, but clearly that's not necessary.
Apple is known for their... interesting attitude towards repair, even in the previous manuals that have leaked. It somewhat reminds me of German automotive engineering --- lots of special tools and fixtures when a simpler and more conventional process would work just as well.
The Apple provided tools are the ones used at first party Apple stores to perform authorized repairs. At some point, some bean counter tabulated the cost of building X000 machines and shipping them across the globe for a marginal increase in repair quality and deemed it a worthy tradeoff.
If you want to repair phones to the equivalent quality of Apple stores, Apple makes it possible via their "overengineered" machines. There's nothing in Apple's ToS that forces you to make repairs this way, you're welcome to buy the Apple genuine part and use your own heat mats and press and whatever and knowingly make that tradeoff.
In just about any other situation in life, you will have to make some investment in tools with the understanding that you can use them multiple times.
For example, I bought the iFixit repair kit nearly a decade ago and I have used it for any minor work for all that time. $80 spent once and I’ve never once needed to fish for some strange bit or tool no matter what device I’ve opened. In fact, the iFixit kit will still be sufficient for this entire repair plus the 9 volt battery of course.
Unless you’re saying all these are one time use tools but I didn’t see that from the parts lists.
I get what you mean and I agree. I own lots of tools just because I understand that they are a good investment.
What I think the parent is referring to is this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/120983
Obviously it is bullshit to suggest that a consumer would buy these tools. But it is also bullshit to suggest that you actually "need" a 'battery press' just because it is on the parts list.
The average phone repair shop will know how to loosen some battery adhesive very well with various techniques. So I don't think they will be discouraged by the Apple documentation.
Malicious compliance? Seems like it, a little bit. Still useful though.
I think it could also be a sort of protection from customers breaking things leading to bad press. As you point out repair shops will be capable of doing repairs just fine, but your average users will probably think twice about getting the tools. I guess I can use myself as an anecdotal example, I’m the sort of person who might try to do a repair despite never having done any sort of work on electronics since I build a radio and a weather station in the Danish equivalent of high school decades ago. I’d probably end up breaking some parts.
I’m rich enough to buy the Apple tools but I’m too much of a grinch to buy them. I actually think iFixit protects me from myself as well because it’s too complicated (for me) to buy the tools I’d need.
I was holding out for the EU DMA third party app store, but it's clear that Apple is not on a good trajectory. The fact that they slept on Siri for so long only to then finally add "Open"AI to it with limited availability is, but another dot in the pattern.
When MacOS was still called OSX and developers were the Macbooks greatest contributors and cheerleaders, things looked a lot different. A lot of the current framework components were copied from community components back then.
I'll miss the closed loop payment card support from iOS, but for everything else, I'll just say good riddance ...
> It's like they just copy-pasted their production line processes, but clearly that's not necessary.
If they copy-pasted their production line processes the parts would cost less than $40 total.
It's really frustrating seeing all the comments here defending Apple. Is this astroturfing or are these people not aware how much of a gigantic pain in the ass it is to repair an iPhone because of shit like this? Something that is Apple's direct responsibility. Even repair shops hate these fucking things.
The cost of the tools required to cut my lawn is far more than hiring someone to cut it.
Likewise for almost every home or car repair.
The whole point is that the tools are largely a once off purchase and repairing your phone is something you might do throughout your life. Therefore the initial costs should be spread over a longer period.
Do you expect your iPhone 16 battery press tool to still be useful in 2 phone generations ? How many times do you see yourself replacing the iPhone 16's battery ?
If Apple was also promising to keep the same process for the next 7 years I'd see a point to this, but this of course not the case.
> Do you expect your iPhone 16 battery press tool to still be useful in 2 phone generations ? How many times do you see yourself replacing the iPhone 16's battery ?
Lots of my bike tools I have will take over a decade to get my money back on my stuff alone. But I get to do something I mostly enjoy. I can also help out friends/acquaintances when they need it. The same goes for this.
[delayed]
Hey do you have any recommendations on a small kit to bring for long bike trips?
https://www.selfservicerepair.com/en-US/tool-kit-rental
Considering that it's been the same battery press going back at least as far as the iPhone 12, it's probably going to continue to be the same battery press for a long time. Especially now that they've definitely been using the same battery press across at least two methods of gluing in the battery (the adhesive with pull tabs, and the new adhesive that's released electrically).
My dude, I bought a Park Tools Crank Puller CCP-44. This works on a M12 or M15 crank bolt. This is great since it worked on my Peloton and my bike. Then the other day, my friend's bike needed a CCP-22 which works on an M8 crank bolt. Oh no, why did the bike industry not all use M12. I am replacing my iPhone 13 tomorrow with an iPhone 16. Three years of use. If I were using it another three years, I might use the battery press once. This is how tools are. To have amortized utility, you need to use them multiple times. The CCP-22 was a one-time use tool.
Replacing a consumable part, particularly a battery, should not be a complex repair requiring specialised tools.
iPhone batteries have been replaced long before Apple provided specialized tools, so you don’t need any of them. They will make your life a lot easier though.
Sorry, but have you ever repaired anything? The number of things the price and complexity of a phone, that can be repaired for less than the replacement cost, when you include tools, is…very small.
I wonder if aliens exist, what technology they have for basics like transportation. Do they just load themselves into a cannon and shoot them to the destination? Just completely different ways of doing everything.
Out of curiosity, I checked whether Google Pixel has something similar, and found the list:
https://xdaforums.com/t/official-google-repair-guides-for-va...
> Compared to prior iPhone models, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are easier to repair. Apple is using an electric battery removal process, and the steps for accessing a battery to replace it are outlined in a separate support document <https://support.apple.com/en-us/120642>. Per Apple's instructions, a 9-volt battery and 9-volt battery clips can be applied to the iPhone 16 battery to remove the adhesive that holds it in place.
"Easier" is relative I guess:
Here’s every tool you’ll need to replace the iPhone 16’s battery https://9to5mac.com/2024/09/20/heres-every-tool-youll-need-t...
* 9-volt battery
* 9-volt battery clips (923-10726)
* Battery press (923-02657)
* Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes
* Nylon probe (black stick) (922-5065) or suction cup
* Safety glasses with side shields
* Sand
* Sand container
By contrast, the Treo 650 battery replacement took a few seconds and zero tools.
Removing a battery attached with previous type of adhesive is torture - the elastic tab frequently tears off, and I ended up a few times having to bend the old battery a lot, to get it out (very unsafe, it starts heating).
So, to me, this is a huge progress. Plus, don’t you normally have 9v battery and some connectors for it already?
This is not progress, this is overengineering pretending to be progress.
Batteries don't need to be glued on in the first place.
No, it helps on a lot of issues. Starting with safety (it reduces damage on drops).
A small amount of adhesive might be justifiable, but the amount used is excessive and seems there primarily to increase ‘repair friction’, in a rather dangerous way - actively increasing the chance of a battery fire when replacement attempts are made.
That's a really good reason, but could you elaborate on the other issues? Just curious.
Don’t forget that first you need to remove the back glass, which requires:
Torque driver (blue, 0.65 kgf cm) (923-0448)
Torque driver (green, 0.45 kgf cm) (923-00105)
Security bit (923-0247)
Micro stix bit (923-01290)
Nylon probe (black stick) (922-5065)
ESD-safe tweezers
Adhesive removal tool (923-09176)
Adhesive cutter (923-01092)
Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes
6.1-inch repair tray (923-10712)
Camera cap (923-10716)
Display press (661-08916)
Cut-resistant gloves. Gloves may vary by region.
Heat-resistant gloves. Gloves may vary by region.
Safety glasses with side shields
Most of this is available in any electronics screwdriver kit.
And the rest is just for safety.
It's amazing how people will think this is anything out of the ordinary for a repair shop
But I guess Apple caters to the people who think getting grease in their hands is beyond them.
No one is stopping you from using a Treo 650.
I remember dropping my treo 650 while hiking. The back cover came off, the battery went flying and worst of all - my memory card was dislodged and disappeared in the woods.
Better than dropping an iPhone, breaking the glass screen/back, then getting angry about the limited repair options…
Was there a point to this story?
I have a pixel 5a with a dead screen that runs but can't be used because the dead part is part of the motherboard not the screen. It's a known problem with this model. So it still runs, but I can't recover any pics or texts from dead people from it because I can't respond to the screen prompts to allow the USB connection.
I don't see how I'm any better off.
Use USB-C to connect a hub with display and mouse, copy data over internet.
Commenter was pointing out a design problem. Your phone has a different design problem. Are you arguing that a device being able to fail in one way makes it ok for it to also be able to fail in other ways?
Nothing solves for data loss except a half decent backup strategy.
Sadly, Verizon is:
CDMA Network Update https://www.verizon.com/prepaid/cdma-network-update/
> Starting Dec 31,2022 we no longer support 3G/4G Non-VoLTE. To keep your service active, upgrade your phone.
Not just Verizon; the literal FCC, who licenses and restricts what bandwidth can be used for what purpose.
The FCC did not mandate the transition:
Why are 3G networks being phased out? https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/plan-ahead-phase-out-3g...
> As mobile carriers seek to upgrade their networks to use the latest technologies, they periodically shut down older services, such as 3G, to free up spectrum and infrastructure to support new services, such as 5G. Similar transitions have happened before. For example, some mobile carriers shut down their 2G networks when they upgraded their networks to support 4G services. Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands.
You can get a combo 5G hotspot plus power bank and tape it to the back of your device. Then you can keep using your device on WiFi alone.
The same way that McDonald’s or H&R Block are preventing you from using a Treo 650. Those companies also do not provide cellular service compatible with that phone.
The main difference being that Verizon sold me the phone and supported it on their network until they didn't. So yes, the Treo 650 still turns on and can be used without voice or data service, but claiming that Verizon is no more preventing me from using it than McDonald's or H&R Block in this case seems disingenuous.
Was the Treo 650 waterproof? :)
Is gluing the battery inside the case really a requirement for waterproofing?
When they remove the battery cover -- "oh, waterproofing"
When they glue the battery amd remove all screws -- "oh, waterproofing"
When they eventually require an approved persons blood sample to perform repair, will I also hear the "oh, waterproofing" thing?
Or perhaps get Samsung Xcover Pro - removable battery and IP68 rating (and audio jack!) https://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_xcover6_pro-11600.php
Do people go swimming with their phones?
Older devices could generally handle splashes, e.g being used in light rain. Water damage seemed far less likely than drop damage.
Yes, I do.
It was water-indifferent, like a Jeep.
(Kidding. I did love mine and I did not protect it, and I'm sure it got rained on many times, but I don't know if I ever literally hosed water through it. :)
That is significantly easier than trying to remove a glued-on battery.
And removable batteries require far more internal space which is why they fell out of favour.
And removable batteries require far more internal space
No they don't. Less than 1% extra volume.
that seems not possible but i'm just guessing. where are you getting the 1% from?
Please provide source.
Especially given that you would want to preserve some form of water resistance.
Meaning you either (a) have the entire back be removable or (b) a battery injection mechanism similar to a Leica SL3. Both of which would seem to need far more than 1% extra volume.
It's almost like Apple is maliciously complying by overcomplicating the procedure, which is not surprising.
> almost like Apple is maliciously complying by overcomplicating the procedure
Sorry, which of a 9-volt battery, alcohol wipes, safety glasses or sand (and a container for it) screams inaccessible? (And everything there is technically optional. I doubt most Treo 650 users drained the battery before touching it, or bothered with a suction cup.)
Removing the back glass takes special tools, but I'll take that over having to replace my phone every time it gets wet.
Not "inaccessible" but totally unnecessary. Why the bloody hell do you need a 9-volt battery to replace the battery!?!?
Removing the back glass takes special tools, but I'll take that over having to replace my phone every time it gets wet.
Gaskets have been around for over a century.
Their own repair guide states you can use literally any DC power supply, up to 30V. No need to waste 9Vs when you can use an off the shelf DC supply.
Gaskets require pressure. Adhesive doesn't. Different solutions for different problems.
"every tool you need" sounds like basic stuff for a repair shop
Nobody is going and buying the Apple 9v battery or "Apple sand"
ah yes the readily available custom "Battery press (923-02657)"
https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/SZLF0YNV/images/tp/bucket_3...
I think we just found a use for all those Juicero's destined for the landfill.
This seems to be a new device, should be a matter of weeks to have a similar tool show up in Amazon, etc
There are alternative devices one could use, or you know, just use the tools you have, as long as you keep the pressure smooth. Possibly a Juicero kind of device
With a steady hand something like this would work fine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00409KRB4
Oh, give me a break.
You can still do all the same shit with iFixit tools. These are just the genuine tools aimed at repair shops.
Good for apple. I hope consumers pressure them to be open about more things
consumers, and the EU
All it took to easily replace the battery on my IPAQ PocketPC was another battery.
Something that every PocketPC user rapidly learned to be adept at because without the boosted Chinese batteries the thing didn't last that long. Amazing for the time, but looking back, what a primitive device. And you had to pay for OS upgrades!
