Apple’s self-repair schemekicked off earlier this yearwith the iPhone.
Repair and Reuse
Apple
Being able to repair your system is essential.
And that means that Apple has to replace it.
iFixit
On the iPhone, screen replacements and battery replacements arepretty straightforward.
You canbuy a kit from iFixitcontaining the battery and tools for around $45.
- iFixit’sguidehas 26 steps and takes 1-2 hours to complete.
Apple
Why such a huge difference?
Because Apple insists that you replace the entire top case of your system, including the keyboard.
If that sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is.
Chonticha Vatpongpee / EyeEm / Getty Images
You pretty much have to disassemble the whole machine.
The price of this part is also absurd.
Apple won’t sell the battery alone, says Goldheart.
You have to buy a new top case as well.
It’ll cost you around $500.
and, of course, you’ve wasted a perfectly good keyboard in the bargain.
In the future, a battery replacement part will be available.
For devices to be sustainable, they need to be repairable.
Apple’s repair program is a good start, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough.
