Apple has expanded its self-repair program to cover more devices, opening it up to some Macs with the M1 and Apple Studio Display.
The self-service repair scheme allows device owners to make their own repairs by providing the right parts, instructions and tools for the purpose. However, you have to be very confident when tinkering with the gadgets to do these repairs basically.
As Six colors (opens in a new tab) mottled (via Edge (opens in a new tab)), from now on, users will be able to self-repair iMac (M1), Mac mini (M1) and Mac Studio, as well as Apple Studio Display, in addition to devices already covered by the scheme (i.e. MacBooks and iPhones).
As you may recall, Apple recently expanded the horizons of its self-repair program to Europe (including the UK), as it was initially a US-only venture. Unfortunately, the new devices described above are not warranted in Europe and are currently only usable by US citizens.
Analysis: many more options (but some expensive repairs)
Of course, this is a positive step forward on the PC front for Apple as, as mentioned, when it comes to computers, previously only MacBooks were covered by the scheme.
Presumably, it’s only a matter of time before Apple expands the range of these various Macs (and display) to Europe. The self-repair program only arrived in Europe after just over half a year, so we can hope to see this expansion go live in less time.
As we mentioned above, this is definitely aimed at tech-savvy Apple device owners as some of the procedures will actually be quite tricky even with full instructions and proper tools provided. (By the way, these tools can be loaned to you, you don’t have to buy them.) For many people, the most sensible route will be to have an Apple (or an authorized service provider) repair it.
Some DIY repairs can also be expensive. As The Verge points out, if it’s the screen on your Studio Display that needs replacing, a new one costs nearly $970, although you get a hundred bucks for returning the broken screen to Apple. It’s also worth noting that it’s apparently possible to replace the tilt-only stand with a tilt-and-height model, and the Studio Display repair manual details the procedure anyway (or swap one for a VESA mount or vice versa).