Originally published at: Apple Extends Self-Service Repair to iPads - TidBITS
Apple today announced the addition of iPad to Self Service Repair, providing iPad owners with access to repair manuals, genuine Apple parts, Apple Diagnostics troubleshooting sessions, tools, and rental toolkits. Beginning tomorrow, with support for iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad (A16), the launch features components including displays, batteries, cameras, and external charging ports.
The announcement is good news, though it’s limited to a few recent iPad models. While I support the Self Service Repair program, which Apple launched in 2022 amid right-to-repair pressure (see “Apple Announces Self Service Repair Program,” 17 November 2021), real-world adoption by end users seems minimal. The technical difficulty of repairing Apple’s densely designed devices and the relatively high costs likely drive most people toward professional repair. Nevertheless, maintaining the program may help Apple justify the creation of hard-to-repair products that meet its exacting industrial design goals. If you’ve used Self Service Repair, let us know how it went.