One of the most common problems that needs fixing on a smartphone is a cracked screen. We drop them, drop things on them, put them in our pockets and sit on them, and inevitably screen cracks happen.
When this happens to an iPhone, Apple can fix the display using one of its proprietary screen fixing machines called a Horizon Machine. Right now, you'll most likely have to visit an Apple Store to gain access to one, but that's set to change before 2017 draws to a close. Apple is concerned about several US state "right to repair" bills, and the company decided it's best to react before they happen.
Although Apple denies legislation is influencing this decision, it's worth pointing out any right to repair laws would impact Apple's lucrative repair service business. According to Reuters, repairing cracked screens is a multi-billion dollar business, and Apple enjoys keeping as many of those billions for itself as it can.
Apple's plan is to have its Horizon Machines installed at 400 authorized third-party repair centers, with those centers being spread across 25 countries. By doing so, the repair times should fall for customers while at the same time Apple is seen to be doing more with regards to allowing customers more choice. However, don't expect Apple to allow these proprietary machines to roll out without some strict rules and high fees attached for the third-parties.
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Even with this wider roll out of repair machines, unauthorized repair outlets will continue to trade and continue to use unofficial parts due to Apple's strict control over where official parts go. With that in mind, right to repair bills have appeared in New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming so far. If any are successfully passed, Apple (and other manufacturers) could be forced to supply original parts, tools, and manuals/guides at reasonable prices to anyone who wants them.
If that happened it would most likely reduce the price Apple could charge for repairs and mean sharing much more information than it would like to about the internals of its smartphones.
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