repair prices are skyrocketing

As expected, the prices for changing the battery of an iPhone, iPad or MacBook are soaring from March 1, 2023. We can’t wait for the return of easily replaceable removable batteries!

Apple announced it in January, it’s now done! Since 1^er March 2023, out-of-warranty battery replacements for its main devices cost more, both in Apple Stores and for remote repairs managed directly by the firm. As a reminder, the manufacturer had announced on its page dedicated to battery repairin a small discreetly inserted note – which has since been removed – that “battery out-of-warranty service charge will increase by $24 for all iPhone models” (except the new iPhone 14). Same story for MacBooks and iPads. A decision that is all the more problematic since its batteries are not known to be the longest-lasting on the market… Of course, Apple does not give the reason for this price increase, which will make users cringe, even if we suspect that it must be linked to inflation and the shortage of components – the reason why the prices of the latest iPhones would be so high. Nevertheless, this decision falls particularly badly in view of the climate crisis which requires us to reduce our electronic waste as much as possible…

Consumers can always console themselves with the increase in the trade-in bonus for certain Apple devices, which will be recycled via the Trade In program. Thus, it is now possible to trade in their iPhone 13 Pro Max for €695, against only €650 previously. Ditto for the iPhone 13 Pro, which benefits from 25 € more. On the other hand, nothing changes for the other models of the range. Worse still, some see their bonus drop, such as the iPhone 12 which goes from €395 to €390, the iPhone SE 5G to €120 instead of €125, or even the iPhone 8 Plus, which also loses 5 €. Good news, however, on the side of MacBooks, which now benefit from up to 810 € of recovery, against 740 € previously. As for the MacBook Air, the bonus now goes up to €480, compared to €445 a few months ago.

Apple batteries: what are the new prices for a replacement?

The rise in battery repair prices relates to Apple’s repair service. Thus, the cost for the repair of the batteries of iPhone increases by 24 €, while that of the MacBooks now costs 36 € more for the MacBook Air and 60 € more for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Finally, some iPad models see the price increase by €40 for the repair of their battery. Here is a recap:

AT note that it is of course possible to go through repairers approved by Apple and, in this case, the prices are very variable. At WeFix (the repair service of Darty and Fnac), the prices are essentially the same and the increase is effective there. Thus, it is now necessary to pay €98.90 to replace the battery of an iPhone 12 Pro, against €74.90 previously. At Save, on the other hand, the prices are, at the time of writing, the same as in January 2023, where the repair of the battery of an iPhone 12 Pro was at 89.90 9 and at 69.90 € for an iPhone 8. As a result, the repairer was previously one of the most expensive but now displays fairly advantageous prices – even if there is a strong risk of aligning itself with the prices charged by Apple fairly quickly. It is therefore advisable to take a good look at the different options available to you in the event of a battery repair to be carried out.

Apple batteries: a problem that is not new

With Apple and repairability, it’s one step forward and three steps back! If we can welcome the fact that the components are more removable on the most recent products or even the establishment of the Apple Self Service Repair service in Europe, which allows users of certain devices to repair them themselves by buying official spare parts – despite often delicate manipulations to be carried out –, the new pricing policy of the Cupertino company is surprising and disappointing…

For several years, Apple has been under pressure on the issue of the repairability of its devices, whether by its customers, by environmentalists and even by some of its shareholders. The firm is regularly accused of doing nothing – or too little – to facilitate the repair of its devices. Thus, in France, where a repairability index graduated from 1 to 10 has been mandatory since the beginning of 2021, the scores collected by the American company go, as the newspaper Le Monde noted last spring, from 4.5 to 6.10 depending on the references – and again, the brand is saved by the accessibility of its documentation, which drives up the ratings. This is a real problem because it contributes to the production of electronic waste, and therefore to pollution…

To make devices more durable and fight planned obsolescence, Europe is trying to shake things up with a law that requires batteries to be removable for smartphones, tablets, laptops and more to end this ecological and technological aberration (see our article). However, the rise in prices for battery repair – hoping that this will not also increase for the other components – dissuades the user from repairing the device and pushes him to overconsumption, making the law useless…