Test Apple's self-healing program with iPhone 12 Mini battery repair

Apple last week announced a new self-repair program designed to allow iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and iPhone SE owners to repair their devices themselves using manuals, tools and replacement parts purchased directly from Apple.

We were curious about how the do-it-yourself repair program worked and how easy it was compared to bringing your product to Apple for repair, so we asked MacRumors's videographer Dan Barbera to order Got a repair kit to replace the battery of his iPhone 12 mini.

Dan describes himself as the opposite of a handyman and has never repaired an iPhone before, so we think he's the perfect representation of the average consumer who just wants a DIY repair Come and save money.

First, we ordered a kit and components the day the program went live and received it shortly after, so the turnaround time we needed was pretty quick. It's worth noting that for most repairs, you'll need parts and Apple's repair kit. The repair kit comes in two separate packages, and the two boxes weigh up to 79 pounds. You'll get it a week before you need to send it back via UPS or Apple will charge you $1,300.

Having to deal with one 40 pound repair kit and another 30 pound repair kit is inconvenient, so that's a negative. The kit costs $49 to purchase and the iPhone 12 mini battery pack costs $70.99, but you'll get $24.15 back when you send in your old part.

That means replacing the battery on the iPhone 12 mini will cost a total of $95.84, compared to $69 to have Apple replace the battery, so doing the repair yourself isn't cost-effective.

Please note that you can order the parts separately without the kit, but Apple's repair manual instructs users to use tools from the kit that they otherwise wouldn't have on hand, such as the Apple-designed battery press .

You can buy all the tools separately to make repairs on the go, but Apple's components are expensive. A battery press is $115, a torque driver is $99, a heated display removal bag is $116, and a display press is $216, all of which are required to remove the battery, according to Apple's repair manual.

For people who want to do a single repair, it's not cost-effective to use anything other than a rental kit, although for repair shops who want to use Apple-designed tools, It makes sense to purchase some individual parts.

As for the actual repair process, Dan found it difficult, even with Apple's instructions and tools. It's frustrating to get in, and the kit is missing components the manual requires, such as tweezers and heat-protective gloves.

Dan needed to make two trips to the store to buy more supplies, and because of that, the repairs took the better part of the day. Dealing with the adhesive is very time consuming and almost stops self-healing.

Overall, for the uninitiated, it is better to take your phone to a professional for repair rather than trying to fix it yourself. This is especially true for repairs on devices like batteries and displays, which are often cheaper for Apple to replace.

If you're brave, you can save some cash if you need camera, Taptic Engine or speaker repair, but be sure to read the manual and understand what you're getting into.

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