In its latest whitepaper, Apple emphasizes its dedication to creating long-lasting products through a balance of durability, repairability, and continuous software updates.
John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, notes, “Designing the best, longest-lasting products in the world requires striking a balance between durability and repairability, while providing ongoing software updates — and we’re constantly looking for new and innovative ways to accomplish that mission.”
Key statistics from the whitepaper highlight Apple product longevity:
- iPhones maintain at least 40% more of their value compared to Android smartphones, with the gap widening for older models.
- Hundreds of millions of iPhones have been in use for over five years, with the number continuing to grow, outlasting competitor devices.
- Out-of-warranty repair rates dropped by 38% from 2015 to 2022.
- Repairs for accidental damage decreased by 44% since the iPhone 7’s introduction, which featured improved enclosures.
- Liquid damage repairs reduced by 75% after the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus incorporated liquid ingress protection.
- Enabling iPhone 15 back glass repair as an individual module lowered repair expenses for customers by over 60%.
- 85% of the US population lives within a 30-minute drive of an Apple Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or Independent Repair Provider.
- A UL Solutions study found that 88% of third-party batteries tested either caught fire or exploded in at least one test.
Apple also presents its repairability principles in the whitepaper:
- Environmental Impact: Prioritizing sustainable practices.
- Access to Repair Services: Ensuring widespread availability of repair options.
- Safety, Security, and Privacy: Maintaining high standards for user safety and data security.
- Transparency in Repair: Offering clear and open repair information.
The whitepaper addresses Apple’s parts pairing practice, clarifying that it uses software to identify component parts through unique identifiers. This practice aims to enhance repair accessibility and transparency for customers while ensuring device security and optimal performance.
Contrary to claims that parts pairing pressures consumers to seek Apple-only repairs, Apple notes that it conducts less than a third of out-of-warranty repairs.
The decline in both in-warranty and out-of-warranty repair rates by 78% and 38% respectively from 2015 to 2022 reflects the increasing quality and reliability of Apple devices.
