Apple has started adding repairability scores to its website and the Apple Store app in France to meet the requirements of the new “right to repair” laws.
The reviews that appear on the purchase pages for a number of Apple products displayed give devices a rating on a scale of ten points for how easy they are to repair, similar to iFixit's repairability ratings. The scores are intended to inform customers "whether this product is repairable, difficult to repair or unrepairable," according to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition. All iPhone 12 models received a score of 6.0, while the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro scored significantly lower at 4.6.
Apple Repairability: iPhone 7 performs best
The iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone XR have a score of 4.5 and the iPhone XS and XS Max have a score of 4.7 and 4.6 respectively. The second generation iPhone SE has better ratings with 6.2 and the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with 6.6. The best-rated model overall is the iPhone 7 with a repairability score of 6.7. Among Macs, the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro scores 5.6, the 16-inch MacBook Pro scores 6.3 and the M1 MacBook Air score 6.5. On a French Apple support page, the repairability information for a range of iPhones and MacBooks is available. listed, with breakdowns explaining why each device received its rating. Criteria include availability of repair documentation, ease of disassembly, availability and price of replacement parts, and software updates.
Right to repair: regulation could be extended to other EU countries
Apple determines these ratings using a grid offered by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, but the whole thing is monitored and verified by the Fraud Control Directorate (FRCCB). In November last year, the European Union voted in favor of a Right to Repair motion that would establish a system of mandatory labeling of consumer electronics to provide explicit information on the repairability and lifespan of products. Laws requiring technology companies to indicate the repairability of their devices, similar to those in France, could come into force across the EU. (Image: Apple)
