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> The fact that they're subsidizing the tool kits (the $1200 deposit they take is nowhere near the value of all that equipment)

That's not a subsidy - in the normal course of business the deposit is returned and no money changes hands.

The deposit is just an insentive to return the goods, it can cover 30% or 300% of the value. The tools might not be returned, and that probably is a crime, but that's not a subsidy.

You can purchase all the tools instead of renting them. Someone on reddit did the math and found it was $1100 to buy everything.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/uuocl3/the_verge_...

To confirm it, here's all the Apple Tools listed for the iPhone 12 Battery Replacement. All costed at $1086.96.

    # Apple Tools  
     $49.00 [7-Day Rental] iPhone 12 Tool Kit (Part RKIT-12) [Rental Information]  
      $0.65 Back Protective Cover (Part 923-04877)  
      $0.65 Display Protective Cover (Part 923-04878)  
      $0.70 Adhesive Cutter (Part 923-01092)  
      $2.78 Nylon Probe (Black Stick) (Part 922-5065)  
      $8.00 JCIS Bit (Part 923-0246)  
     $10.00 Super screw Bit (Part 923-02066)  
     $12.00 Micro Stix® Bit (Part 923-01290)  
     $13.33 Torx® Security Bit (Part 923-0247)  
     $29.50 Display Adhesive Press Plate (Part 923-04911)  
     $50.00 6.1-inch Repair Tray (Part 923-04908)  
     $80.00 Torque Driver (Green, 0.45 kgf cm) (Part 923-00105)  
     $85.00 Torque Driver (Gray, 0.55 kgf cm) (Part 923-00738)  
     $99.00 Torque Driver (Black, 0.35 kgf cm) Kit (Part 923-0248)  
    $108.00 6.1-inch Heated Display Pocket (Part 661-19620)  
    $115.00 Battery Press (Part 923-02657)  
    $216.00 Display Press (Part 661-08916)  
    $256.35 Heated Display Removal Fixture (Part 661-17619)

It's crazy to read this comment because the article in the verge literally makes the exact same point.

I partly agree, but I wish The Verge had been clearer that the huge kit was optional and the other parts could be bought separately.

And... I don't know, PR move or not, isn't it awesome that regular consumers can rent access to the full kit? I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to, but I'm sure someone is super excited, and good for them!

If I'd written the article at The Verge, I would have ended with something along the lines of:

> For most people, renting Apple's Tool Kit isn't worth the cost or hassle. If you don't have experience repairing electronics, the Apple Store is a safer and easier alternative, and if you do, you probably have your own tools already. It's great to see Apple selling genuine replacement parts to consumers. Just, don't throw out that iFixIt toolkit quite yet!

It's not awesome that their phones are designed so maliciously (poorly if you want to be charitable.. but what have they done to deserve that interpretation?) that you need all this kit (or the equivalent from elsewhere) to repair your stuff.

But it isn't necessarily malice or poor design, merely different priorities. Apple may well be trying to design phones that are as small, capable, and water-resistant as possible, all of which come at the cost of repairability.

I guess you can always argue for _more_ of whatever angle you prefer, but it's right there at the start of the article. It's even mentioned twice in the same paragraph.

>The thing you should understand about Apple’s home repair process is that it’s a far cry from traditional DIY if you opt for the kit — which I did, once I saw the repair manual only contains instructions for Apple’s own tools. (You can just buy a battery if you want.)

That's fair, but for what it's worth I did read the article and I legitimately missed this. I don't think I was the only one given what the reaction seems to have been.

While I have no data to support this, I don’t think “regular people” are purchasing OEM parts, renting tools for a $1,200 deposit, and risking self-repair. To me, the idea is almost absurd.

I agree, but I think lots of regular people would like to get their phones fixed more cheaply at a third-party repair shop.