The point is that the battery is a consumable part. It should be easy to replace.
Not everyone lives near an Apple Store, and phones are so essential to people that they're not likely to be prepared to mail their phone off for service.
1) don't live near an Apple Store
2) don't live near any AASP (like Best Buy)
3) don't live near any one of the many 3rd party repair shops that do these replacement daily
4) don't have the mechanical and technical skills do do the replacement themselves by ordering the parts (and possibly renting tools) from Apple
5) and also have $1k+ to be spending on a new iPhone every time the battery degrades too much
> 4) don't have the mechanical and technical skills do do the replacement themselves by ordering the parts (and possibly renting tools) from Apple
There's several YouTube videos explaining how ridiculous this process is (renting the 'proper tools' from Apple). It's another attempt by Apple to justify repair-resistant devices by claiming it requires massive cases of specialised tools to do even the most basic repairs. Which maybe it does, but only because the devices aren't designed to be repaired...
You don't have to rent the tools from Apple. Apple will happily sell you just the battery and rent or sell as many or as few of the tools as you like. If you want to use the tools the professionals are going to use, you have that option. If you want to "shade tree mechanic" it, you're welcome to buy just the parts and follow their teardown process with your own tools, or follow someone like iFixit's teardown process with your tools and Apple's battery. And there's nothing wrong with doing it with "non-professional" tools. DIY car enthusiasts have been working with make shift alternatives to professional multi thousand dollar tools forever. Surely the DIY tech enthusiast isn't above the equivalent of tensioning your alternator with a 2x4 right?
Apple hasn’t ever said you have to use their specialized tools for repair.
Laws were passed requiring Apple to make their specialized tools, and the instructions to use them, available to consumers… so they did. And now the same people are criticizing them for doing exactly what was asked.
When and if they make available cheap tools to perform battery repairs at home, the same cast of characters will come out of the woodwork saying that the Apple Monopoly is unfairly targeting iFixit’s low-cost self-service repair business.
It seems like the HN audience feels ripped off by the $500 they paid for Mac Pro wheels, and plan to get their money’s worth by installing them on the goal posts instead.
Not everyone lives near an Apple Store, and phones are so essential to people that they're not likely to be prepared to mail their phone off for service.