Re:The Verge is so bad they have me defending Apple [video]
by Zren on Sunday May 22, 2022 @01:20PM
(#31470517)
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)
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.