I don’t think it is related to antitrust, but I do think it is related to the growing “right to repair” advocacy.
The reason I think that, is that Apple devices have always been repairable! By Apple. No one needed to “buy a new phone a year early because the battery died” if they were willing to hand their phone and $99 to Apple. I got the battery repaired in 2 different iPhones and it worked great (and was less expensive and wasteful than a whole new phone). I also got the screen repaired on one of those phones.
So look at what is new here. It’s not “an iPhone can be repaired.” What is new is that Apple will help me do the repair myself.
The reason I think that, is that Apple devices have always been repairable! By Apple. No one needed to “buy a new phone a year early because the battery died” if they were willing to hand their phone and $99 to Apple. I got the battery repaired in 2 different iPhones and it worked great (and was less expensive and wasteful than a whole new phone). I also got the screen repaired on one of those phones.
So look at what is new here. It’s not “an iPhone can be repaired.” What is new is that Apple will help me do the repair myself.