Apple introduces recoverability ratings for devices in France

Apple has begun adding fixability scores to its website and Apple Store app in France to meet the requirements of new right to repair laws (via MacGeneration

The scores, displayed on purchase pages for a range of Apple products, give devices a rating of ten for how easy it is to repair, as do iFixit ratings for repairability. The scores are intended to inform customers about “whether this product is repairable, difficult to repair or not repairable,” said the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.

All iPhone 12 models receive a score of 6.0, while the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro score significantly worse with 4.6. The iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone XR score 4.5 and the iPhone XS and XS Max score 4.7 and 4.6, respectively.

The second generation iPhone SE with 6.2 and the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with 6.6 have better ratings. The overall best-rated model is the ,iPhone‌ 7, with a recoverability score of 6.7.

For Macs, the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro scores 5.6, the 16-inch MacBook Pro scores 6.3, and the ‌M1‌ MacBook Air scores best with 6.5.

A French Apple Support page has recoverability score information for a range of iPhones and MacBooks, with breakdowns justifying why each device is rated. The criteria include availability of repair documentation, easy disassembly, availability and price of spare parts, and software updates.

Apple determines these assessments based on a grid provided by the Department of Ecological Transition, as opposed to a central regulatory body, but they are monitored and verified by the Fraud Prevention Directorate (FRCCB).

In November last year, the European Union voted in favor of a motion on the right to repair, including a system of mandatory labeling on consumer electronics to provide explicit information about the reparability and lifespan of products. Laws forcing tech companies to display repair scores for their devices, just like those in France, could go into effect across the EU as a result.