Feels like we are entering a better era. Apple probably knows if they don’t clean up their act, it’s going to bring in regulations which will be out of their control. Better to preempt the regulations and just make reparability a focus.

They started doing it at least partially because of regulation, including California and EU law.

I think it also matters for them, since they sell a ton of Apple Care+ subscriptions. That wouldn't be profitable if it was a PITA to replace the battery or the screen, so this ends up being a win-win.

Starting with the iPhone 15, iPhones have had 7 repairability scores on ifixit

Cool. Thanks for the correction.

Been awhile, since I looked at that (I'm still using a 13).

They’ve been improving a lot in the last few years. Legal pressure from various governments is likely a big part of that.

More likely to be Apple’s giving in to the inevitability of right to repair laws and their emphasis on ecological friendliness. Otherwise, you’d see more Android phones becoming more easily repairable.

Some of this may be self-interest in how hard it is for their people to repair the phones in Apple Stores.

Mostly though I agree it’s pressure from California and the EU and such to make things more repairable.