iFixit has officially returned to iOS with a new free app that aims to become a point of reference for those who like to fix their devices themselves or simply want to understand what’s behind a problem before taking it for assistance.
The news is interesting not only for the content of the app, but also for the context. After years of absence from the store, iFixit returns through the front door with a much more ambitious project than a simple collection of guides.
L’app include the entire archive of iFixit repair guides in a format more convenient for mobile use. But the real difference lies in the extra tools, designed to transform the smartphone into a sort of laboratory in your pocket.
Among the main functions we find:
- a workbench section to keep track of ongoing and completed repairs
- a battery life prediction system
- real-time monitoring of battery status with degradation progress graphs
- FixBot, the AI assistant dedicated to diagnosis and repair suggestions
This combination makes the app useful for both experts and users less accustomed to repairs.
In fact, FixBot it’s the element that really moves the bar. It’s not a generic chatbot disguised as a technician, but an assistant trained on a huge archive of real repairs from the iFixit community. Instead of vague or theoretical answers, AI should return practical advice, consistent with scenarios already faced and resolved.
You can describe the problem in text or verbally, get answers even in hands-free mode and, importantly, send images to help diagnosis. Looking ahead, it is easy to imagine a very concrete use for the most common faults: battery life that doesn’t last long, charging problems, faulty keys, anomalous overheating, strange noises from laptop fans.
A clever detail of the app is the device recognition. The app already seems oriented towards showing the instructions for the model you are using by default, reducing manual searches and the risk of ending up in the wrong guide.
Furthermore, for those who want to move from theory to practice, there is also integration with the iFixit store to purchase spare parts, with compatibility checks before purchasing. A function which, if managed well, can avoid errors and useless returns.
There is also a little piece of history that is worth remembering. iFixit already had an app on iOS until 2015, which was then removed after an affair linked to a teardown of an Apple TV kit. Today, ten years later, the brand returns with a more structured approach and, probably, with a different maturity also in terms of relations with the Apple ecosystem.
The app is free. FixBot is also free for now, but in the future there should be a distinction between a basic version and an Enthusiast plan costing 4.99 euros per month, with additional functions such as uploading documents.
App Store applications
