Warranty repair for Apple devices in Russia is expected to stretch to as long as two months in April, according to a report cited by News from market sources. The delay stems from Apple’s decision not to renew contracts with authorized service centers in Russia, with those agreements expiring in March. To manage warranty repairs, Apple plans to create a dedicated representative office that will centralize the flow of devices covered by warranty. The extended repair times are also linked to challenging logistics and the sudden change in the service network. Importantly, Apple will only honor warranties for devices purchased before March 2022 or imported from abroad. Parallel import devices will not carry Apple warranty coverage, a policy that could affect many users who bought devices through unofficial channels.
A source involved in the process from News stated that the company will no longer interact directly with Russian authorized service centers. This marks a shift in how warranty work is coordinated and suggests a transitional phase where a foreign company authorized by Apple would operate in the Russian market and arrange repairs with Russian technical centers. In practice, Russian customers would still file service requests with the authorized service centers in the same manner as before, but the actual repair work would be performed by a different legal entity under Apple’s oversight, enabling continuity of service while the new distribution framework is put in place.
Industry experts consulted by Izvestia offer a more nuanced view. They believeAuthorized Service Centers will retain a residual role in guaranteeing repairs for Apple products. The expectation is that a foreign entity, licensed by Apple to work in Russia, will strike agreements with Russian repair facilities. As a result, local users might keep the habit of contacting their ASC for warranty validation, while another entity would handle the actual repair operations. This arrangement would preserve familiar pathways for consumers while aligning with Apple’s global restructuring plan in the region.
Earlier coverage from socialbites.ca touched on the topic with a video showing the new iPhone 14 Plus in a yellow variant. The demonstration appears to be part of broader discussions about product visibility and regional marketing strategies alongside the ongoing changes in the warranty and service network. For consumers, the practical takeaway is to verify whether a device is eligible for warranty service under the new rules and to understand which service channels will be used for repairs in the coming months, as many issues depend on how the contract transitions are implemented and how imports are classified under Apple’s regional policies.