I've only ever taken two devices back to Apple for repair. One was an ageing iMac that needed a new hard drive and the other was a MacBook that failed completely. In the first case, Apple replaced the hard drive at a price that was about 30% in excess of what I expected. The MacBook was fried and Apple replaced it completely with a new unit before the 12-month warranty period was up.

But a recent expose by CBC News in Canada has painted a less than stellar picture. Simple repair jobs are being over-charged with fixes that other repairers complete in minutes.

Apple's upcoming iOS 11.3 update is bringing a few improvements to its augmented reality software, some new animoji, and, luckily, more granular control over your iPhone's performance. You'll be able to choose for yourself whether or not you want to decrease the performance of your iPhone for the sake of boosting your battery life, overriding Apple's previous and controversial decision to slow down iPhones with degraded batteries, all without the user's knowledge.

Got an iPhone 6 or 6s? Chances are you're dealing with a slightly slower smartphone thanks to Apple's reveal that it was slowing down iOS devices affected by degraded batteries. The company has since announced it will offer battery replacements for iPhone 6 and later devices. But whether or not you're a victim of some power management snafu, you should replace your battery anyway.

Now that Apple's admitted to slowing down iPhones with degraded batteries, you're probably interested in figuring out whether your battery is losing its ability to hold a charge (and whether you should replace it). There are a few ways to do this, either with an app or by waiting a few weeks, when Apple says it will provide customers with more information about their batteries. Still curious in the interim? Here's what to do.

With Christmas time comes a lot of gifting and with gifting comes some inevitable disappointments. Whether you were on the receiving end of a dud gift that just doesn't work or you gave something away that turned out to be faulty or didn't work as expected - it's important to know your rights when it comes to returning, repairing or refunding a product or service.

Here are a few tips to ensure you don't get stooged at the register when returning a product that didn't quite live up to expectations.

Dear Lifehacker, The air conditioning on my car recently broke down, and the quote for replacing it is around $3000. So I am considering trading in my broken car and getting a new one. The car still drives fine and the A/C button still lights up, but no cold air comes out. If I am trading in my car, do I have to tell the dealer about the broken air conditioner? Is it a case of "only tell them if they ask" or do I have to tell them from the start? Thanks, Cold Comfort

Dear Lifehacker, I just moved into my own place! It's my first home, and I'm excited. However, I know there are repairs I'll have to do myself, and I have some improvements I'd like to make too. Problem is, I don't know where to begin. How do I use these tools, and where do I even get them? How do I make sure my work is safe and not damaging my home? Does anyone offer training for new homeowners?

Research from Finder has found Australians have spent $755M on replacing busted smartphones. And we're breaking them at a rate of 1370 each day - that's almost one every minute. So, given the odds of an Aussie smashing a smartphone seem pretty high, should you think about insuring your smartphone?

Remember the Apple 'Error 53' issue where iPhones were bricked after having their screen repaired by third-parties? Initially, Apple said the problem was that it couldn’t trust the TouchID sensor hadn’t been tampered with but then followed up saying the build of iOS that caused the issue included a checking feature that wasn’t intended for mass deployment.

If you're buying a new iPhone, you should probably factor the extra cost of Apple's optional device insurance, AppleCare+. For a one-off fee, AppleCare+ will cover the cost of a couple of repairs or replacements from accidental damage. With the launch of the iPhone 7, though, Apple has changed the pricing of AppleCare+ in Australia -- making it cheaper to replace a smashed screen but more expensive to fix anything else.

Dear Lifehacker, Recently, the LCD on my digital camera cracked. (I had just bought the camera in February.) I contacted the manufacturer and they said that I can send it in, pay an "assessment fee" and then get a quote for how much it would cost to fix the camera. I understand cracked screens are not covered by warranty, but is paying to get a quote legal?

Spending more for quality clothing is always a good idea, but even quality clothiers screw up sometimes. Instead of spending more to take it to a tailor to be repaired, re-sewn or re-hemmed, check with the manufacturer -- many offer surprisingly good repair or replacement policies.

If you're shelling out hard-earned cash on a laptop, then you want to make sure you get years of service out of it. Some wear and tear (both physical and digital) is inevitable along the way, but if you take good care of your machine you can keep it running smoothly for longer -- just like a well-maintained car or bicycle. Here are four tips and tweaks that will extend the life of any laptop.

Yesterday afternoon, we attended the Australian launch of the LG G5; an intriguing Android smartphone that boasts a modular design with a host of snap-on peripherals. But arguably the most exciting announcement was LG's commitment to replacing smashed G5 screens for free -- not questions asked. This is something we're seeing more and more of as smartphone vendors look to win over prospective customers. But so far, Apple has refused to come to the party. What gives?

Rewrapping a bicycle tube is a simple enough process, but done incorrectly, you end up with a bit of air in the tube that wastes space. Global Cycling Network shows you how to do it right.

Last week, Apple came under fire for "bricking" iPhones that had undergone unauthorised, third-party repairs instead of going through the official iPhone Repair store. Now, the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) is wading in to determine whether the so-called "Error 53" violates Australian consumer laws.

iFixit is well known for being the best source of smartphone repair guides around. Now, the company has launched its own certification program if you want to prove you know how to repair phones.

No matter how careful you are, skirting boards are bound to get chipped and damaged by furniture legs or errant feet. Instead of finding and installing a replacement board, you can repair them yourself much more simply.

Those little nail or thumbtack holes in a wall are tiny, but unsightly. Thankfully, it's easy enough to fill them. All you need is a little bicarbonate soda and some super glue.