Apple has announced that repairing iPhones will become easier, but reusing old parts will become more difficult. This is what’s going on.
New repair policy at Apple
Apple will soon change how your iPhone is repaired. The company announced this at The Washington Post. With the new repair policy, used parts are reused for the first time when repairing an iPhone. For example, when repairing your iPhone, you will soon be able to opt for a used camera, for which you will probably have to pay less money.
Also read: iPhone 15 repair: these are the costs!
Previously this was not possible, because Apple only used new parts to repair iPhones. This will soon change, starting with the iPhone 15 (Plus) and the iPhone 15 Pro (Max). By reusing still working parts, Apple tries to reduce the pressure on the environment. Good news, but the repair policy also has a disadvantage.
iPhone parts are blocked
In 2013, Apple introduced Activation Lock to the iPhone. This feature keeps your phone safe, even if it is stolen. Activation Lock prevents the iPhone from being reset without the owner’s permission. To do this, you must have ‘Find My’ enabled on your device. Apple has announced that Activation Lock will now also come to various separate parts that are needed to repair an iPhone.
By securing iPhone parts with the Activation Lock, Apple tries to make the phones less attractive to theft. There is a fear that thieves will sell individual parts of iPhones. Secured components can no longer simply be reused. Apple can remove this activation lock from the components, but you are dependent on the company if you want to have an iPhone repaired.
After criticism of the new repair policy, Apple has already indicated that third-party parts are still allowed. If you have an iPhone repaired with unofficial parts from Apple, the device will still work. This does not apply to biometric components used for Touch ID and Face ID. Apple only accepts original technology to guarantee the security of the device.
Repair iPhone can be seen under settings
In addition to the new repair policy, Apple is adding a category in your phone’s settings. Once you have had the iPhone repaired, this can be seen in the settings under ‘Repair and service’. There you can see which parts of your iPhone have been replaced and whether these are original Apple parts. This way you can be sure that the repairs have been carried out correctly and that no third-party parts have been used. This is especially useful if you buy a second- or third-hand iPhone.
Also read: Theft of iPhones decreases thanks to activation lock
The new repair policy therefore has both advantages and disadvantages. Reusing old parts is much better for the environment, but you are dependent on Apple for this. You can still have iPhones repaired by third parties for a lower price, but this will be immediately visible in the settings of your iPhone. In the future, it is therefore advisable to always send your product to Apple. The new repair policy starts with the iPhone 15 and applies to all new iPhones.
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