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The giant tech company Apple has had to change many long-standing practices recently. While most changes stem from the ongoing European Union crackdown, some seem to be independent decisions made by the company’s higher-ups. Unfortunately, it took a long fight against the right-to-repair movement for Apple to start supporting used parts for iPhone repairs.
Apple announced a major change in supporting “used genuine parts” for mobile repairs. With the cost of first-hand mobile repairs increasing, Apple’s decision will likely make things easier and cheaper for end-users and independent repair stores.
Apple announces support for used iPhone repair parts
Apple is notorious for taking aggressive actions to discourage independent repair stores from profiting off its products. The most well-known action is parts pairing or serialization. This restriction is when the serial number of a component like an iPhone screen or battery is digitally paired to the iPhone’s serial number. If an end user or independent repair store takes a genuine component from one phone and places it in another, the component may not function properly.
Apple made a statement initially defending parts pairing. However, the company then highlighted its plans to allow customers and independent stores to use used parts in iPhone repairs. These plans will take effect this fall beginning with “select” iPhone models, likely including and maybe starting with the iPhone 16.
The company plans to launch an “overhauled parts calibration process.” Applying to both new and used iPhone parts, the process will begin after the part is installed. The fall overhaul won’t include support for used biometric sensors like Touch ID and Face ID. However, future iPhone models will come with it enabled.
According to Apple, an iPhone user’s privacy, security, and safety are the company’s highest priorities. On the other hand, the goal is to offer consumers more options. That’s coupled with, increasing product longevity and minimizing the environmental impact of a repair.
The change comes with added convenience and transparency
Apple’s decision to support used iPhone parts for repairs comes with added convenience for independent repair shops. Customers and independent repair stores won’t have to send an iPhone’s serial number when ordering repair parts. However, this change only applies to parts unrelated to the logic board.
Additionally, Apple has started prioritizing transparency, as indicated by the Parts and Service history page in the iOS settings app. In addition to giving second and third iPhone users information on whether their phone has been repaired, the page will also show whether a part is new or used.