To repair the phone, Apple will use used parts
Apple will make it easier to get an iPhone fixed with a used device, not just a few phones from one manufacturer: It may be too easy to get rid of an iPhone
Apple will make it a little bit easier to get an iPhone fixed with used parts, marking a reversal of long-standing, strict rules around swapping out iPhone parts.
Apple is more serious about following used iPhone components. The company announced that it will extend its Activation Lock feature, which is supposed to prevent thieves from using a device that’s lost or stolen, to iPhone parts. “If a device under repair detects that a supported part was obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be restricted,” Apple says.
The change will apply to displays, batteries, and cameras at launch. Apple says “future” iPhone releases will come with support for used biometric sensors, such as Face ID or Touch ID.
Apple had a long-held stance on third-party repair. These moves are seen by repair advocates as the bare minimum. “This was a fully untenable, unethical practice to begin with,” Proctor says. “I’m glad it’s started to be restricted, but we need laws that prevent this from happening on any device from any manufacturer, not just a couple of phones from one manufacturer.”
Oregon became the first state with a right-to-repair law. The law takes effect in January 2025. Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would also ban parts pairing, and a hearing on the bill is scheduled before the state senate Thursday. Apple did not respond to a request for comment on these measures.
The differences between the changes and aftermarket parts frustrate right-to-repair advocates. “This is a strategy of half-promises and unnecessarily complicated hedges designed to deflect attention from legislators intent on banning the practice altogether,” says Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, a company that sells tools and kits for tech repairs.
The updates may make it less appealing for thieves to steal the phone. The company will prevent the ability to calibrate to a different iPhone if a phone is reported as stolen or lost. If a genuine part is on a part on a part on a phone that is new or used, you’ll be able to see it in the settings.
