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Apple announced Thursday that it will ease restrictions on repairing new iPhones using used parts such as screens, batteries and cameras. This is a shift from previous practice, which used software to encourage the use of new, more expensive Apple-approved parts.
The change comes weeks after Oregon passed a law banning Apple’s practice of tying parts to software, known as “parts pairing.” Similar bills are being considered in Colorado and more than a dozen other states. Apple opposed the Oregon bill even before it passed, arguing that it could expose customers to security risks by requiring Apple to allow low-cost parts made by third-party suppliers. .
In the past, if an iPhone owner broke a part (for example, a screen) and installed a genuine used Apple screen purchased from a source like eBay, the serial number on the replacement display would not match and it would not work properly. did not do it. It’s in Apple’s database. The only way to install a fully functional replacement part was if you purchased it from Apple, which had tools to pair the part with your phone.
Apple’s new policy removes these restrictions starting with the iPhone 15, which was released last year. Apple said the change will start this fall and apply to genuine Apple parts, meaning parts made by iPhone suppliers. Once a genuine replacement part is installed, there is no need for the technician to provide his Apple serial number and the phone will automatically work with that part. The replacement part works seamlessly with his iPhone.
The reversal comes about five months after a New York Times analysis found that Apple’s tightened restrictions on iPhone repairs were driving up costs for consumers.
In a news release announcing the change, Apple said the change streamlines the process for pairing used Apple screens, batteries, and other parts on some iPhones, rather than parts manufactured by third-party suppliers. He said repairs will be simplified. These parts are typically less expensive and can potentially save customers repair costs. Replacing a broken screen at an Apple Store costs about $300, which is about $100 more than having the job done at an independent shop using a third-party screen.
An Apple spokesperson said that while it is possible to install third-party parts, the company believes that customer security and safety is important, so iPhones will continue to use software that alerts them when this happens. Stated. He pointed to an Apple-funded study that showed the majority of third-party smartphone batteries failed safety tests and some caused fires.
The move is a small step in the right direction, said Nathan Proctor, who lobbies states to enact repair laws on behalf of US PIRG, a nonprofit organization funded largely by small donors. Stated. For Apple, he said, it didn’t technically make sense to limit the installation of genuine Apple parts for repairs.
“It was always a stupid, stupid thing to do,” Proctor said.
Starting in January, an Oregon law requires companies like Apple to make available to customers any parts they want for repairs, even parts not approved by the original smartphone manufacturer. Starting in 2027, Apple will be fined $1,000 for every day it fails to comply with the law.
When the Oregon bill was passed, Apple said it supported the Repair Act, but added, “This bill does not provide the consumer protections that Oregonians deserve.”
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