Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
long story short
- Apple just announced support for used parts in iPhone repairs.
- Starting with upcoming iPhone models, used parts will be available to customers and independent repair chains.
- Future iPhones will also support repairs using old biometric sensors.
Apple has long taken an aggressive stance on iPhone repairs, using its parts-matching practice to discourage repairs at independent shops. That changes today, as the company has just announced support for older parts in repairs.
Apple says it will allow customers and independent stores to use used parts in iPhone repairs, starting with “select” iPhone models this fall (ostensibly the iPhone 16 series).
The company said it will launch an overhauled parts calibration process in the fall. This process works on new and used iPhone parts and occurs on the device after the part is installed. Apple added that future iPhones will support the biometric sensors used (such as Touch ID, Face ID). Additionally, customers and independent repair shops will no longer be required to provide the phone’s serial number when ordering repair parts that are not related to the motherboard.
The Cupertino giant also explains how to prevent stolen iPhones from being used for repairs:
If the device being repaired detects that a supported part was obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be limited.
Apple added that it will also update the Parts and Service History page in iOS to show whether a part is new or used.
Apple’s support for used parts comes after a long battle with the right-to-repair movement, which has seen several U.S. states and the European Union enact right-to-repair legislation. One of the most notorious anti-repair practices is Apple’s aforementioned parts pairing process, which allows the company to track and control how parts are used. The company even displays fear-mongering messages on iPhones saying that if the parts are not approved by Apple, the display or battery is not genuine. iPhone users have even been forced to have their biometric sensors repaired by Apple themselves after second-hand sensors failed to work. However, the company did launch a self-healing program in 2022.