Apple is allowing customers and independent repair shops to use genuine used Apple parts for repairs following a review of its repair programme.
The programme, set to begin rolling out from September will be available for select iPhone models, according to the technology company.
Apple said the new process is designed to prioritise user privacy, security, and safety while offering customers more repair options, extending product lifespan, and minimising environmental impact.
“At Apple, we’re always looking for new ways to deliver the best possible experience for our customers while reducing the impact we have on the planet, and a key part of that means designing products that last,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “For the last two years, teams across Apple have been innovating on product design and manufacturing to support repairs with used Apple parts that won’t compromise users’ safety, security, or privacy. With this latest expansion to our repair program, we’re excited to be adding even more choice and convenience for our customers, while helping to extend the life of our products and their parts.”
A critical step in maintaining iPhone user privacy, security, and safety is verifying the authenticity of repair parts and gathering information about them, often referred to as “pairing.” Apple said that their engineering teams have been working for the past two years to enable the reuse of parts like biometric sensors used for Face ID and Touch ID.
This fall, Apple will introduce a new system that allows calibration of genuine Apple parts, both new and used, to occur directly on the device after the part is installed. Additionally, future iPhone releases will include support for used biometric sensors.
To streamline the repair process, Apple will no longer require customers and service providers to provide their device’s serial number when ordering parts from the Self Service Repair Store, so long as the repair does not involve replacing the logic board.
Furthermore, Apple will be extending its popular Activation Lock feature to iPhone parts in an effort to deter the theft of iPhones for parts. This feature, originally requested by both customers and law enforcement, was designed to limit iPhone theft by preventing stolen iPhones from being reactivated.
“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 said.
Apple is currently the only smartphone manufacturer that offers complete transparency to device owners by displaying a Parts and Service History section within the iOS Settings app. Hence, they provide owners of pre-owned devices with access to a complete repair and parts history. This section, Apple said, details whether a device has undergone repairs and provides information about the parts used. This fall, Apple will expand the Parts and Service History section to include whether a part is a new or used genuine Apple part.
For individuals with experience repairing electronic devices, Apple’s Self Service Repair programme offers access to manuals, genuine Apple parts, and the same tools used by Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers. Launched in 2022, Self Service Repair currently supports repairs for 40 Apple products across 33 countries and regions, with support available in 24 languages.
To find out more about Apple’s authorised service providers and online support locations in Nigeria, click on link and type your city and Apple product.