Apple will finally let users repair their iPhones with used parts

This appears to be a significant advancement for iPhone repairs by consumers and independent repair shops.

Apple has announced a transformative update to its iPhone repair policies, significantly enhancing flexibility for customers and independent repair providers. This new policy will enable the use of recycled Apple parts in repairs, an effort aimed at expanding repair options, prolonging the lifespan of devices, and lessening environmental impacts.

Key Changes and Benefits

• Increased Repair Options: Customers and independent repair shops can now fix iPhones using Apple-approved recycled parts. This change is designed to offer more choices in repair solutions and support device longevity.
• Quality and Standards Assurance: Apple ensures that these recycled parts meet the same safety, security, and privacy benchmarks as new parts, maintaining high-quality repair standards.
• Simplified Repair Process: Apple is streamlining the repair procedure by removing the need to provide a device’s serial number for certain repairs. This will make the process quicker and less cumbersome for users and repair shops.
• Eco-Friendly Approach: By allowing the use of recycled parts, Apple is taking a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of its repair processes. This initiative is part of Apple’s broader commitment to sustainability.

Implementation and Future Prospects

John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, highlighted the company’s efforts over the past two years to ensure that recycled parts are perfectly calibrated and paired with devices to meet Apple’s standards. This forward-thinking policy will be implemented in the coming months for specific iPhone models.

Furthermore, Apple’s Activation Lock feature will be extended to parts to prevent the use of stolen devices for repairs. The Parts and Service History feature will also be expanded to show whether a part used in a repair is new or recycled, providing transparency to device history.