Apple will soon be increasing support for third-party iPhone displays and batteries in a bid to improve smartphone repairability.
A common criticism of Apple is that its hardware isn’t durable: iPhone batteries and displays can usually only be replaced (at a significant cost) by Apple’s official stores or repair teams, meaning that users can’t reliably repair their phones themselves or hire cheaper third-party service providers, like Android users can.
Typically, a battery replacement for an iPhone costs around $100, while a new screen can cost as much as $250 for some devices. But Apple has launched a number of initiatives to improve repairability, including expanding its self-service diagnostics tool to Europe, making it easier for customers in 32 countries to test their products for issues.
More software features coming to third-party iPhone components
Apple also released a white paper. Longevity by Design It outlines the company’s “design-for-longevity principles,” with the most important detail being that the tech giant will be extending even more software features to third-party iPhone components.
This means that features like True Tone, which automatically adjusts the white balance of your iPhone display to suit your environment, won’t be disabled if a hardware element like the display is replaced by a third party, meaning repairs won’t necessarily have to rely on Apple’s pricey repair methods.
Apple notes that because True Tone relies on variable server-side calibration and detailed communication, the results may not be up to their usual standards, but efforts are being made to improve the customer experience. Additionally, iPhone users can “disable True Tone in Settings if their display performance is unsatisfactory.”
The battery measurements also apply to third-party batteries, with the caveat that Apple cannot verify the information presented. The company remains explicitly wary of third-party batteries, and the white paper includes data from many tests that have led to extreme failures, in some cases fires or explosions.
“We encourage all consumers to make sure their products meet our strict safety requirements,” Apple wrote.
The change is reportedly expected to take place in the second half of 2024, suggesting that iOS 18 will be required to implement the necessary enhancements.
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