Apple announced on April 11th that it will be improving its existing repair processes.
Starting this fall, certain iPhone models will support customers and independent repair shops to use second-hand Apple parts for repairs.
Apple stated that the new process will protect the privacy and security of iPhone users while providing consumers with more options, extending the lifespan of products and parts, and minimizing the environmental impact of repairs.
However, consumers are more concerned about Apple's restrictions on third-party repair parts compared to using second-hand components for repairs.
It is reported that Apple has been using a "serialization" solution for replacing parts in iPhones, which involves adding an official serial number to repair parts.
If third-party repair parts are used without an identified serial number from official parts, some functions may not work properly. Apple has used this method to restrict third-party repairs on iPhones.
For example, if a non-Apple original battery is installed, the phone will prompt that the "battery health information" function is unavailable. Non-Apple official cameras will also prompt that third-party components are being used or restrict some functions.
Apple's explanation is that the purpose is not to monopolize but to make repairs easier and ensure the safety of devices and repair periods.
However, from the user's perspective, Apple's actions limit the ways users can repair their devices, forcing them to go to Apple's official after-sales repair, where the repair costs and parts prices are higher than third-party options, which is the main reason for user dissatisfaction.
However, at the end of March this year, the governor of Oregon, USA, recently signed the SB 1596 bill, which became the first law in the United States to prohibit digital device manufacturers from using the "serialization" solution.
According to the law, digital product manufacturers will no longer be allowed to limit users' choices of third-party repair services or non-original parts repairs through "part serialization." At the same time, manufacturers are also not allowed to use this method to reduce device performance or display misleading information, which will have a significant impact on the repair methods for Apple iPhones.
