How and Why Apple Makes iPhone Repairs Difficult
After youtuber Hugh Jeffries already figured it out, iFixit has now confirmed it with tests and documentation: the cameras of the iPhone 12 cannot be replaced yourself. It is the latest in a long list of changes from Apple to make it more difficult to replace parts yourself.
Hugh Jeffries, a YouTube user who buys and refurbishes old devices on his channel, tested it by buying two iPhone 12s and trying to swap the PCBs. Even then it turned out that the camera turned out to be a tricky point. With the right pcb in it, the camera change also caused problems. His conclusion was simple : Apple connected the camera to a specific PCB.
Now iFixit has repeated the test and come to the same conclusion. The cameras work, but not reliably and some functions no longer work at all. More importantly, iFixit has unearthed documentation showing that Apple did this on purpose. An internal manual for certified repairers indicates that when replacing the camera it is necessary to use the System Configuration app. That app cryptographically links components together to ensure that iOS disables functions or displays notifications if users replace parts themselves or have them replaced by non-certified repairers.
What happens when you replace iPhone parts
The link between certain components and the PCB has existed for seven years now; the feature came with the iPhone 5s. In addition, the link between the fingerprint scanner and the PCB was more logical; the scanner relies on the Secure Enclave for its features and security. It is not in the scanner, but on the pcb.
Gradually, parts have been added that cannot be replaced without consequences. Of course, Face ID will not work if users replace the module with the front cameras themselves. When the battery is replaced, users will no longer be able to see the battery status in the settings. Users can see how full the battery is, but the extent to which the battery is worn out can no longer be looked up. iOS also gives a permanent message that users must go to a repairer with the battery for maintenance. The first time it is also displayed that it may not be an Apple battery.
When replacing the screen of newer models, the message that it may not be an Apple component also appears, but the TrueTone function for automatic color adjustment also disappears; it will then no longer be found in the interface and will no longer function.
And now there is the camera. It does not report, but the camera app clearly shows that the software behaves unstable. That is gone when the original camera is put back.
To be clear: the parts that do not work or malfunction and the reports do not only come from unbranded cheap alternatives for components, but also from original Apple parts from another iPhone. In theory, it is possible to get rid of those reports, but this requires specialized equipment, Rewa writes .
| What happens after switching component | Notification | operation |
| Screen | ‘Possibly not an original part’ | Part works, TrueTone does not work |
| Battery | ‘Possibly not an original part’ | Part works, battery status does not work |
| Camera | – | Barely works |
| Touch ID, Face ID | – | Does not work |
Why Apple makes repairs more difficult
The strange thing is that iFixit is not at all negative about the repairability of the iPhone 12, despite the different types of sometimes proprietary screws that you have to remove. Battery and screen are relatively easy to replace, because the housing opens from the front. With many Android phones, this is from the back, which makes replacing the screen a longer job.
But repairing iPhones in many cases requires access to Apple systems on Apple servers, and the iPhone maker itself does not sell original components for its phones. The US House of Representatives also wondered why that was the case and got this answer from Apple last year . “Repairs performed by untrained repair technicians who may not follow all safety procedures may result in product malfunction, quality issues or safety issues.”
Apple shows that it doesn’t have much faith in companies it hasn’t audited. “Repairs that do not properly replace screws or caps may leave loose parts that can damage components, such as the battery. This can lead to overheating and result in injury.”
Protecting consumers is therefore the goal and Apple also makes it seem as if that is a virtue that costs money. Because, the iPhone maker claims, every year since 2009 Apple has lost money on the expensive repairs it performs. Whether this is really the case or whether it is an accounting trick cannot be read from the information.
iFixit does not think that is a good argument, not even when replacing fingerprint scanners or 3D facial recognition cameras. According to iFixit, that can’t be a problem for Apple. “That’s a slim chance. Apple’s security team is top-notch and Google and Samsung allow swapping the fingerprint scanner without any problem.”
With cameras, that argument cannot be made at all, iFixit believes. “An authentication check on a simple camera replacement poisons the market for repaired, second-hand iPhones. Without any benefit to iPhone buyers, it smells like greed. Or worse: planned obsolescence .” Planned obsolescence is the idea that manufacturers purposely make products less useful over time to encourage the purchase of new products.
According to iFixit, what Apple should do is clear: Make tools and replacement parts available so that people can repair their iPhones at home. Other brands do better in that area, but certainly not perfect. Many brands do not sell original parts themselves, so you have to trust that you order original parts. The best in this is the Fairphone. The Fairphone 3 is easy to open and repair and you can buy parts in their own webshop.
Legislators are also not on Apple’s side in this case. The European Commission wants consumers to be able to repair appliances themselves . With this, the ‘Right to Repair’, the name for the campaign to fight for the right to carry out repairs, should end up in European legislation. The same is true on the other side of the Atlantic. Many states are working on legislation to enshrine the right to repair electronics yourself. The idea is that accessible repairs prevent e-waste and that it is more sustainable in the long term.
That should sound like music to Apple’s ears, because the company always shows that it pays a lot of attention to reducing e-waste and sustainability . For example , the company wants to be CO₂ neutral by 2030 and no longer supplies chargers and earphones with iPhones to reduce e-waste.
This makes the right to repair something that causes a clash of values within Apple. Letting people repair devices at home without negative consequences is good for sustainability and the environment, while Apple loses its iron grip on the repair market and thus has less control over which component is in which iPhone. Time will tell whether Apple makes a different choice, or whether it is forced to do so by legislation.