APPLE’S latest iPhone is even more expensive to repair than its predecessors, according to a report.
Tech site iFixit has revealed that the iPhone 13 has a “screen repair trap” that effectively forces users to organise repairs through Apple-certified fixers.
2
If they don’t, the mobile’s FaceID facial recognition system – a key feature used to unlock the phone and access Apple Pay – will cease to work.
It means that owners of the pricey devices are no longer able to repair a smashed screen themselves or through a cheap, local repairman.
Instead – if they want their handset to work properly – they’re forced to get it repaired directly through Apple-approved stores, which tend to charge more.
In its report, iFixit said that the move “could change the repair industry forever.”
They discovered the “trap” after stripping down iPhone 13 models and discovering a small chip “about the size of a Tic Tac”.
That chip, which is at the bottom of the screen, pairs each iPhone 13 to its display.
When a display is damaged and needs to be replaced, the microchip must be told to pair with the new screen.
If it doesn’t receive that instruction, FaceID is disabled, according to iFixit.
The problem is that this requires “Apple Services Toolkit 2”, an expensive service that needs consent and certification from Apple.
It means unofficial fixers and users themselves are effectively unable to fix iPhone 13 models with smashed screens.
“This is a dark day for fixers, both DIY and professional,” iFixit said.
“One of the most common phone repairs that could once be done with hand tools now requires a microscope.
“This means you won’t be able to fix your iPhone screen yourself without sacrificing major functionality.
“It also has huge implications for the professional repair industry, for which Apple is the dominant brand to service.
“Small shops could be shuttered, forced to choose between spending thousands on new equipment or losing a major source of income.”
Apple released four iPhone 13 models around the world in September. They’re the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini.
The mobiles range in cost from £679 for the Mini all the way up to £1,549 for the Pro Max with the maximum storage capacity.
As well as improved camera system, Apple improved the screen loaded on to this year’s range, offering iPhones with 120-hertz refresh rates for the first time.
The Sun has reached out to Apple for comment.
2
Your iPhone has a HIDDEN ‘messaging app’ that lets you read texts as they’re typed
In other news, Google Chrome users are being warned to delete the browser amid fears highly sensitive data is being harvested.
Facebook has announced that it’s changing its name to “Meta”.
The company is working to create lifelike avatars of its users that they can control in a virtual world called the “metaverse”.
And, Apple’s system that exposes creepy iPhone apps that track your location or snoop on your browsing history has finally arrived.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
