News on November 13, for many years, repairing iPhones has been easy. A cracked screen can be replaced in minutes, as can a damaged camera. But since 2017, iPhone repair has become a minefield. A new battery may trigger a warning message, a screen replacement may invalidate the phone's brightness settings, and a replacement selfie camera may malfunction.
These glitches are due to the software Apple wrote. Even if someone buys an iPhone, Apple still controls the phone. Cars can be repaired by auto repair shops and self-repair enthusiasts using generic parts, but the new iPhone is encoded with serial numbers that identify original parts, which could cause a malfunction if parts are replaced.
According to iFixit, a company that analyzes iPhone parts and sells self-repair accessories, there are seven iPhone parts this year that may cause problems during repairs, compared with only three in 2017.
iFixit conducted a series of tests to determine which parts could cause problems when swapping between working iPhones of the same model. The results show that as iPhones are updated, the number of failures increases.
This software mechanism, known as "parts matching," encourages Apple users to turn to its stores or authorized repair centers, where parts and labor are more expensive. In recent years, only approved parts and authorized repairs have prevented problems. The cost to replace a cracked screen is typically closer to $300, about $100 more than an independent store using a third-party screen.
Apple's trade-in service values the iPhone 14 at about $430. In other words, the cost of replacing the iPhone 14 screen is almost equivalent to the recycling price of this phone.
Apple's control over repairs prompts users to spend up to $200 on device insurance AppleCare, which provides free battery replacement and screen repair services. Apple generates about $9 billion in annual revenue from the service.
It also raises questions about Apple's commitment to sustainability, with independent repair advocates saying Apple can more effectively achieve its goals of reducing carbon emissions by lowering repair costs to encourage users to maintain their devices rather than buy new ones.
An Apple spokesperson said the company supports customers' right to repair their devices and has created a self-repair program to help. “We are always innovating to provide customers with the best options and solutions when their products need repair,” he said.
State lawmakers from New York to California have passed laws aimed at making repairs easier. The Biden administration is encouraging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to move forward with rules that would prevent smartphone manufacturers from restricting independent repairs. But most regulations do not explicitly limit "parts matching."
The iPhone 7 released in 2016 is known as the last model that is easy to repair. Only one feature—TouchID—stopped working after the phone's home button was replaced during a non-Apple-authorized repair.
The iPhoneX released in 2017 represented a major shift in iPhone design. However, "parts matching" has also been added. If the display and front camera are replaced, they will not work properly.
Apple’s latest iPhone 15 has more functions, and with it comes more “part pairings.”
As chips get faster and memory becomes cheaper, software-controlled repairs have become common practice in electronics, appliances and heavy machinery. HP uses similar practices to encourage people to buy its ink cartridges instead of cheaper alternatives. Tesla uses it in many cars; farm machinery dealer John Deere uses it in agricultural equipment, making it impossible for non-company maintenance workers to repair the machines.
Companies such as Apple argue that the practice is to protect customer security and the company's brand. Apple says inferior parts, such as faulty facial scanners, can compromise the safety of phones, and if independent repair shops have problems, customers tend to blame Apple rather than the repair shop. This approach also allows Apple to create a record of device parts, which can be helpful to second-hand phone buyers.
However, the increase in the number of "parts pairs" sparked a movement to reduce repair costs and make repairs easier. Supporters, including iFixit, say extending device life is better for the environment and consumers. They urged lawmakers to simplify repairs and asked the question: "Is a device owned by the user or the manufacturer after it is purchased?"
"Basically you have to ask for permission before you can do repairs," said Nathan Proctor, who lobbies U.S. states on behalf of nonprofits to legislate repair services.
Apple expanded its software restrictions in 2017, hurting the repair business. Shakeel Taiyab, an independent repair shop in South San Francisco, said his iPhone repair business has dropped by about 15% this year. Some customers with problems such as cracked screens continue to use broken phones because repair or replacement costs are too high.
FreeGeek, a non-profit organization in Portland, Oregon, donates repaired computers and smartphones to needy people. FreeGeek technical director Amber Brink said they decided not to repair iPhones anymore because Apple's software made the iPhone repair process too complicated.
Brink said that last year, FreeGeek received thousands of donated iPhones, but only 280 were repaired. "It's a real pain in the ass," she added.
For consumers unwilling to pay the high fees for Apple-authorized repairs, there may be some inconvenience. Gio Grimaldi, 15, of New Hampshire, broke the screen of his iPhone SE during a ski trip and took it to a nearby repair shop.
He said the nearest Apple store, a 90-minute drive from his home, charged $130 to replace the screen, 40 percent more than an independent repair shop. The phone he took home worked fine but lacked the TrueTone software feature that automatically adjusts screen brightness and color.
"It's really stupid," he said. "I've always liked Apple, but they're really rigid about third-party repairs."
In the past year, states including New York, Minnesota and California have passed bills requiring electronics manufacturers to provide parts, tools and manuals to third parties.
After years of lobbying against such regulations, Apple agreed to support California's law and comply with it nationwide. Brian Naumann, Apple's head of repair services, said Apple is also encouraging the federal government to adopt similar regulations. He spoke about the right to repair at an event at the White House last month.
"Apple has taken significant steps to provide consumers with more repair options, which is good for consumers' budgets and the environment," Norman said.
But California's legislation fails to directly address Apple's use of software to control the repair process. In Oregon, Democratic state Sen. Janeen Sollman, who represents an area outside Portland, is among lawmakers aiming to pass a state law that would ban Apple and other companies from imposing restrictions on repairs.
As legislation moves forward in Oregon, Apple encourages lawmakers to reduce restrictions. Solman said Apple paid six lawmakers this year to visit its Silicon Valley headquarters and try to emphasize to them the importance of safety in repairs.
She said she was not convinced. "I said, 'You make repairs more accessible, but it's not really a right to repair if you have ultimate control,'" Solman said.