Apple is easing some of its restrictions on third-party repairs, as detailed in its latest white paper, “Longevity, by Design.” The company announced it will extend software support for third-party replacement batteries and displays in iPhones later this year.
This change means that iPhone users who opt for third-party repairs will not lose features like True Tone and battery health data, which were previously disabled by Apple when non-original parts were detected.
True Tone is a feature that adjusts the iPhone display’s white balance to match the surrounding environment. Currently, Apple disables this feature if a third-party screen is installed.
The upcoming change will allow users to activate True Tone even with third-party screens, although Apple warns that these screens may not display colors as accurately or perform as well as the original parts. Users will have the option to disable True Tone if the third-party screen does not meet their expectations.
For third-party replacement batteries, Apple will now display health metrics but will notify users that it cannot verify these batteries.
This decision follows an internal analysis revealing that some second-hand batteries are sold with manipulated metrics, which can falsely show a maximum capacity of 100 percent. This measure aims to provide users with transparency about the condition of their replacement batteries.
Apple has historically been at odds with third-party repairers of iPhones, but it has gradually opened up. In 2022, the company made the iPhone 14 easier to repair but maintained strict restrictions on third-party replacement displays.
These restrictions posed significant challenges for third-party vendors trying to fix broken original screens. However, Apple announced in April that starting with the iPhone 15 and newer models, iPhones would be repairable with genuine used parts.
These changes indicate a shift in Apple’s approach to third-party repairs, offering more flexibility and support for users who choose non-Apple parts. While the company still emphasizes the superior performance of original parts, it acknowledges the demand for third-party repairs and aims to balance this with user experience and transparency.
