Previous Apple repair policy pretty much ignored iPhones with batteries from third-party repair shops, but things are now looking different for those who use aftermarket batteries.
According to a new report, Apple is now reportedly updating its repair policy to make iPhones with third-party batteries eligible for repair.
Updated Repair Policy
An internal memo obtained by MacRumors notes that Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) and Genius Bars will now fix iPhone units with batteries from third-party repair shops.
Before the policy update, AASPs and Genius Bars refuse to repair iPhones with third-party batteries or any other components that are not originally from Apple, regardless of the issue. For example, if an iPhone's microphone needs fixing but AASP technicians spotted a third-party component in the unit, it would be ineligible for repairs.
In the new documents, Apple technicians can now repair iPhones even if they have third-party batteries. For battery-related concerns, technicians will now be allowed to replace a third-party battery with an official Apple battery for the standard fee.
In addition, according to MacRumors, if a battery's tabs are missing or broken or has excessive adhesives, technicians may replace the entire iPhone unit for the cost of just the battery replacement. Of course, this will depend on the technician's discretion.
Just to be clear, AASP technicians will still not repair iPhone units with other third-party components such as microphones, logic boards, enclosures, headphone jacks, Lightning connectors, TrueDepth sensor arrays, and sleep/wake and volume buttons.
Apple Throttling Old iPhones
In late 2017, news of Apple deliberately slowing down old iPhones surfaced. The Cupertino company confirmed this news after a while, saying that it's doing so to avoid random shutdowns in old iPhones.
At that time, many speculate that Apple is intentionally throttling iPhone performances to force users to upgrade to newer units. In Apple's defense, it denied that it's not intentionally slowing down older iPhones because it wants newer models to sell.
"Our goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices. Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components," Apple said (via TechCrunch).
