iFixit reportedly drops the repairability score on the iPhone 14 from a seven to 4 out of 10. The company retroactively dings the iPhone 14 over the parts pairing requirement of Apple.
iFixit Repairability Score on iPhone 14
iFixit is now dropping the repairability score on the iPhone 14. And while the organization in question originally gave the phone a seven out of 10 in a bid to indicate high repairability, iFixit has now lowered that very rating to a four after taking into account the parts pairing requirements that make fixing the device a real hassle.
When iFixit made its announcement on its score for the iPhone 14 in the previous year, it stated that it was looking mainly at the repair-friendly design of the device. And very much unlike its other devices, Apple reportedly included a rear glass panel that you can easily pop off with basic repair tools, and this is inclusive of a heating mat, suction handle, as well as an opening pick. While this design change in question was very much notable at the time, iFixit however acknowledges that it missed the significant hurdles to repairability that are programmed within iPhones in general.
How Apple Is Making It Hard for Users and Phone Repairers to Fix Broken iPhones
Instead of simply just swapping out one part for another, repair shops as well as DIYers must “pair” the part to the device via the System Configuration tool of Apple. And in order to do this, you must buy a genuine part from Apple, and then enter the serial number of your device, and then further pair the new part to your phone via Apple. If it is that you make use of an aftermarket part or one from another iPhone device, then know that you are stuck with annoying notifications that reportedly warn that your iPhone contains ingenuine parts, even if it is that it works the way it should.
What iFixit has to say About the New Development
“Most major repairs on modern iPhones require Apple approval,” iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens in a blog post writes. “You have to buy parts through their system, then have the repair validated via a chat system. Otherwise, you’ll run into limited or missing functionality, with a side of annoying warnings.”
The pairing process in question not only makes repairs hard for DIYers but also for third-party repair providers who at most times make use of leftover parts from broken devices. iFixit has stated that things have “gotten so bad that several repair professionals have told us they’re leaving the business entirely rather than navigate the labyrinthine maze of obstacles that Apple has erected.”
The iPhone 15 still has the Same Repair Friendly Backing as Its Predecessors
Although the iPhone 15 in question retains the same repair-friendly backing as its predecessor, it very much likely shares the same parts-pairing requirement as well as other devices available in the iPhone lineup. And until Apple starts allowing users to swap in aftermarket or used parts without problem, the repairability score of iPhones will likely remain at the low end of the table.
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