Apple recently announced a series of important changes that directly target the way its mobile devices, the iPhone, will interact with third party components, such as screens and batteries. This measure demonstrates, once again, the enormous commitment of the Californian company to the repairability and durability of its terminals.
This measure, which is scheduled to be implemented at the end of this year, will mark an important milestone in the line that Apple has been working on in recent years to make its devices products more durable and reliable regarding battery and screen repairs.
Improved support for third-party displays
One of the most notable changes is improved support for third-party displays. Until now, Apple's True Tone feature, which automatically adjusts display colors to match ambient lighting, was disabled on devices using non-original Apple displays. According to the company, this was due to the need for precise calibration for True Tone to work properly, something that couldn't be guaranteed with third-party components.
Starting in late 2024, Apple will allow users to activate True Tone on third-party displays. The company has explained that, although the same level of performance cannot be assured as with the original screens, users will have the option to activate or deactivate this function depending on their satisfaction with the performance of the screen from another manufacturer. This update is part of Apple's effort to offer more comprehensive support for non-genuine replacement parts.
Another important change is the introduction of battery health metrics for third party batteries. Currently, iPhones do not display metrics such as maximum capacity and cycle count for non-original batteries. This is because Apple cannot verify the accuracy of this data on third-party components, and an internal company analysis revealed that some third-party batteries labeled new were actually second-hand, with metrics manipulated to appear new.
Advanced data on third-party batteries
With the new changes, Apple will begin displaying these health metrics for third-party batteries, accompanied by a notification which will indicate that the company cannot verify the accuracy of the information presented. This measure aims to offer users more information about the status of their devices, although it warns that the data shown is not guaranteed by Apple.
These updates, which are expected to be part of the improvements introduced with iOS 18 later this year, represent a significant step towards a greater transparency and flexibility in the repair of Apple devices. By allowing the use of third-party displays and batteries with advanced features and detailed metrics, the American giant is responding to a growing demand from consumers and right-to-repair advocates, who have pushed for technology companies to make their products more accessible and easy to fix.
This move can also be seen as a response to criticism and growing legislation in various parts of the world requiring technology companies to facilitate the repair of their devices. By improving support for third-party components, Apple not only improves the user experience, but also aligns with global trends toward greater sustainability and reduced e-waste.
