14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has decided to relax its policy towards iPhone repairs, allowing Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers to accept smartphones with aftermarket batteries.
Until now, should customers brought an iPhone with a third-party battery for servicing, they were denied the repairs. However, beginning this week, Apple’s service engineers accept iPhones with such batteries as well, no matter the type of repairs that are required.
As per MacRumors, engineers can repair the display, the logic board, microphones, and the other components regardless of the battery that is being used on the iPhone.
Furthermore, if the battery is the culprit, Apple’s service centers can now replace the third-party unit with an official Apple battery without any extra cost, with the customer required to pay only the standard fee. The cited source adds that Apple Genius Bars are required to drain the battery to less than 60 percent, though the reason isn’t provided.
Not all third-party repairs allowed
While Apple has obviously relaxed its repair policies, it doesn’t mean the company will begin accepting iPhones with any third-party repairs. Only the batteries are targeted by this silent update, so if you changed your iPhone’s logic board, microphones, headphone jack, or other components at a third-party shop, your repairs would still be declined.
As for the reasons Apple decided to allow third-party battery repairs, little is known at this point, but it’s believed this change of mind is a result of the company struggling to maintain its userbase, especially because the latest-generation iPhones are considered too expensive.
If Apple allows iPhone users to repair their devices regardless of the battery being used on their phones, the company can make sure these customers don’t switch to Android. This is obviously the preferred choice if they don’t buy an iPhone, especially as these users can still generate revenue for the company thanks to other purchases and spending in the App Store.