14 DAY TRIAL // iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus owners who replaced their screens at third-party repair shops using aftermarket displays, should refrain from updating their devices to Apple's latest iOS 11.3 mobile operating system.
As reported by Motherboard Vice, several iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus users who are using aftermarket screens, installed at third-party repair shops, have recently started reporting bricked devices after upgrading their smartphones to the latest iOS 11.3 software update released by Apple last month.
And by "bricked devices" we mean that you won't be able to use your iPhone's touch display anymore. Pressing or swiping with your finger on the screen doesn't work after upgrading to iOS 11.3, unless you return the device to the independent repair shop where the screen was replaced for a microchip update.
This happens because of Apple's custom microchip used in latest generation iPhone smartphones to pair with the display, so unless the microchip isn't upgraded as well, you will end up with a bricked device on your hands after updating it to the latest iOS 11.3 operating system.
Don't update to iOS 11.3 if you're using aftermarket screens on your iPhone 8
The smartest move, right now, if you're using aftermarket screens, is NOT to update your device to iOS 11.3. Maybe Apple will fix the issue with a future software, maybe not, as the company doesn't want you to fix your device's screen at third-party repair stores, but, until then, you should stay on the iOS version you're currently using.
Apple recently stopped signing previous iOS 11.2.6 firmware, which didn't brick your iPhone 8 if you were using aftermarket screens, so if you already upgraded to iOS 11.3 and ended up with a bricked iPhone 8, you can no longer downgrade it to unbrick the device.
It's not the first time this happens, as last year Apple's iOS 11.0.3 software update broke the touch functionality on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus devices using aftermarket screens. So this is Apple saying, once again, stop using aftermarket screens and stop fixing your iPhone at third-party repair stores.