While mechanical parts like buttons and back panels could be used previously as well, today’s announcement extends this to crucial components such as displays, cameras, and the battery. Apple says biometric hardware, such as Face ID and Touch ID sensors, will also be added to the list “in future,” but does not specify a timeline for this update.
The program also removes the mandatory requirement to share your iPhone’s serial number while ordering new parts from Apple’s self-service repair store — except in cases when the entire motherboard needs replacements. The company doesn’t specify whether it plans to sell used parts online or extend its refurbishment program to parts, so we assume it either wants you to (for now) buy new parts, or fish for older ones by yourself. That’s fair since used parts will fetch lesser profits than new ones, given the complexity of fixing or salvaging.
Apple, however, mentions that it will flag parts from an iPhone that’s either lost or stolen. That is because dismantling the iPhone for parts is usually the last resort for hackers if you don’t respond to their attempts at baiting you into removing the iPhone from the “Find My” app. Therefore, any parts from stolen iPhones will trigger an activation lock, effectively making them useless for repairs — just make sure to turn on Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone to thwart their efforts.
