Apple’s iOS 17.0.3 update appears to have solved the widely reported overheating problems for some users. But the update also fixed a lesser known issue that saw some front-facing camera features disabled after a repair.
YouTuber Phone Repair Guru and repair company iFixit discovered that when the iPhone 15 front-facing camera module was swapped for the exact same part in another iPhone 15, it stopped working properly. Initially, the camera app feed wouldn’t load. But this was ultimately fixed by factory resetting the handset, the Phone Repair Guru found. However, after the reset, the shutter button stopped working.
In its teardown, iFixit blamed this on Apple’s policy of serialization, otherwise known as parts pairing. This is where certain parts are paired (like the battery and display) to the logic board and can’t be replaced, even with parts from the exact same model, without losing features if Apple’s calibration tool isn’t used. That tool is only available to Apple and Apple-certified repair shops.
But repair specialist Ricky Panesar, founder of iCorrect, has found that the disabled camera features in a repaired iPhone 15 will return after updating the device to iOS 17.0.3.
Panesar swapped the camera module between two brand new iPhone 15 Pro units and experienced the same fault as the Phone Repair Guru and iFixit. But after the update, the fault had been fixed and the selfie camera was working properly, as he demonstrated in the video below.
Panesar believes this is Apple rolling back on parts pairing after recent backlash against serialization in its products, including the iPad Pro display, iPhone 15 battery and Macbook Pro display. Apple didn’t immediately respond to my request for comment on if this was a change in its approach to serialization or simply bug fix.
It’s hard to know if Apple is changing its attitude toward parts pairing. But Panesar previously explained to me that he—and others in the repair community—had expected the new USB-C connection to be paired to the logic board. This was a concern based on leaked images of the charging port before the iPhone 15 was released. In theory, it could have restricted iPhone 15 owners to only using Apple chargers, or cables, through reductions in data speed or warning messages. Fortunately this never came to fruition.
Apple also recently reversed its stance on California’s right to repair bill SB 244, which will require manufacturers to make it easier for consumers to repair their electronics by providing parts, tools and repair diagnostics to necessary parties, including third party repair shops. Apple now endorses the bill, with some conditions, after previously lobbying against proposed right to repair legislation.
Whether or not we’re witnessing Apple loosening its grip on independent repair remains to be seen. It is still difficult for third parties outside of the Independent Repair Provider Programme to replace certain components, in some Apple devices, because of serialization. It remains the case that new iPhone 15 battery features like the cycle count, which displays how many times the battery has been fully charged, will be lost if the battery is swapped out without authorization.
Panesar thinks that removing iOS features for non-genuine components makes sense because Apple can’t verify their integrity. But for genuine parts made by Apple, customers and independent repair organizations shouldn’t have to jump through Apple’s hoops to fix devices they own.
“What should happen is the device should do a system update and say, ‘ah, I can now confirm that the two microchips that I’m reading on this battery are original. Thank you, I’m happy to use this battery.’ But, if you use an aftermarket [non-genuine] battery, the device should say ‘I’m sorry, I can’t give you access to the battery health feature’ because battery health is only for original batteries.” Panesar said.
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