Apple Will Soon Offer Face ID Repairs Without Replacing the Entire iPhone

[MacRumors]

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon be able to repair Face ID on the iPhone XS and newer without having to replace the whole device, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors from a reliable source.

Apple said authorized technicians will soon have access to a new TrueDepth Camera service part containing all Face ID and front camera modules, allowing for same-unit repairs. Apple said the move will help to reduce the number of whole-unit repairs completed, as part of the company's commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of its products.

For customers, same-unit Face ID repairs could be more affordable than a whole-unit replacement, but the memo did not include pricing details.

Apple introduced Face ID on the iPhone X in 2017, but that device appears to be excluded from the new same-unit repair process for the TrueDepth system. The new service part will be available for the iPhone XS and newer.

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will be able to use the Apple Service Toolkit diagnostic tool to determine when to perform a same-unit Face ID repair instead of a whole-unit replacement or an "iPhone Rear System" repair. Apple said related documentation and training will be made available at a later date.

Article Link: Apple Will Soon Offer Face ID Repairs Without Replacing the Entire iPhone

 

[contacos]

What happens if you have AppleCare+ and you do not go to an AppleStore and instead request express replacement? Usually they just send you a "new" or "refurbished" phone before you have even sent back your "broken" phone right or did that change over the years?

 

[icanhazmac]

Good news! Though I'm sure this repair wouldn't be any fun to perform but anything that helps "repairability" is a good thing versus shipping phones all over the world for replacement/repair.

 

[ouimetnick]

Why now instead of back in 2018 when iPhone XS launched? I guess it’s better late than never, but this took a long time.

 

[Adithya007]

Wowe thank you! My personal driver has been a Xs with the FaceID disabled ever since a water damage. Where I’m from, the whole phone replacement costs ~800$ so I’ve lived with this for about a year damn. High time.

 

[Danfango]

What happens if you have AppleCare+ and you do not go to an AppleStore and instead request express replacement? Usually they just send you a "new" or "refurbished" phone before you have even sent back your "broken" phone right or did that change over the years?

No they still do that. My daughter fell off her bike last year and smashed her SE back glass and they sent a new (not refurb!) one out next day and we sent the other one back in a box. They pre-authed the whole value on my credit card of course but that's fair to prevent scammers.

 

[smoochy84]

Wowe thank you! My personal driver has been a Xs with the FaceID disabled ever since a water damage. Where I’m from, the whole phone replacement costs ~800$ so I’ve lived with this for about a year damn. High time.

Internal liquid damages still require a whole unit replacement, no modular repair.

 

[kemal]

Eco-shamed into it. Nice.

 

[xenitassos]

Wowe thank you! My personal driver has been a Xs with the FaceID disabled ever since a water damage. Where I’m from, the whole phone replacement costs ~800$ so I’ve lived with this for about a year damn. High time.

I've got the exact same issue. My water resistant XS got water damaged in its first year of life. Luckily, only Face ID was affected. I was quoted a 700 euro fee to replace the device. I wonder if apple is still going to find a way out of repairing it now because Face ID failed due to water damage...

 

[Sin_sniper468]

Wowe thank you! My personal driver has been a Xs with the FaceID disabled ever since a water damage. Where I’m from, the whole phone replacement costs ~800$ so I’ve lived with this for about a year damn. High time.

Liquid damage trumps face ID, it’ll still be $800! Sorry

 

[JosephAW]

Yes but does my AppleCare+ cover oLED screen burnin on my iPhone 11 Pro Max?

 

[Adithya007]

Internal liquid damages still require a whole unit replacement, no modular repair.

Liquid damage trumps face ID, it’ll still be $800! Sorry

But but I’d opened it up and cleaned everything, the Face ID sensor was the only place that had taken water, there was zero water everywhere else. The phone’s been running perfectly fine too I wish I could just change the FaceID module for a fair price.

 

[AmazeSE]

Wow now this is progress. Hopefully Apple does not charge the same price for the repair.

 

[Sydnxt]

But but I’d opened it up and cleaned everything, the Face ID sensor was the only place that had taken water, there was zero water everywhere else. The phone’s been running perfectly fine too I wish I could just change the FaceID module for a fair price.

It will be up to the AASP/Apple Store to decide if that's the case, usually, liquid damage is an automatic whole unit replacement.

 

[zorinlynx]

What happens if you have AppleCare+ and you do not go to an AppleStore and instead request express replacement? Usually they just send you a "new" or "refurbished" phone before you have even sent back your "broken" phone right or did that change over the years?

The thing is, theoretically they can still do this, while replacing the bad part.

Give the customer a replacement device immediately, then repair their old device later on to avoid making the customer wait.

Then sell the old device as a refurb.

 

[Natzoo]

I’m assuming this means cheaper repairs?

 

[MacNerd1239]

Every person charged for a full phone replacement should be credited the difference -- they were told this isn't possible.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Every person charged for a full phone replacement should be credited the difference -- they were told this isn't possible.

This will likely result in a class action lawsuit where some lawyer will make millions off it and each person will get 15 cents.

 

[_Spinn_]

Good news. I guess I didn't realize broken Face ID required a whole device replacement. Wonder why this wasn't the case to begin with?

 

[JippaLippa]

Man I have a white 13 too, with the same wallpaper, but it makes me regret having a silicon case on (even though it feels amazing to the touch).
It's so beautiful without a case.
I hope Apple will release new colours for the silicon cases, this spring.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I wonder what reason there is to exclude the X with this repair option? The FaceID modules look identical including the connectors..

 

[tipoo]

They wanted 900 Canadian dollars to fix my FaceID on my XS Max, while offering only 430 dollars to trade the same device in. Hope I can get access to this soon and the prices aren't insane.

 

[tipoo]

I've got the exact same issue. My water resistant XS got water damaged in its first year of life. Luckily, only Face ID was affected. I was quoted a 700 euro fee to replace the device. I wonder if apple is still going to find a way out of repairing it now because Face ID failed due to water damage...

Same! Ever since the iPhone 7 I've felt perfectly fine getting an iPhone a bit damp in the rain or wiping the screen down with a damp cloth, but I guess FaceID is a lot more sensitive which makes it less water resistant as that killed it.

 

[Sydnxt]

Good news. I guess I didn't realize broken Face ID required a whole device replacement. Wonder why this wasn't the case to begin with?

They’re paired to the Logic Board when they’re produced, like MacBooks and TouchID. Before this there wasn’t a way to change just one of those parts, this was to prevent self repair. Maybe since they’re offering self service soon they’re becoming more lenient.

 

[NapoleonIV]

Finally!