Apple has announced plans to allow the use of used genuine Apple parts for repairs on select iPhone models starting this fall, in a move it’s calling as reducing environmental impact.
“At Apple, we’re always looking for new ways to deliver the best possible experience for our customers while reducing the impact we have on the planet, and a key part of that means designing products that last,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, in a statement on Thursday.
“For the last two years, teams across Apple have been innovating on product design and manufacturing to support repairs with used Apple parts that won’t compromise users’ safety, security, or privacy. With this latest expansion to our repair program, we’re excited to be adding even more choice and convenience for our customers, while helping to extend the life of our products and their parts,” said Ternus.
Apple will use a “pairing” process to ensure used parts are indeed authentic to ensure the privacy, safety and security of iPhone. The company told the Washington Post that starting with iPhone 15 models and newer, used screens, batteries, and cameras will be possible for repairs. Have an older iPhone? Sorry, used parts won’t be an option.
Over the past couple of years, Apple says it has been working hard to allow for the reuse of parts such as biometric sensors, ensuring that calibration for genuine parts, whether new or used, occurs on the device after installation. The company is also planning to support used biometric sensors in future iPhone models, simplifying the repair process by removing the need for serial number provision for non-logic board related repairs.
To fight the abuse of stolen iPhones for parts, Apple will extend its Activation Lock feature to iPhone components. This move will disable calibration capabilities for parts obtained from devices marked as lost or stolen.
Apple is also improving transparency regarding device repairs and part history. Through the Parts and Service History feature in iOS settings, users will see detailed information about repair history and the nature of parts used—whether new or used genuine Apple parts. This feature is coming later this fall.
Over the past five years, Apple says it has expanded its network of service locations offering genuine Apple parts, tools, and training to over 10,000 Independent Repair Providers and Apple Authorized Service Providers worldwide.
