iOS 11.3 upgrade fatal for some repaired iPhone 8 screens done by third-party shops
Some iPhone 8 owners got a rude awakening when the latest iOS software update killed their devices repaired with aftermarket screens installed by third parties, but it isn't clear how wide spread the problem is.
According to a report Tuesday by Motherboard, the release of iOS 11.3 has killed the touch functionality in "thousands" of iPhone 8 devices with screens repaired by non-Apple third parties, when those phones had worked previously. One repair shop told the site that the issue has caused "over 2,000 reshipments" in the less than two weeks since the software update.
It's unclear if the glitch was intentional or accidental, or if a future software update will provide a fix. Apple has not commented on the matter.
Michael Oberdick, an Ohio repair shop technician quoted in Motherboard's story, said that the "repair community" believes a certain microchip is responsible for powering the screens. Repair shops have figured out how to fix the phones, by opening them and "upgrading" the chips, the story said.
Scott Pashak, a smartphone repair technician at iRepairWorks in Philadelphia, told AppleInsider that two people have come in with this problem since the new update, while another customer complained of a voice recorder that stopped working. He said the store has been treating these problems with a fairly routine DFU restore, and hasn't had to take any of the phones apart.
Additional research by AppleInsider shows similar results to iRepairWorks, with a DFU restore often, if not always, fixing the problem. So, at present, it isn't clear if the "thousands" of iPhones afflicted cited by the report is accurate or hyperbole, nor is it clear what a chip "upgrade" entails.
The iPhone 8 update issue is the latest flashpoint in a long series of disagreements between Apple itself and independent repair shops, especially in regards to iPhones and their highly sophisticated touchscreens.
In 2016, customers sued Apple over "Error 53" glitches, in which iPhones were bricked after third party repair personnel altered the TouchID technology, which Apple acknowledged that year was part of TouchID security.
In early 2017, Apple adjusted its longtime policy and announced that third-party iPhone screen repairs would no longer violate standard warranties, as long as those repairs did not damage the casing or other related components. Apple also made the "Horizon Machine" calibration device available to authorized third party repair shops, in an effort to reduce lines at Apple Stores.
Apple, though, has continued to oppose "Right to Repair" laws, which would compel manufacturers to provide essentials like repair manuals and spare parts to the public. Like most of the consumer electronics industry, Apple opposes such legislation, believing that only authorized technicians should perform repairs. Right to Repair has not passed in any state this year.
Meanwhile, Apple's $29 price tag for an iPhone 8 repair, for those with AppleCare+, does not apply to the back glass, which costs $99.
According to a report Tuesday by Motherboard, the release of iOS 11.3 has killed the touch functionality in "thousands" of iPhone 8 devices with screens repaired by non-Apple third parties, when those phones had worked previously. One repair shop told the site that the issue has caused "over 2,000 reshipments" in the less than two weeks since the software update.
It's unclear if the glitch was intentional or accidental, or if a future software update will provide a fix. Apple has not commented on the matter.
Michael Oberdick, an Ohio repair shop technician quoted in Motherboard's story, said that the "repair community" believes a certain microchip is responsible for powering the screens. Repair shops have figured out how to fix the phones, by opening them and "upgrading" the chips, the story said.
Scott Pashak, a smartphone repair technician at iRepairWorks in Philadelphia, told AppleInsider that two people have come in with this problem since the new update, while another customer complained of a voice recorder that stopped working. He said the store has been treating these problems with a fairly routine DFU restore, and hasn't had to take any of the phones apart.
Additional research by AppleInsider shows similar results to iRepairWorks, with a DFU restore often, if not always, fixing the problem. So, at present, it isn't clear if the "thousands" of iPhones afflicted cited by the report is accurate or hyperbole, nor is it clear what a chip "upgrade" entails.
Apple vs. Independent Repair Shops
The iPhone 8 update issue is the latest flashpoint in a long series of disagreements between Apple itself and independent repair shops, especially in regards to iPhones and their highly sophisticated touchscreens.
In 2016, customers sued Apple over "Error 53" glitches, in which iPhones were bricked after third party repair personnel altered the TouchID technology, which Apple acknowledged that year was part of TouchID security.
In early 2017, Apple adjusted its longtime policy and announced that third-party iPhone screen repairs would no longer violate standard warranties, as long as those repairs did not damage the casing or other related components. Apple also made the "Horizon Machine" calibration device available to authorized third party repair shops, in an effort to reduce lines at Apple Stores.
Apple, though, has continued to oppose "Right to Repair" laws, which would compel manufacturers to provide essentials like repair manuals and spare parts to the public. Like most of the consumer electronics industry, Apple opposes such legislation, believing that only authorized technicians should perform repairs. Right to Repair has not passed in any state this year.
Meanwhile, Apple's $29 price tag for an iPhone 8 repair, for those with AppleCare+, does not apply to the back glass, which costs $99.
Comments
Sounds legit.
It would be nice if Apple made it easier to 'downgrade' to a previous version after updating iOS. There have been several times over the years where iOS upgrades either made my older device unbearably slow, or there were unknown bugs or other issues that actually made the new version less functional than the old one. While technically feasible to restore an older version, it's never easy or straightforward.
https://m.wikihow.com/Downgrade-iOS
Apple never claimed that it did.
According to Apple's page explaining Applecare + it says:
AppleCare+ for iPhone extends your coverage to two years from the original purchase date of your iPhone and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $29 for screen damage, or $99 for any other damage, plus applicable tax. In addition, you’ll get 24/7 priority access to Apple experts via chat or phone.
So what was the point of that paragraph? The back glass should be covered under screen damage?
The reason why it costs $99 is that the back glass is part of the enclosure which Apple does not repair, they replace the whole unit. Why? Because they would have to gut the phone to do it and they won't do that in their retail stores.
Filing Suit against Apple is getting to be a national pasttime in the USA.
Like rogifan said, not everyone lives within earshot of an Apple Store. The closest one to me is 35 mins away. The next closest one is 50 mins away. Some others don't have that luxury. Now, there's a third-party repair shop about 5 mins dow the road, but I've never had to use them (fortunately).
My only problem with this whole thing is that the phones were working perfectly fine beforehand, and then an update kills them out of the blue.
My wife and I nearly had a heart attack a few weeks back from laughter. We were at my wife's grandfather's house (he just turned 93) and his house phone rang. My son genuinely looked shocked and dumbfounded. He said, "What IS that? What's that noise?". Great-grand -- as he calls him -- pointed to the phone and showed it to him; you would have thought that he was looking at an alien