iFixit retroactively dings the iPhone 14 over Apple’s parts pairing requirement


iFixit is dropping the repairability score on the iPhone 14. While the organization originally gave the phone a seven out of 10 to indicate high repairability, iFixit has lowered that rating to a four after taking into account parts pairing requirements that make fixing the device a hassle.
When iFixit announced its score for the iPhone 14 last year, it said it was looking mainly at the repair-friendly design of the device. Unlike its other devices, Apple included a rear glass panel that you can pop off with basic repair tools, including a heating mat, suction handle, and an opening pick. While this design change was notable at the time, iFixit acknowledges that it missed the significant hurdles to repairability programmed within iPhones in general.
Instead of simply swapping out one part for another, repair shops and DIYers must “pair” the part to the device through Apple’s System Configuration tool. To do this, you must purchase a genuine part from Apple, enter your device’s serial number, and then pair the new part to your phone through Apple. If you use an aftermarket part or one from another iPhone, you’re stuck with annoying notifications that warn your iPhone contains ingenuine parts — even if it works the way it should.
“Most major repairs on modern iPhones require Apple approval,” iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens writes in a blog post. “You have to buy parts through their system, then have the repair validated via a chat system. Otherwise, you’ll run into limited or missing functionality, with a side of annoying warnings.”
The pairing process not only makes repairs difficult for DIYers but also for third-party repair providers who often use leftover parts from broken devices. iFixit says things have “gotten so bad that several repair professionals have told us they’re leaving the business entirely rather than navigate the labyrinthine maze of obstacles that Apple has erected.”
Although the iPhone 15 retains the same repair-friendly backing as its predecessor, it likely shares the same parts-pairing requirement as other devices in the iPhone lineup. Until Apple starts letting users swap in aftermarket or used parts without issue, the iPhone’s repairability score will likely remain at the low end of the spectrum.
iFixit is dropping the repairability score on the iPhone 14. While the organization originally gave the phone a seven out of 10 to indicate high repairability, iFixit has lowered that rating to a four after taking into account parts pairing requirements that make fixing the device a hassle. When iFixit…
Recent Posts
Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010