Apple backs away from controversial iPhone 13 screen replacement procedure that breaks Face ID
We’ve previously reported on the difficulty of repairing an iPhone 13 at length. According to many DIY repair enthusiasts, iPhone 12 is prohibitively difficult to repair. With the iPhone 13, Apple has made the process even harder. Not only does Apple tie many core system functions to the hardware, but Apple also makes it next-to-impossible to repair iPhone 13’s screen if you aren’t an Apple authorized repair shop. This caused quite a ruckus when it was first discovered. Now, Apple is looking to make iPhone 13 DIY screen repairs easy.
Apple has told The Verge that the company is getting ready to push out an update that will make the screen replacement procedure for Cupertino’s latest phones a lot easier. The current procedure involves removing the old screen along with a dedicated microcontroller and soldering the microcontroller after replacing the screen. If you don’t transfer the microcontroller to the new screen, Face ID stops working. Apple supplies its authorized repair shops with a software tool that keeps Face ID working on the phone with a new screen without transferring the microcontroller.
After the update, replacing the screen without the microcontroller won’t break your iPhone 13’s Face ID. This is big news for independent repair shops that lack the tools necessary to offer screen replacements without losing core iOS functionality.
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