iOS 11.3.1: Why you should update!

Hello everyone, I hope you all are enjoying some warm spring weather!

There will always be challenges when owning a small business and navigating the various rules and regulations the manufacturers build in to their device or legally build into software to deter various consumer activities. It’s around us in every aspect of the things we buy from cars to homes, computers and phones. The warranty restrictions, the ability to repair replace, the limitations on insurance etc… in the case of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X there is been much debate and speculation about the screen issues and the ability for any 3rd party repair shop to replace a broken screen.

The latest iOS update made things much more clear to anyone paying attention to the details of the update.

“iOS 11.3.1 improves the security of your iPhone or iPad and addresses an issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone 8 devices because they were serviced with non-genuine replacement displays. 

Note: Non-genuine replacement displays may have compromised visual quality and may fail to work correctly. Apple-certified screen repairs are performed by trusted experts who use genuine Apple parts. See support.apple.com for more information.”

Basically… until this update Apple has a software block to attempt to render any non original, (original vs OEM, another topic all together!) or in this any screen not applied by Apple or it’s prefered partners, useless. Disabling touch screen functions, sensors etc… When Apple basically tells you to replace your out of warranty (12mo/1 day) $800 to $1,000+ iPhone for a new one? Great sales model huh? Well plenty of us in the repair community have felt this impact and have to turn customers away as long as manufacturers hold all the cards they will continue to milk the customer base for cash. That iPhone 8+ that was $900 just over a year ago can be repaired by OEM quality parts for just over $100, but they would rather see you pay $399, take your iPhone 8+ and give you a new one. Trust me when I say they don’t just toss that $1000 phone aside…it is refurbished and resold, in fact you may have just spent $399 on someone else’s 1 year old iPhone with a new screen and back housing so it looks all shiny and new.

Now you may say this is just self serving to the repair shops? I’d say yes and no. Sure we want to be in business so not only myself but thousands of customers don’t have to spend nearly $1000 a year for the “privilege” of having a smartphone. The real question I have is at what point do companies that make their entire campus run off solar/renewable energy powered give the consumer the ability to use a phone more than a year without the risk of a major ($400) charge for dropping an all glass device?

I continue to fight for the right to repair and always give a big “Thank You!” to the team at iFixit.org for the continued efforts to help small repair shops keep the ability to repair everyone’s devices with quality parts at a fair price.

IF you do own an iPhone 8, 8+ or X please update to 11.3.1 ASAP. If you then happen to drop your phone, know there is a much more affordable option to repair it.

Have a great day!