Apple drops need for iPhone screen repairs to use calibration hardware, reducing turnaround time for repair shops

[DrMacintosh]

So those of you who frequent Louis Rossmanns channel probably know all about how difficult Apple makes it to properly repair/replace displays in iPhones newer than the iPhone 6. Previously if you wanted to properly replace an iPhone display, you needed special machines to pair Biometric sensors with the logic board and calibrate Display colors and 3D Touch, but no longer!

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Apple is dropping the need for repair centers to use calibration hardware when conducting screen repairs for iPhone 6s and later.

 

Instead of the specialized "Horizon" machine previously used for calibration, 3rd party shops and AASPs look like they are going to have a much easier time getting repairs done. 

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[This] makes it easier for Apple to roll out more licensed third-party locations. Currently, screen repairs can be conducted on-site at Apple Stores and some third party resellers. Apple has been hesitant to distribute the special hardware to lots of places, but it is significantly simpler for it to send over intangible software. No doubt Apple will still have a stringent approval and security policy for budding repair locations, but it’s a big step forward.

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Calibration is now achieved through software alone. This should make repairs faster and makes it easier for more repair locations to open up around the world, assuming Apple also loosens its relatively-stringent approval policy on setting up new repair centers.

 

No longer will repairs have to be done leaving the user without FaceID, TouchID, or 3D Touch because now all that you need is a MacBook Air or Mac mini running the support software to do everything. 

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Apple has now managed to achieve all the calibration steps using software alone, dropping the need for dedicated physical hardware to be installed at repair locations. Repaired devices can now be calibrated by simply connecting them to a Mac Mini or MacBook Air running the diagnostics software. This has several benefits.

 

This is certainly a step in the right direction, repairing iPhone displays was a pain in the ass and anything that can make it easier and potentially cheaper is a good move in my book. Hopefully Apple will start selling more replacement parts to ASAPs and even 3rd party repair shops so that more consumers have access to quality repairs. 

 

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/17/apple-drops-need-for-iphone-screen-repairs-to-use-calibration-hardware-reducing-turnaround-time-for-repair-shops/

Video: https://youtu.be/nV5kCJJdUUs 

 

[DrMacintosh]

3 minutes ago, VegetableStu said:

wait, so do they have profiles of the individual screen parts before sending them to AASPs? o_o or is it just a "press me to start testing" thing?

(also what about colour? o_o)

I imagine so. Everything is software based now, including display color and 3D Touch calibration. Not exactly sure how they are getting it done though. 

[D13H4RD]

19 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Instead of the specialized "Horizon" machine previously used for calibration, 3rd party shops and AASPs look like they are going to have a much easier time getting repairs done.

Forza Horizon? Is that you?

 

Jokes aside, if it is what I think it is, then it might actually work out well

[PlayStation 2]

I do hope this can make screen repairs easier.

[peanuts104]

It'd be even quicker if they let repair shops have spare parts on hand.   This is like putting a band aid on a bleeding artery.

[DrMacintosh]

37 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

It'd be even quicker if they let repair shops have spare parts on hand.   This is like putting a band aid on a bleeding artery.

Read the article?

[peanuts104]

1 hour ago, DrMacintosh said:

Read the article?

I did.  It mentions nothing about giving shops extra spare parts which is usually the real time sink for 3rd party repair shops as I understand it based on stuff both Linus and Louis Rossmann have said.  This is nice but I don't think it will make the process that much faster.

[ZacoAttaco]

From what I read as well, there was no mention of any risk associated with these new changes, which is always a plus. Although I don't think this is intended to help small time repairers out, they're probably just streamlining their process.

 

I'd assume the new iPhone X models/style would take longer to repair?

[DrMacintosh]

10 minutes ago, ZacoAttaco said:

I'd assume the new iPhone X models/style would take longer to repair?

iPhone X needs to pair FaceID with the logic board, but I doubt it takes any significant amount of time more than pairing TouchID did.