Apple to offer repair services to iPhones with third-party batteries
Apple appears to be changing its rules when it comes to repairing iPhones with aftermarket batteries installed by third-party repair shops, according to leaked internal Apple documents.
First reported by French blog iGeneration, Apple is now instructing Genius Bar staff and those working at Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) to overlook third-party batteries when customers book an appointment regarding a faulty device and proceed with repairs as they would if the battery had never been replaced.
Customers using a third-party battery fitted by a non-Apple approved repair shop can pay Apple to replace their battery with an official Apple battery for the same price as a standard iPhone battery replacement, and if the iPhones battery tabs are broken or missing due to the aftermarket repair, or there is excessive adhesive, the Genius Bar and AASPs are permitted to replace the entire iPhone for only the cost of a battery replacement at their discretion, notes the documents.
The guidelines were sent last week and are believed to apply worldwide. Apple will continue to decline repairs for iPhones with other third-party components such as replacement headphone jacks, volume and sleep/wake buttons, enclosures and microphones.