iPhone 14 repairability rating increases from 7/10 to 4/10 with iFixit. It’s about the software locks that the Apple company has imposed on the parts.
Source: Apple
The iPhone 14 had one thing in particular to offer compared to the iPhone 13: greater repairability. If the iPhone 14 had indeed disappointed us with its very close proximity to its predecessor, even justifying the purchase of the 13 over the 14, we found that people looking to make a long-term purchase might prefer it.
To everyone’s surprise, shortly after the launch of the iPhone 14, iFixit revealed that Apple had completely redesigned the interior, making it removable from both the front and back – an argument that changed everything when buying it.
Almost a year later, it is still iFixit that has a lot of interest in this iPhone 14, but this time it announces in a blog post that it is no longer as repairable. Its very good rating of 7/10, the best since the iPhone 7, rose to 4/10, according to the website specializing in the repairability of electronic items.
Matching parts pointed out
To get there, iFixit listened to the community of independent repair shops who didn’t appreciate their stellar rating. “When we gave the iPhone 14 a high rating, the community balked. Frankly, they were right, and we want to thank our readers for helping to hold manufacturers accountable. »
The website comes back very clearly on this confusion, stating that it “has been enthusiastically awarded a solid review thanks to its innovative interior design that makes repairs easier.” » The company admits that it may have exaggerated a bit. Although they remain “big fans” of this internal design, today they admit that “reality has caught up with this sweet dream for those who have tried their hand at iPhone repair.” »
Where can you repair your iPhone? Would you rather go to Apple or a third-party repair shop? At least we know Apple’s answer to this question. // Source: Frandroid
At issue is parts matching, a practice that refers to “software locks used by electronics manufacturers to prevent the general public, do-it-yourselfers, and professional repair centers from replacing parts,” iFixit writes.
They add: “A large proportion of major late-model iPhone repairs require approval from Apple. You must purchase iPhone parts through the system and then have the repair validated through a chat system. Otherwise you will experience limited or missing functionality, crashes and annoying warnings. »
Obstacle course
To operate in Apple’s straitjacket, repair shops must “submit five years of audits” and “send their customers’ personal information to Apple.” As a result, some people throw in the towel in discouragement.
iFixit wanted to reflect this by reviewing its rating system. “After putting the iPhone 14 through our new evaluation framework, the picture is no longer so rosy. The new 4/10 score for the iPhone 14 reflects the fact that individuals and independent repair shops face significant limitations when repairing the device. »
Given this change, let’s be clear: the iPhone 14 loses its main selling point over the iPhone 13. There’s no reason to choose it over its predecessor now. Let’s add that buying an iPhone 15 with the switch to USB-C could be interesting if you want to make a long-term purchase and have the means to do so.