According to the company's detailed whitepaper, Apple has declared its intentions to improve and increase support for third-party displays and batteries later this year as a major step toward expanding the possibilities for refurbishing an iPhone.

Third-Party Support For iPhones

Out of the planned changes Apple will unveil, one of the most outstanding features is the integration of True Tone technology in third-party iPhone displays. True Tone, which can balance out the color temperature depending on the light conditions, has been turned off when the remaining screens that Apple does not make are identified due to calibration problems.

Third parties can use Apple's True Tone technology in its products by the second half of 2024. This will enable users to experience enhanced visuals like never before, but with a downside: the calibration may not be up to Apple's set standards. Developers will allow users to activate or deactivate True Tone in the Settings depending on the display's satisfaction.

Battery Health Metrics Transparency

Another significant development highlighted in Apple's whitepaper pertains to battery health metrics for third-party iPhone batteries. Currently, iPhone users utilizing non-Apple batteries do not have access to crucial metrics such as maximum capacity and cycle count, as Apple cannot verify the accuracy of these readings.

Addressing this issue, Apple plans to roll out updates later this year that will display battery health metrics for third-party batteries. This update will be accompanied by a notification informing users that the metrics provided may not meet Apple's verification standards, aiming to offer transparency regarding battery condition despite using aftermarket components.

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Apple's Concept of Longevity and Consumer Options

Although the whitepaper did not give particular timelines for some of these modifications, it should be understood that they will be made in parallel with the release of iOS 18 or most subsequent OS versions. This shows that Apple continues to adhere closely to a focus on increasing repair liberties for its products while maintaining and pushing the performance and reliability envelope.

The whitepaper "Longevity by Design" complements Apple's general strategy of designing sustainable and long-lasting products. The document describes the principles Apple uses to build long-lasting devices, focusing on repairability as one of the fundamental concepts of sustainability and customer satisfaction. By creating opportunities for third-party repairs for its products, Apple wants people to have more freedom, although within the framework of the company's principles, in the sphere of consumer electronics.

Altogether, Apple's actions toward improving support for third-party repair services positively change the company's attitude toward device maintenance. With True Tone support and battery health metric transparency on the horizon, iPhone users can anticipate greater flexibility in choosing repair options while gaining insights into their devices' performance. As these updates are expected to unfold throughout the year, consumers and industry analysts alike will be closely watching to see how these changes impact the landscape of iPhone repair and user experience moving forward.