Bad news if you notice a miniature crack in the display of your iPhone or Apple Watch. According to them, they are no longer covered by Apple’s standard warranty AND 9 to 5Mac report.
Technically speaking, standard one year warranty it never included “cosmetic damage” such as scratches, dents, and cracked plastic on ports unless it could be proven that faulty Apple materials or workmanship were the cause. However, isolated hairline cracks – such as cracks that do not web or have no obvious point of impact – have long been recognized as screen defects. Therefore, repairs may be covered by a free warranty. (Although your actual mileage may vary depending on which Apple Store or repair shop you went to.)
Citing anonymous sources, 9 to 5Mac The report shows that Apple is now recommending that Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers treat any hairline cracks as accidental damage. This, in turn, would require customers to pay for repairs. So far, this change allegedly only affects Apple Watches and iPhones, iPads and Macs remain unchanged. Edge contacted Apple to confirm these details, but did not immediately receive a response.
Outside of warranty, iPhone screen repair costs range from $129 for iPhone SE and older models to $379 for iPhone 15 Pro Max. With Apple Care Plus, that price drops to $29 for all models. In the case of the Apple Watch, Apple’s repair estimates website does not detail screen repairs, categorizing them under “other damage.” These costs can range from $249 to $800, depending on the model. That cost drops to $69-$79 with Apple Care Plus.
While this is a disappointing development, Apple has made some positive changes to repairs in recent years, thanks in part to pressure from repair efforts. In 2022, it launched a self-service repair program that allows users to repair iPhone batteries, screens and cameras. (Though the reality of using it wasn’t always that plain). It also reduced broken glass repairs on the latest iPhone 15 Pro to $199, a drop of almost $350. In April, the company also announced that it would allow people to repair their iPhones using genuine parts on “select” iPhone models this fall.
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