If you cannot repair your iPhone, it will become the norm.
Author | Create it
Edit | Momo
You broke the screen of your iPhone. When you go to the Apple store and ask, it costs 2149 yuan to ask, while Taobao and third-party offline repair shops only cost more than 400 yuan.
In the past, third-party repairs were the choice of many iPhone users, but Apple is gradually tightening policies to make high-priced repairs a necessary price. Apple is constantly weighing the three between security, revenue, and users, and finally found a brand new one. s solution.
iPhone, which is becoming more and more difficult to repair
Apple has reduced repair permissions through software and hardware.
Take iPhone12 as an example. Apple internally stipulates that must be repaired by authorized technicians using cloud-based system configuration . In other words, Apple will call software to complete the verification of components such as screens and cameras.
Third-party cameras that have not been verified will not only issue a warning when using a mobile phone, but also problems such as the inability to use the "portrait light effect" and the inability to switch to an ultra-wide-angle lens.
For example, iPhone 8 and later models, let the screen be paired with the motherboard on the hardware, and the "original color display" cannot be used after replacing the unauthorized screen. There is also a battery paired with the motherboard. After installing a non-original battery, the "Battery Health" function cannot be viewed.
At present, if you replace unauthorized components, in addition to system reminders, it will also affect some functions, but it does not essentially affect the use. However, according to the tonality of Apple's closed system, third-party hardware will be directly blocked in the future It is also very possible.
For example, if the camera of the iPhone 12 is paired with the motherboard, there will be a "photo freeze" after the replacement, and the camera cannot be switched.
In the name of safety
Why does Apple do this? Security is a very good reason.
For example, the T2 security chip in the Mac, records the characteristic information of each component in the computer, and identifies key components when the computer is turned on, thereby preventing hardware breakthroughs. If you use an accessory that has not been officially verified, it will not be able to bypass the T2 chip's maintenance test, and even cause the computer to automatically lock.
On the iPhone, the Face ID module is bound to the A-series chip. If you use unauthorized third-party accessories, Touch ID and Face ID will not be able to activate the "biometric" function. If you use a third-party unlocking module, others can unlock the iPhone through a user photo or fingerprint copy film, which may cause security risks.
This approach can also avoid entering the system by "changing the lock" to prevent the iPhone from being hacked by professional thieves after being stolen.
In addition, the quality of third-party accessories is uneven. After repair, it will cause such phenomena as battery life, insensitive touch, and even heat and spontaneous combustion. Official repair is the best way to ensure safety and experience.
Official maintenance is not profitable?
Apple's official maintenance is very expensive, but according to Apple's own statement, the maintenance business is not profitable.
Apple’s response to the U.S. Congress in 2019 stated that “ has had annual maintenance service costs exceeding the revenue generated by the maintenance business since 2009 ”.
One of the reasons for Apple's after-sales loss for 10 years is Apple's out-of-warranty policy. For example, in the 2016 MacBook Pro 13, Apple launched the "Butterfly Keyboard Replacement Program", "Screen Coating Replacement Program", and "Screen Backlight Repair Program" when many users did not experience problems.As long as it is a specific batch of computers, Apple usually replaces the entire A side including the screen for free.
In 2018, for the "speed-down door", Apple also launched a battery replacement program involving multiple models. These free programs are indeed a lot of expense for Apple.
But it should be noted that in the documents Apple submitted to Congress, AppleCare+ is not included in the after-sales service.
Apple’s annual financial report does not detail how much AppleCare+ earns. This service is integrated with digital content, iCloud, licensing fees, and Apple Pay into the service business.
analyst Neil Cybart estimated the AppleCare business in 2017. Strong3strong said that the service contributed approximately US$4 billion in revenue to Apple and a profit of US$2.4 billion. accounted for 13% of the total service revenue and has nearly 60 % High profit, the highest authorization has a 95% profit margin.
AppleCare+ covers almost all of Apple’s product lines. Taking the iPhone as an example, the unified price of AppleCare+ is 1398 yuan, including one-year warranty extension, two paid repairs, and free battery replacement.
Compared with the expensive maintenance fee, AppleCare+ looks very cost-effective at first glance, but it is actually an insurance service. There are not so many people who are really out of danger. In addition, Apple has more than hundreds of millions of users, which guarantees income. The stability.
In the past few years, both online and offline, Apple has been vigorously promoting after-sales service. As Apple tightens third-party maintenance, more people should buy AppleCare+ services in disguised form to increase Apple’s revenue.
A better way
In 2019, Apple established the IRP Program (Independent Repair Service Provider) program in Europe and the United States. At the end of 2020, Apple will also bring this service system to China.Hi Repair became the first cooperative brand.
Previously, Apple's after-sales service was only the genius of directly-operated stores and authorized repair centers (AASP). On the one hand, their coverage is not wide enough, and on the other hand, the price remains high.
IRP-Program can expand the official after-sales service system. Through its deployment in the United States, authorized after-sales vendors have tripled, covering millions of users. According to the official statement:
Apple will have more regardless of size Independent repairers provide the same original parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostic tools used by Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP).
Judging from the information provided by Apple's US official website, the cost of IRP certification is not high, which shows that Apple does not want to earn license fees, but uses IRP to spread its after-sales channels, allowing Apple to achieve a larger control area.
Previously, Apple’s repairs mostly adopted “replacement repairs”. This method gave birth to black products that used "official replacement". Under the comprehensive reform of Apple’s repair services, black products and third-party unauthorized living space It will get smaller and smaller.
Before tightening policies and imposing stricter hardware restrictions, Apple seems to have forgotten to consider the interests of consumers. According to AppleInsider analysis, after the system matures, Apple may appropriately lower the repair price and expand the number of authorized components (MFI certification), rather than blindly pushing users to Apple Care and official repair channels.
.
