Apple Providing Select Repair Shops With iPhone Calibration Machine For Quicker Turnaround

Getting an iPhone repaired at select Apple-authorized repair shops is about to get a lot faster for customers.

iphone calibration machine

Apple's proprietary iPhone calibration machine via Motherboard

ComputerCare, a computer repair shop in Santa Clara, California, today announced that it has been selected as one of only three Apple Authorized Service Providers in the United States to participate in a new pilot program that will allow it to manage iPhone repair and calibration completely onsite.

As part of this pilot program, ComputerCare and two other yet to be named repair shops have received a specialized and proprietary calibration machine from Apple to ensure that iPhone repairs are fully compliant with Apple's specifications and security requirements for features such as Touch ID and Multi-Touch.

ComputerCare said the calibration machine is compatible with the iPhone 6s and newer, although Apple has been using the machines since as early as 2013. The calibration process is said to take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

With an in-house calibration machine, ComputerCare said it will be able to drastically speed up repair times for its customers, as it will no longer need to ship repaired iPhones to Apple for final testing and calibration.

"We already manage iPhone repairs at our facilities, but because of the devices' specialized security features, the current process requires them to be shipped to Apple for final testing and calibration before being returned to customers," said Georgia Rittenberg, President of ComputerCare. "Having a calibration machine onsite helps us to remove that extra step in the process and dramatically reduces turnaround times."

Apple already has iPhone calibration machines in the back of every Apple Store, enabling Genius Bar employees to perform same-day repairs for most issues. But, not every customer lives near an Apple Store, so expanding the machines to select third-party repair shops is convenient.

If the pilot program is successful, Apple will presumably consider providing a larger number of Apple Authorized Service Providers with calibration machines in the future. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Top Rated Comments

Chicane-UK Avatar
100 months ago
Would be happier news if Apple lower the prices of its iPhones including the upcoming iPhone 8.
I think you're going to be disappointed on that front.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tech198 Avatar
100 months ago
given that Apple are (or were) shutting down these stores, it surprises me that this is happening.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeneralChang Avatar
100 months ago
I have been a reader/lurker for while on Macrumors. I joined last July to be involved more in discussion. I really like this site and it offers plenty of content Apple/Non-Apple related news.
Holy cow, you really have been a member for less than a year! I'm with macduke, I thought for sure you'd been around here way longer than that. And now I'm feeling a little silly comparing the number of posts you've got to mine.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
100 months ago
Coming up on my 10th anniversary here! Seen a lot. I remember a lot of stupid crap like this, and forget a lot of important things. Have you really only been here a year? For some reason I thought you had been around for a long time, and now I feel confused.

I have been a reader/lurker for while on Macrumors. I joined last July to be involved more in discussion. I really like this site and it offers plenty of content Apple/Non-Apple related news.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
100 months ago
I'd be afraid to get my phone serviced at any place other than an Apple Store simply because the third party repair companies have been known to use non-genuine parts.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
100 months ago
When I first saw this story's lead photo, I thought it was some backstage or factory leak of the next iPhone and that it was somehow going to be announced today. I remember the iPad leaking years ago, maybe right before it was unveiled onstage, in some kind of holding device? Maybe that's why my brain jumped there immediately since the keynote is about to kick off and I'm hyped as hell. Good thing though as it looks mostly the same. I guess if the 7s is a thing alongside the new design, it will look mostly the same anyway.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)