Apple Says Some iPhone 12 Hardware Issues Will No Longer Require Replacing the Entire Device

by

Apple today informed Apple Authorized Service Providers that it will be introducing a new same-unit repair method for iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 models exhibiting certain issues that would typically require a whole-unit replacement.

iphone 12 blue aluminum
In an internal memo, obtained by MacRumors, Apple said technicians will be able to offer same-unit repairs starting February 23 for iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 models that are unable to be powered on or are experiencing issues with the logic board, Face ID system, or the enclosure of the device, such as cracked rear glass.

Apple Authorized Service Providers (and likely Genius Bars) will have a new "iPhone Rear System" part available to them that consists of the rear enclosure of an iPhone with all components except the display and rear camera, including the battery, logic board, wireless charging coil, Taptic Engine, Face ID system, and so forth.

If a customer has an iPhone 12 mini with cracked rear glass, for example, technicians will be able to replace the entire rear portion of the device, with the new enclosure affixed to the original display and rear camera. For this reason, the customer's display and rear camera must be free of damage or functional failures in order for their device to qualify for this same-unit repair method, according to Apple.

The new repair method will be available in all countries and regions where the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 are sold, according to Apple. iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max models do not appear to be eligible at this time.

In its memo, Apple said this move supports the company's ongoing commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of every product it sells.

Related Roundup: iPhone 12
Tag: Apple Authorized Service Providers
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 12 (Caution)
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams Avatar
farewelwilliams
24 weeks ago
Apple Says Some iPhone 12 Hardware Issues Will No Longer Require Losing Big Margins on Device.

fixed the title.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mikeyy00 Avatar
mikeyy00
24 weeks ago
Apple is seemingly going the repair-all-the-things route vs outright swaps like they used to do.

I had a two day old 12mini, kept rebooting on it's own and not-detecting the sim card. Brought into the local Apple Store, was told "oh sorry, we have to send it to depot".

Eff that, it's two days old. I want a swap. Nope, told to pound sand.

If I wanted depot repair service, I'd buy a Samsung.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghanwani Avatar
ghanwani
24 weeks ago

Apple is seemingly going the repair-all-the-things route vs outright swaps like they used to do.

I had a two day old 12mini, kept rebooting on it's own and not-detecting the sim card. Brought into the local Apple Store, was told "oh sorry, we have to send it to depot".

Eff that, it's two days old. I want a swap. Nope, told to pound sand.

If I wanted depot repair service, I'd buy a Samsung.
Could you not return it?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mikeyy00 Avatar
mikeyy00
24 weeks ago

Could you not return it?
No, carrier didn't have stock for 3 weeks. Ended up getting on the phone to Apple, who agreed to mail me a replacement, provided I fronted the cost on a credit card which they'd refund once they received my old one back.

Yes, better than a kick in the arse.. but not the type of support I've historically gotten from Apple.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
Apple_Robert
24 weeks ago

I dropped my 12 mini ONCE a week after I got it and it cracked the wide angle lens. $429 after tax. Credit card insurance covered it but this is not the "4x more durable" I signed up for. ...screen was fine though
Apple has never advertised the screen as crack proof. I don't know why you would think otherwise.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Psychicbob Avatar
Psychicbob
24 weeks ago
I’m never buying from a carrier again. Did that with the 11 Pro and had an issue with dropped calls almost immediately. Spent the next 6 months having Apple blame carrier and carrier blame Apple. 3rd unit in, it turned out to be carrier. Not going to run the risk of being ping-ponged between 2 companies again.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Top Stories

iPhone 13 Camera Backs

iPhone 13 Models Will Be Slightly Thicker and Will Have Larger Camera Bumps

Monday May 10, 2021 10:41 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 13 models will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 12 models and will also feature larger, thicker camera bumps with lenses that protrude less, according to iPhone 13 schematics seen by MacRumors. The new iPhone 13 and 13 Pro models are expected to feature a thickness of 7.57mm, up from 7.4mm in the iPhone 12 models. That's an increase of 0.17mm, which won't be hugely ...
Read Full Article • 226 comments
iPhone mini wonder feature

Kuo: Next Year's iPhone Lineup Won't Include a Mini Model

Wednesday April 14, 2021 6:13 am PDT by
Fans of smaller smartphones long hoped that Apple would introduce a smaller-sized iPhone with a modern design and features like Face ID. That wish came true with the iPhone 12 mini last year, and rumors suggest there will be an iPhone 13 mini this year as well, but the end of the line may be on the horizon for the 5.4-inch model. In a research note shared with MacRumors today, reputable...
Read Full Article • 220 comments
ifixit m1 macbook teardown

Leaked MacBook Schematics Have Aided Independent Technicians Performing Complicated Repairs

Monday May 10, 2021 8:51 am PDT by
Independent technicians have reportedly been able to use leaked MacBook schematics to aid repairs (via Vice). Last month, Apple supplier Quanta Computer was hit with an attack by the ransomware group known as "REvil," leading to a large quantity of internal Apple documents about both released and unreleased devices being exposed. The leaked PDFs, available on a number of forums and online...
Read Full Article • 96 comments
Top Stories 47 Feature

Top Stories: More iOS 14.5 Beta Changes, iPhone 13 Rumors, Apple Watch Charging Issue Fixed

Saturday February 20, 2021 6:00 am PST by
Apple is continuing to tweak things during the iOS 14.5 beta testing period, and it looks like there will be some nice changes coming in the update when it's released to the public in a month or so. This week also saw the release of a watchOS bug fix update for Series 5 and Series SE owners, addressing a serious issue where their watches may not charge after entering Power Reserve mode,...
Read Full Article • 14 comments
apple independent repair program

Apple's Efforts to Block 'Right to Repair' Laws Highlighted in New Report

Thursday May 20, 2021 10:22 am PDT by
There have been a number of reports about Right to Repair legislation across the United States, and an equal number of reports about the lengths that Apple has gone to in order to block new repair bills from becoming law. Bloomberg today shared a new Right to Repair piece that highlights how Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have worked to put a stop to laws that would require the tech...
Read Full Article • 244 comments
iphone 13 pro max cads eap

iPhone 13 Series CAD Leaks Reveal Larger Camera Dimensions

Friday April 16, 2021 1:53 am PDT by
Information and alleged CADs of the upcoming iPhone 13 series, shared in a video from EverythingApplePro, indicates that Apple plans to make this year's iPhone camera module significantly bigger, likely to make way for larger sensors and sensor-shift stabilization. According to the CADs shared in the video, the iPhone 13 mini, Pro, and Pro Max camera module will all be a "perfect square."...
Read Full Article • 86 comments
iphone 13 render mysmartprice 1

iPhone 13 Base Model Rumored to Feature Diagonal Rear Camera Layout

Tuesday April 13, 2021 5:50 am PDT by
Indian tech blog MySmartPrice has obtained 3D renders of what it claims will be the standard iPhone 13 model, revealing a familiar design with a few notable changes, including a smaller notch and a new diagonal rear camera layout. The website says it received the renders from unnamed "industry sources." A smaller notch has already been rumored several times for the entire iPhone 13 lineup,...
Read Full Article • 52 comments
ehric

iPhone 12 Mini Missing From Top 5 Best Selling Smartphone List of January 2021

Friday April 9, 2021 4:58 am PDT by
According to market data compiled by Counterpoint Research, Apple's smallest iPhone since the 2016 iPhone SE, the iPhone 12 mini, struggled to obtain a spot in the top five list of best-selling smartphones in January of this year. According to the market data, the iPhone 12 mini came in eighth place for the best-selling smartphone worldwide in the first month of the year. However, the iPhone ...
Read Full Article • 274 comments
iphone 13 pro render rear

iPhone 13 Pro Rumored to Be Thicker and Feature Larger Rear Camera System

Wednesday April 14, 2021 7:07 am PDT by
Tech blog 91Mobiles has obtained 3D renders of what it claims will be the iPhone 13 Pro, revealing a largely familiar design with a few notable changes, including a smaller notch and a significantly larger rear camera system. Following renders of the standard iPhone 13 model from MySmartPrice yesterday, which showed a new diagonal rear camera layout, these renders of the 6.1-inch iPhone 13...
Read Full Article • 150 comments
iphone 12 mini pro max side by side

iPhone 12 Mini Faces Production Cut Due to 'Far Lower' Demand Than Expected

Tuesday March 9, 2021 8:21 pm PST by
Apple is cutting orders for all iPhones by around 20% compared to its plans in December, with the iPhone 12 mini making up the majority of the cutback, according to Nikkei Asia. In line with previous reports, the publication claims that demand for the iPhone 12 mini has been "far lower than Apple initially expected." The report claims that Apple initially aimed to secure components for up to ...
Read Full Article • 378 comments