Editing Apple (section)

== Incidents ==

=== Repairability of Apple products in the 2000's ===
Since the 2000s, Apple has focused on reducing the weight of its products as technology has advanced and become increasingly complex. This shift has contributed to challenges in repairing and upgrading their devices. The introduction of the iPhone marked a significant milestone in the evolution of consumer electronic devices, leading to its widespread popularity.

=== Hardware design issues in the 2010's ===
Apple had numerous hardware design issues in the 2010's, often poorly acknowledged by the company, often charging exorbitant amounts for repair. 

*[https://9to5mac.com/2014/10/28/apple-class-action-lawsuit-2011-macbook-pro-gpu-graphics-issues/ High-cost GPU failures on early 2010's MacBooks]
*the 2016-'17 MacBook Pro's screen cable [https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/5/18251264/macbook-pro-2018-flexgate-fix-display-cable-2mm-longer skimping scandal]
*[https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/21246223/macbook-keyboard-butterfly-magic-pro-apple-design 2016-2019 MacBooks butterfly keyboards]
*the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro's [https://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2020/20200403_1024-MacBookPro2019-repairs.html SSD failures]

==== Recent attempts to do better ====
Recently, Apple has made efforts to improve its products, though some observers feel that its pro-consumer practices still do not match those of certain other manufacturers. This shift is thought by some to be influenced by [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/26/iphone-usb-c-lightning-connectors-apple-eu-rules evolving legislation].

This includes:

*Opening an online [https://support.apple.com/self-service-repair Self Service Repair] parts store.
*Making the [https://www.ifixit.com/News/64865/iphone-14-teardown back glass of iPhones removable] starting from iPhone 14.
*Allowing alternative app stores in an update to iOS 17, in compliance with new [https://support.apple.com/en-us/117767#:~:text=Contact%20Apple%20Support-,Installing%20apps%20through%20alternative%20app%20distribution%20in%20the%20European%20Union,with%20iPadOS%2018%20or%20later. EU legislation].
*[https://support.apple.com/en-us/120579 Calibration tools] for newly installed used parts in iOS 18, which sometimes work.
*[https://www.ifixit.com/News/104302/all-hail-the-return-of-upgradeable-storage-mac-mini-2024-teardown An upgradeable, swappable SSD in the 2024 Mac Mini] - albeit you cannot swap these units between M4 and M4 Pro units due to the internal casing's design being different without much good reason.
*A battery removable with just a 9V battery in the 2024 [https://support.apple.com/en-us/120671 iPhone 16] and [https://support.apple.com/en-us/120671 iPhone 16 Plus].

=== Operating system downgrades ===
It is not possible to upgrade or downgrade an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc. to an Operating System (OS) version other than the absolute latest. On Macs with T2 chip or Apple Silicon, the user can select from three modes of secure boot:<ref>https://support.apple.com/102522</ref>

*No security: Allow any OS to run (same as turning off secure boot on a PC).
*Medium security: Allow any OS that is signed with a secure boot certificate (default, same as turning on secure boot on a PC).
*Full security: Only allow the latest version of macOS, do not allow any other OS.

iOS devices only support full security mode. The device checks for a cryptographic "[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/APTicket ticket]," which are tied to the OS version and CPU serial number. These are provided by a server, which only provides them for the latest version (with very specific exceptions). The device refuses to boot if the ticket does not match. [https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Firmware_downgrading Workarounds] exist, but with major caveats that are not viable for most users.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHSH_blob</ref>

====Class Action====
Apple was the defendant of a class-action lawsuit with claims dating back to 2017 where users noticed their phones were being artificially slowed down. Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit for up to 500 million.<ref>CNET Article: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-starts-sending-out-iphone-batterygate-settlement-payments-what-to-know/</ref> Apple claimed that this change was to benefit users who have old failing batteries, and that it wasn't for planned obsolescence. They later published software updates and an article explaining how users can opt out of this new "performance management" mode.<ref>Apple battery performance management https://support.apple.com/en-us/101575</ref>


Once a new OS version is installed, there is no opportunity to go back. This also restricts the user's choice to jailbreak the device, as the latest version naturally has patches for the latest jailbreak exploits. App developers also require access to earlier iOS versions to test that their app works correctly. The alternative, Xcode's iOS Simulator, is not a complete replacement for real hardware, as it does not have all features of a physical device.<ref>https://contextqa.com/test-on-ios-emulators-simulators/</ref> Instead, app developers are forced to purchase several test devices, and remember to ''never'' allow them to update.

=== Parts availability ===
Many parts are not available directly from Apple. Those that are available directly from Apple may be more expensive than paying Apple to repair your device. Parts available to certified repair centers are extremely limited. Apple does not stock current generation iPad parts within GSX (See Certified Repair Centers). A limited selection of iPad parts are available from iFixit, however this can exclude some flex PCBs necessary for repairing headphone jacks.

=== Diagnostic software availability ===
Calibration software for some Apple devices has only recently become available to end users. End user calibration tools have only become accessible in iOS 18. Similar calibration tools have been available to Certified Repair Centers, but are generally limited as many parts are serialized ie; lid sensors on Mac Books.

=== Certified repair centers ===
Certified Repair Centers have some limited access to Apple's proprietary backend (GSX2). GSX contains many tools necessary to repair devices such as; diagnostic tools, calibration tools, parts catalog, and device repair history. GSX is only accessible to repair centers Apple deems certified.  GSX does not stock parts for iPads. It does not allow the calibration of parts such as lid sensors for a device, if that device does not have an open repair and purchased parts. The new iOS 18 calibration tool is very similar to Apple's ASU (GSX's diagnostic/calibration tool) Some videos of GSX can be found online. See:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy8bS1AgxcY