Phone repairs are getting ridiculous - Here's why.
Summary
TLDRIn this engaging video, the presenter explores the repair options for a damaged iPhone 15, comparing three distinct approaches: the cheapest local repair, a middle-ground using genuine Apple parts from a third-party, and the official Apple repair service. The experiment highlights the challenges and costs associated with each method, from the surprisingly affordable and quick local repair with non-genuine parts to the high-quality but expensive and time-consuming official Apple service. The video also touches on the complexities of Apple's part pairing and warranty implications, ultimately suggesting that while the repair industry may be flawed, the official Apple repair route offers the best balance of quality and warranty preservation for most consumers.
Takeaways
- 📱 The iPhone 15 repair process was tested with three different repair strategies: the cheapest local option, a middle ground using genuine parts from a non-Apple certified repair center, and the official Apple repair.
- 💰 The cheapest repair option cost £255 and was completed in one day, but the quality of the repair was significantly lower than the official Apple repair.
- ⏱️ The official Apple repair, despite being the most expensive at £400, offered the fastest turn-around time of 2 days and included a warranty extension.
- 🔍 Local, non-authorized repair shops offered varying quality and prices, with some unable to source genuine Apple parts and others providing quick but low-quality repairs.
- 📉 The middle option of using genuine Apple parts through a non-Apple certified repair center was found to be more expensive than going directly to Apple and did not offer the same quality or warranty benefits.
- 🛠️ Apple's repair process has improved with modular design in newer iPhones, making individual component repairs easier and potentially cheaper.
- 📉 The resale value of a phone repaired with non-genuine parts can plummet due to notifications of non-genuine parts and the lack of official authentication.
- 🚫 Apple's part pairing policy limits user choice for repairs, as only Apple and authorized sellers have the software to authenticate parts, affecting the phone's functionality and warranty.
- 💡 The video suggests that using cases and screen protectors is a sensible preventative measure against the need for costly repairs.
- 🔄 Apple recently changed its policy to allow the use of used genuine parts for repairs, which could potentially lower costs for consumers in the future.
- 🤔 The repair industry's variability in quality and cost highlights the challenges consumers face when deciding on the best option for repairing their devices.
Q & A
What is the main subject of the video script?
-The main subject of the video script is the process of repairing three iPhone 15s with varying levels of damage and comparing the costs, quality, and experiences associated with different repair options.
What are the three repair options explored in the video?
-The three repair options explored are: 1) The cheapest local repair option using non-genuine parts, 2) A middle ground using genuine Apple parts from third-party repair centers, and 3) The official Apple repair service.
Why did the presenter decide to carve song lyrics into the backs of the iPhones?
-The presenter carved song lyrics into the backs of the iPhones to simulate damage and to test the repair quality and consistency across different repair services.
What was the cost for the cheapest repair option?
-The cost for the cheapest repair option was £180 for the screen and an additional £75 for a new back plate from a different shop.
What was the cost for the middle repair option using genuine Apple parts from a third-party repair center?
-The cost for the middle repair option was £330 for the screen and £120 for the back, totaling £450.
What was the cost for the official Apple repair service?
-The cost for the official Apple repair service was £400 for both the screen and the back glass damage repair.
What are the potential downsides of using non-genuine parts for iPhone repairs?
-Downsides of using non-genuine parts include potential quality control issues, loss of waterproofing, voiding of the original warranty, and the possibility of receiving notifications about non-genuine parts.
Why did the presenter mention that the repair industry 'sucks'?
-The presenter mentioned that the repair industry 'sucks' because of the lack of affordable and reliable middle-ground options between cheap, potentially low-quality repairs and expensive official repairs.
What is the significance of the 'Parts pairing' mentioned in the video?
-Parts pairing refers to Apple's practice of assigning specific parts to work only with the individual iPhone for which they were authorized. This can limit the availability of parts for third-party repairs and may lead to issues with warranty and functionality.
What is the warranty period for the cheapest repair option?
-The warranty period for the cheapest repair option is only 2 months and is noted on a small receipt, which may not provide a strong guarantee compared to official channels.
How long did it take to get the phone repaired through the official Apple repair service?
-The official Apple repair service took 2 days in total, including the initial wait for an appointment, which was 5 days.
What is the presenter's final recommendation for iPhone repairs?
-The presenter's final recommendation is to use the official Apple repair service for most people due to the quality, warranty retention, and lack of downsides associated with non-genuine parts. However, for those who cannot afford the high cost, the cheap option is a viable, albeit lower-quality, alternative.
Outlines
📱 iPhone 15 Repair Options Overview
The video begins with the host introducing three damaged iPhone 15s. They discuss the process of carving song lyrics into the phones and then setting up a comparison to determine the best repair option. The host categorizes the phones into three groups based on repair cost: the cheapest, a fair price, and the most expensive through Apple. They proceed to call various local repair shops, an Apple-certified repair center, and Apple itself to gather repair cost estimates and discuss the repair process, part authenticity, and warranty implications.
💰 Cost and Time Comparison for iPhone 15 Repairs
The host details the cost and time implications of different repair options for the iPhone 15. They learn about the challenges of finding original parts and the potential downsides of non-genuine repairs. The video highlights the price differences, with the cheapest quote being £180 from a local shop, a middle ground using real parts for £450, and the official Apple repair costing £400. The host also notes the time efficiency, with the possibility of same-day repair from a local shop, compared to a wait for official Apple repairs.
🔧 Repair Process and Warranty Concerns
The host experiences the repair process with the cheapest option, encountering issues with part quality and warranty. They discuss the limitations of ultra-cheap repairs, including a short warranty and the use of non-genuine parts. The host also explores the challenges faced by a repair shop that couldn't source original parts, leading to a canceled repair. An official Apple repair appointment is set, and the host appreciates the clarity and continued warranty but notes the cost and time involved.
🔄 Apple's Repair Policy and Modular Design
The host delves into Apple's repair policy, modular design, and the recent changes allowing the use of used genuine parts. They discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Apple's parts pairing system, which ensures quality control and security but limits repair options and can void warranties with non-genuine parts. The host also reflects on the high cost of repairs relative to the phone's value and the implications for consumers.
📉 Quality Assessment of Repaired iPhone 15s
The host evaluates the repaired iPhone 15s, comparing the quality of the repairs from different options. They express disappointment with the middle option, which failed to deliver on quality or cost efficiency. The official Apple repair is praised for its quality and extended warranty but criticized for its high cost and wait time. The cheapest repair is found to have significant quality issues, including a poorly fitted screen and back, loss of True Tone functionality, and a visibly inferior finish. The host concludes that while the cheap option may suffice for some, most people would be better served by the official repair route.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡iPhone 15
💡Repair Options
💡Warranty
💡Screen Replacement
💡Parts Pairing
💡Waterproofing
💡Cost
💡Quality Control
💡Resale Value
💡Right to Repair
💡Disinformation
Highlights
The experiment involves carving song lyrics into the backs of three iPhone 15s to compare repair services.
Phone 1 is set to be repaired by the cheapest option, Phone 2 by a fair price, and Phone 3 by Apple for the most expensive option.
Local repair shop 'Phone Garage' offers a screen repair for £320 and a non-genuine screen for £180.
A Facebook page-based repair service offers a full housing replacement for £180 including a free screen protector.
An Apple-certified Repair Center mentions hardware locks on iPhone 15 parts, making it less repairable.
Apple's repair pricing is found to be £399 for both a cracked screen and back glass damage.
The cheapest repair option, eMobile repair, completes the repair in under an hour with a £180 screen and £75 back.
The middle-ground repair option, using real parts, costs £450 but fails to secure the original screen and back.
Apple's official repair maintains the phone's warranty and waterproofing, offering a high-quality repair.
The cheapest repair results in a phone with a non-genuine screen that loses True Tone functionality and has poor viewing angles.
The middle-ground repair fails to provide a satisfactory outcome due to part unavailability and quality concerns.
Apple's policy change allows the use of used genuine parts for iPhone repairs, increasing options for consumers.
The repair industry's limitations are highlighted by the lack of quality and affordable repair options outside of Apple.
The experiment concludes that for most people, the official Apple repair route is the best option despite the cost.
The use of cases and screen protectors is recommended as a preventative measure against the high cost of repairs.
The video serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities and costs associated with smartphone repairs.
The experiment demonstrates the importance of considering warranty, quality, and cost when choosing a repair service.
The author expresses dissatisfaction with the current state of the repair industry and the lack of reliable, affordable options.
Transcripts
in front of me I have three iPhone 15s
oh God oh my God oh my God oh my God
ouch oh I hate this I hate
this now why did I do that that was
extremely painful and stupid well you
might want to cover your eyes for this
one because it's about to get worse this
is essentially the sharpest pick that I
own so let's use it to carve my favorite
song lyrics ever into the back of each
one
never gone perfect now for number two
there we go gently does it and number
three I'm trying to match them as
closely as possible finished so what
I've done here is strategically
destroyed each one of these iPhones
using the same amount of force in the
same places on both the front and the
back so that we can answer a very
important question who should you be
getting to repair your phone let's call
this one phone number one I've set a
nice cheap looking green background to
represent the fact that this one we're
going to get repaired from literally
whoever will take the least amount of
money phone 2 this middle yellow one is
going to be repaired by someone who I
think is charging a fair price then I'm
going to set a deep red wallpaper for
phone 3 because this one is going
directly to Apple and it's probably
going to be expensive so we're going to
be able to see how the entire experience
Works who does it the cheapest and who
does it the best okay so Step One is we
make some phone calls so what are the
local options in my city these are the
kind of places that I imagine will
hopefully be cheaper than Apple okay
let's start with phone garage
hello hey
he I have just managed to smash my
iPhone 15 in a pretty brutal way would
you be able to repair it yes you can do
that to you it's nearly 320 320 for the
screen of the iPhone 15 and if you want
the gentic one 180 and then also about
the back plate cuz I've scratched up the
back of the phone as
well5 on extra how quickly would you be
able to repair it take like 4 to 5 hours
big only half an hour it's very
interesting that this guy's saying the
official Apple screen is going to cost
me
£320 for a phone that I only bought for
£699 but it is cool that he gave us that
cheaper option of £180 and then £75 for
the back cuz I'd be very curious how
close to the originals quality that can
get that's closer to what I imagine it
actually should cost for the original
parts but then I found someone willing
to go even further you know the ones
which don't actually have a website but
just like a really poorly kept Facebook
page if anyone's going to do a cheap rep
I think it's going to be these guys 180
180 I can give you screen Protection
free we don't change only back glass we
change full housing but what that means
is I'm going to have to get the front
repaired from this guy and then the back
repaired from the first place and that
will be a non- genuine screen quality is
very good same as the Orion thank you
very much and that go is pretty nice so
£180 for the screen which he's saying is
original Apple quality without being
original Apple he'll throw in a screen
protector for free so that I I don't do
it again to myself and then if I have
any problems with it he'll fix it
although we do need to find out exactly
how long that warranty period would last
for so E mobile repair is going to be
our cheapest option well wait the dude's
already sent me a text that is
absolutely crazy you know in this year
after your first date you should wait a
couple of days before texting this guy
was just straight in now on my route to
finding a fair Middle Ground repair
option I ended up having an extremely
interesting chat with a not Apple but
supposedly Apple certified Repair Center
thank you than you for calling a genuine
Apple replacement screen is £300 on
those the third party screens they don't
really do one for the 15 there is the
odd ones about but they will not do very
good at all has Apple changed something
on the 15 that makes them less
repairable yes it's Hardware locks on
stuff so things are paid up to them now
if you tip the camera out of another
iPhone 15 original one put it into your
the camera won't work at all what some
of them do do to try and falsify a
little bit is detect the chip from the
original screen and transfer that chip
onto the replacement screen mhm and then
it will stop the notifications coming up
I'm an apple technician but not for here
when I'm at the other shop I can do them
that's the shop that's authorized do so
we have to do them from that geo
location as such oh I see so Apple
actually like tells you where that
repair can happen as well yeah
everything's coded when we order the
parts they come direct to that store and
we can use them within that store cuz
obviously Apple would know by the IP
what address where you doing it wow
there's a lot into it they're very
clever now I thought while we're here we
might as well also ask this guy if he
thinks Apple makes a profit on the parts
IT supplies to repair centers or if
they're doing it at Cost oh they'll make
profit on them the mid shaft is for a
genuine they're
439 15 Pro Max a shf is £600 and a
screen is £400 um what 400 just for the
screen can that be right but also Apple
actually geol loocks the location of the
repair centers that are authorized to
make sure that the repair only happens
in that exact location that's been
approved right now I guess we have to
bite the bullet and call Apple
themselves okay I think you actually
have to go through their website so they
have this tool that lets you calculate I
guess so cracked screen iPhone 15 yeah £
289 and then what if the back glass is
damaged 169 is what it's saying hm so
then I can do cracked screen and back
glass damage together and that's going
to be 399 that's definitely cheaper than
what the last guy was telling us but
it's all just so weird how much
disinformation there is between these
different repair places anyway is turns
out there is no Apple store in my area
but it's fine because what Apple does
then is sends you to a store that
they've approved to do it on behalf of
them so let's call them we have apple
trained engineers and they use all Apple
certified parts so it's the same as
getting it repaired through Apple
themselves most repairs if we've got
Parts in take about three hours okay
that's pretty fast if we've not got
Parts in um which both parts we might
not uh you're normally looking around
about two to three working days for you
it seems like the nearest appointment
you have is Tuesday is that
right okay I mean there's kind of good
news in the sense that I was expecting
this to potentially take 10 to 15 days
going the official route he's suggesting
it can actually be done same day
although because they're so busy that
same day has to be 5 days from now what
I'm finding really interesting here is
that Apple themselves are not actually
the most expensive repair option the
most expensive actually seems to be the
companies who use official Apple Parts
but who aren't themselves Apple the way
that it clearly works is you either go
to you go to a local place and you get
local unauthorized parts and that is
going to be your cheapest option or you
go to Apple themselves in which case you
pay a high price but then you do get
everything the official way it doesn't
feel like there's an in between option
though that makes sense in any way like
if you go to third party repair places
but then specify that you also want
Apple official Parts you'll actually pay
more than just going to Apple but we
should try it as a third option just in
case there are any surprises on the way
so let's call up the delightfully named
ick and I just wanted to get a quote
330b for the standard quality screen 450
for the original screen and original bag
this standard screen like how good is it
compared to the original screen it's
obviously not that good but the original
screens you get from used iPhones is
that right yes for you we'll stick with
the 4501 then it will be take three to
four working days it's so strange that
there's a situation in which the really
kind of dodgy hodg Podge repairs why
that is more expensive than Apple's
official one right so I think we have
our three repair options we have the
completely unofficial repair which is
going to cost £180 for the screen from
one shop and then £75 for a new back to
be stuck on from another shop then
there's unofficial repair but using real
Parts which is going to cost £330 for
the screen and then £1 120 for the back
so £450 and then there's the full
official Channel which is Apple's £400
lb repair let's get the ball rolling
with them so we're still on Day Zero
we're on our way to the cheapest repair
place going to say actually kind of
proud with how symmetrically I've
managed to destroy these almost like a
work of art
oh okay I don't think it's open yet
that's actually a very cool logo though
you see the the phone with the notch
might just like give the phone number a
ring hi uh I called earlier today I
we're waiting outside the store for a
phone repair not 10 open 10 apparently
oh oh my God
[Music]
[Music]
so you were saying you could do a
unofficial screen repair for 180 and
then you give a tempered glass screen
protector so basically every feature
should work the same way and you think
the quality looks the same yeah you
could do this you're saying within about
an hour yeah yeah right well I can't
speak to the quality of the repair yet
but what I really like about these small
shops as opposed to the big corporations
is they just get it done as opposed to
like scheduling an appointment and then
we'll check stock of parts and maybe
we'll order them in from our warehouse
but we move time to tackle our next
repair
[Music]
store ey crack ey crack sounds a bit
funny than that but never mind why did
they call themselves ey crack that
implies they're the ones doing the
cracking what was wrong with eye fix
what a glorious Haven of a modern
society a broken iPhone here my friend
carbed something into it
330 for the standard quality both and
450 for the original screen and the
original G unless you get it replaced
from the Apple itself you will get a
message saying it's not an apple
original part
£450 is just wild for a phone that I
paid $699 for something about the
current state of the repair industry
really sucks and I can't tell right now
if it's because of Apple who is
specifically coding the parts in your
iPhone to make sure they only work in
your iPhone or if it's just on the
repairers so both non-apple repair
phones have been dropped we're still on
the first day mind you so I was
expecting to wait a little bit of time
to hear from anyone but I have learned
never to underestimate eMobile repair
okay we've only been back about 45
minutes hi just want to confirm phone
fixed and ready thanks
crazy hello the entire front panel is
gone and that's what been a place okay
it's the actual screen that's being
fitted I actually think that it's a
generic one that brand stick has been
stuck on afterwards just to add
legitimacy to it sorry I peeled that
label so true tone works yeah yeah exact
copy exact copy yeah right so I guess
this is one immediate downside of going
via the ultra cheap rout cuz it's
basically just 2 month warranty
scribbled onto a tiny little receipt I
think they'd probably honor it out of
Goodwill but you don't really have a
guarantee in the same way that you do
when you go via official channels but
remember we're not done yet with this
one because mobile repair didn't offer a
back replacement I have to make another
stop to be able to get that done my
friend decided to carve something into
it so I just want to swap it you guys
said you could do it same day about
£75 to order it so it will tomorrow
tomorrow okay we'll order the back yeah
that's it's kind of unfortunate really
they did say on the phone that it would
be done the same day and now they're
saying that you actually have to pay the
cash first so that they order the part
so that they can bend do it it's still a
faster than the official rout but it
just doesn't feel good to be thrown
around like
that okay so we're about to colapse the
fully repaired cheapest repair phone
yeah just working on your phone again
the connection was loose we'll come back
in 15 minutes is that okay that actually
doesn't give me a lot of confidence in
the quality of repair if they've already
found a loose part so I did what I
always do when I have 50 minutes to
spare the Pokémon card shop never gets
old right now let's pick up the phone so
the robber bands are keeping the back on
yes do you think this will Avid the
warranty as well
yes she kind of feel bad for it it looks
like it's just come out of surgery o
actually I've just realized
something okay we need to talk about
this oh wow it's Lally giving me a
temperature warning obviously the glue
gun they've used to fix this is not an
apple approved fixing method there's
been a slight hiccup with phone number
two we can't get that original screen
and origal will back for it right now
there are some shops which deal with the
original parts how do they get the parts
the original parts I have no idea but
very honest so it's not great that
they've agreed to a service before
knowing that they could do it and
slightly alarming that they don't know
where their parts are coming from is
there a way you can just request the
original parts and we wait a bit longer
I can ask the guy in the main lab half
an hour I'll get back to you yeah he
didn't get back to me it's not available
in the market as I told you before so
you have have no estimated time when
that's going to come exactly I think
I'll leave it then thank you oh
dear hey we are bright and early on day
number five and we're going straight to
our very official Apple appointment talk
now how is the official Apple cheaper
than many other places official pricing
would display separately about so I'm
not sure if they were take into account
that cheaper when you get both done at
the same time with the 50 remve the back
BL now okay so it'll be display you
taking off taking off cuz on the old
models you would have to replace the
entire back of the phone so means I
don't need to wipe my phone or anything
like that like that's really good how
does the warranty work is it the same
warranty that I purchased it with or do
you get an extended warranty it's
continuing the warranty you have at the
moment or if you had less than 90 days
it would extend so we're out of back at
the
moment fre working days so
Tuesday so you guys can't tell me now
when it'll be in it'll be a text uh it
be a text this is a pretty positive
experience to be honest like yes
obviously expensive but now we know that
it's not as expensive as it gets and it
is really good to know that the official
Repair Route no longer needs you to wipe
your vote and I suppose the other part
of it is as much as I don't love that
this is a thing this is your only way to
guarantee that you can actually keep
your warranty like as soon as you start
getting those not genuine parts messages
it's it's gone right this is actually
really interesting like there's a good