iPhone 13 Exploded by iFixit.iFixitOmicrono

Hardware

Apple has announced that it will allow the use of Face ID for users who change the screen of their iPhone 13 and use unofficial parts, ending the controversy.

A few weeks ago, the controversy jumped in Spain and in the rest of the world. iFixit found that if an iPhone 13 screen was swapped out for a third-party replacement, the iPhone would lose Face ID. A problem that generated criticism of all kinds, and that seems to disappear soon, since Apple has backed down.

As Apple has confirmed to The Verge, an iOS update will be released so that if the screen is changed for an unofficial replacement, Face ID is not disabled. While it is true that he has not detailed when exactly the update will be released, he has confirmed that it will arrive in the future.

Previously, both iFixit and iCorrect discovered that in order to change the iPhone 13 screen to an unofficial replacement, users had to move a small controller chip from the official touchscreen to the unofficial one. Otherwise, Face ID would stop working.

Apple backs down

As stated by iFixit at the time, this problem affected any screen replacement that used third-party parts. "Unless Apple reviews this behavior in software, screen replacements outside of Apple Authorized Repair lose Face ID functionality," he said.

The iPhone 13J.C. | CSOmicron

Performing a screen change is already a fairly invasive process, but performing this chip change greatly complicates the procedure, affecting both experienced users who want to replace their screen and unauthorized repair companies. And it was imperative, since said controller directly paired the screen with the phone.

Even having backed down, Apple does not specify why it made this move. Let us remember that since the iPhone X, in modern models (including the iPhone 13) the only biometric unlocking method is Face ID, and without it, the user is forced to enter a PIN code. Therefore, we are talking about a fairly serious absence on the phone.

iPhone 13 Pro MaxJ.C. | CSOmicron

According to the statement, "a solution" will come in the form of an update in the future. Something celebrated by Kevin Purdy of iFixit. "This is a tactical achievement for the repair market [...] but it's a never-ending fight until the battlefield changes." If you have an iPhone 13 and you want to change the screen due to a repair, we highly recommend waiting for the software update to arrive if you do not want to go through the official repair service.

But what about authorized repair services? These have a tool that allows the software to recognize the Face ID even with the screen change. Logically, this positions Apple's repair services above the more independent ones, and probably this controversy could have brought the Cupertino company accusations of unfair competition.

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