When I took my iPhone in for repair, it was primarily the hardware that needed attention, specifically the battery. At that point, I hadn’t given much thought to the software side of things. However, an unexpected occurrence shed light on the deep integration between iPhone hardware and software, changing my perspective.
I chose to have my iPhone’s battery replaced at K-tuin technical service, not an official Apple store but a Premium Reseller and an authorized technical service provider. This choice gave me the assurance that they would use an official battery. So, no complaints on that front. Surprisingly, the real revelation came from the operating system, specifically, the settings.
Before this incident, I had never needed to take an iPhone for an official repair. Up until then, I had only owned two iPhones, including the XR, and never encountered planned obsolescence. So, my experience had been limited to just two iPhones and one repair due to regular wear and tear.
The iPhone Can Detect Official Components, and It Keeps a Record
When using official components in an iPhone, the idea is to ensure everything functions flawlessly. However, it goes a step further by displaying the date on which a component, such as the battery, was changed and confirming its official status.
To be honest, I stumbled upon this discovery while casually navigating the Settings app. In the General > Information section, you usually find the phone’s technical details. However, following the repair, a new section appeared, never seen before: “Parts and Repair History.”
This section listed all the repairs conducted on my iPhone. In my case, it was only the battery, but it applies to any replaced component. Next to the component’s name, it indicates whether it’s an official Apple part or not. Clicking on an option opens a tab displaying the date of the component’s replacement.
However, not all iPhones support this history feature. It only appears if your device is running iOS 15.2 or higher. I received no prior notifications or warnings about this new feature, but I find it reassuring that my iPhone can distinguish between official and non-official components. It offers an added layer of assurance for users and further emphasizes the reliability of authorized technical service providers. While I already knew they’d install an official battery, having this extra “double check” is certainly reassuring.
