This continues a worrying trend, in which Apples devices get less and less repairable.
Scare Tactics
Apple has published asupport document detailingthe reasons for these warnings.
The other reason is that only Apple can repair a camera without leaving screws rattling around inside your iPhone.
VladTeodor / Getty Images
Heres a line from that support document.
There is some merit to Apples caution.
The kicker is that there are almost no non-genuine iPhone cameras anywhere, at all.
iFixtit
Whats Going On?
According to Purdy, its 99% certain that any replacement camera comes from Apple.
iFixits supplier and other contacts confirmed that there are pretty much zero non-Apple cameras in existence.
iFixit
In large part, thats because theres a plentiful supply of cameras from broken iPhones.
The warning, says Purdy, is not really about the camera at all.
Its about preventing unauthorized repairers from performing the work.
Not Green
There are legitimate reasons for checking whether non-genuine parts are inside a phone.
If youre buying used, its good to know nothing has been tampered with.
This nets them a supply of new, genuine parts that can then be sold.
Thats the thinking behindiFixits Right to Repair activism, but its also just plain good.
Apple makes big claims for its environmental actions, with some merit.
