According to a discovery by MacRumors, Apple is in the process of adding a new feature that allows the iPhone to detect when the internal camera has been replaced.
Specifically, in the lines of code of iOS 14.4 Beta 2, this feature has been found. When iOS 14.4 detects an iPhone with a “non-genuine” camera, the message “Unable to verify that this iPhone has a genuine camera” will appear on the lock screen, as well as in the Settings section. Currently, this is also the way iOS informs users when their iPhone has a “non-genuine” screen and battery.
However, Apple’s definition of “non-genuine” may create many misunderstandings for users, especially third-party repairers. Currently, when iPhone Xs/Xr and later have their batteries replaced, or iPhone 11 and later have their screens replaced, even if those batteries and screens are “extracted” from another iPhone, the notification will still appear.
This happens because from these iPhone models onward, Apple has assigned each screen/battery a unique serial number, and if the system detects a screen/battery with a different serial number attached, the notification will immediately appear. It should be reiterated that this happens even with Apple “genuine” screens/batteries that are extracted from another iPhone.
Naturally, the market is currently flooded with low-quality “clone” screens and batteries. However, there are many stores that follow quality standards, only using extracted components (which are collected from heavily damaged iPhones that cannot be repaired or iPhones locked by iCloud). Nevertheless, when the notification about non-genuine components appears, users may easily misunderstand that the store is trying to deceive them by using low-quality parts.
This is seen as a measure by Apple to encourage users to repair at authorized service centers, rather than third parties. However, in Vietnam, this is not a choice many people opt for because (1) the cost of authorized repairs is too high, (2) the repair time is significantly longer, and (3) the authorized Apple service centers in Vietnam are scattered and not as numerous as third-party repair shops.
Previously, it was discovered that the camera of the iPhone 12 would stop functioning if it was swapped, even if that camera was extracted from another iPhone 12. Specifically, the camera app would continuously freeze, and some actions like switching to the ultrawide camera, taking panorama photos, or taking portrait photos would not work.
