Last year, Apple launched a hardware diagnostic tool for those interested in DIY repairs as part of its self-service repair program. Previously, this software was limited to Apple Retail Stores and Authorized Service Providers (AASPs). iFixit shared a detailed analysis of Apple's diagnostic tools and their usefulness.
For those unfamiliar, Apple's diagnostic tools help technicians find hardware failures in a device by running a series of verification tests. For example, problems with displays, cables, and cameras can be identified without the need for people to manually test each component.
Following the introduction of Self-Service Repair, which provides genuine Apple product parts to consumers who want to repair their devices themselves, Apple is making this tool available to everyone. But how useful is it in highlighting problems with your device? According to iFixit, Apple's tool is very useful, despite some limitations.
“If the tool detects an issue, it may provide helpful information, such as the number of an Apple Support article to follow to resolve the issue,” iFixit explains. At the same time, some of the information displayed by diagnostic tools can be very vague. In some cases, it may not indicate whether there is a problem or not, but only that a non-genuine part was detected.
Of course, this tool was primarily created to tell Apple technicians if your device has all genuine parts and is eligible for repair under warranty. There may be. iFixit claims that Apple is doing “what is required” by legislation such as the California Right to Repair Act, but the company could be doing more to help its customers.
Still, this tool can help people buying a used iPhone to check if the device has everything, or indeed has all the original parts. At the same time, third parties working on repairs will be able to see what's wrong with your iPhone more quickly. “The very fact that Apple developed this is a good sign and will end up being very useful,” he says of iFixit.
You can read the full analysis on the iFixit website.
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