iPhone 14 series: Not so repairable and incredibly expensive
So, Apple revealed its iPhone 14 lineup recently, and now iPhone users will be able to buy iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max starting 16th September. The iPhone 14 Plus will become available on 7th October. However, users can place a pre-order in Apple stores.
What's new in the iPhone 14 series- Should you upgrade?
Firstly, there will be 4 models available in this lineup. With the iPhone 14 and iPhone Plus, there isn’t any difference in the features except the size. The base version comes with a 6.1 inches screen, and the plus version includes the 6.7 inches screen. The same applies to the Pro and Pro Max versions.
Like the iPhone 13, the 14 and 14 plus would come with the A15 bionic chip but with an extra core. While most of the features are the same, a few new additions like Car crash detection, Emergency SOS via Satellite, Advanced camera technology, Action mode, etc. are the improvements you would get in all 14 pro and non-pro models.
However, there’s something else that Apple has brought to the table. It’s the Dynamic Island in the 14 Pro and Pro Max iPhones. A technology based on software and hardware coordination. You may use it as a selfie camera like usual, but what’s unusual is that it can expand. You may use it to run the background apps and keep up with the notifications.
Along with the Always-on display and 48-megapixel main camera on the Pro models, users will get an A16 bionic chip that is the fastest in any smartphone, boosting performance and improving the battery’s lifespan. So, if you’re thinking about upgrading from iPhone 13 to the base iPhone 14, you may not get many novel functions, but the 14 Pro is another story that too for creative professionals.
The expense:
Apple products are always on the expensive side. However, the iPhone 14 series will cost users substantially more. The 14 and 14 plus starting price is $799 (1,399 AUD) and $899 (1,579 AUD) for 128 GB storage whereas 14 Pro and Pro Max starting price is $999 (1,749 AUD) and $1099 (1,899 AUD) for 128 GB respectively. Customising storage will cost a lot more. So, the expense of buying the latest model would put a heavy dent in users’ pockets. Though there’s an option for a trade-in, only those who meet certain criteria can be eligible.
The repairability rating and cost of components:
The right-to-repair laws in France have gotten a hold of a big tech giant like Apple pretty well. Apple is forced to put a repairability rating on all its products now to give consumers an idea of how repairable a device is and how long it can survive. Though, as per the ratings, iPhone 14 does faintly well in repairability compared to the iPhone 13 lineup, buying the spare parts could cost quite some money.
The numbers might show a jump of 1 or 2 points here and there, but it still won’t change the fact that repairing iPhones is ultra-challenging. In fact, the disassembly index of the iPhone 14 Pro Max came out to be 5 out of 10, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro Max received 5.8 out of 10. That’s .8 less for a 14 Pro Max. However, 14 and 14 Plus received 6.7/10 in disassembly, somewhat better than their Pro counterparts.
For the “ratio of parts price to new equipment price,” the base 14 and 14 plus get an 8/20 score; meanwhile, the pro models get a 10/20 score. This means it doesn’t matter if the device is repairable; the parts required to fix it will be costly. This issue might still discourage people from opting for repairs, despite having access to original parts and repair manuals.
iFixit also criticized Apple recently for its MacBook Pro lineup regarding the same issue. The good thing is that some third-party PC/Mac and smartphone technicians are expert enough to handle Mac and iPhone repairs. Feel free to call us if you have any query Geeks Callout is more than happy to help, so Aussie Mac and iPhone users may find themselves at ease.
Apple's self-service problem is not so innocent:
Even though Apple has started a Self-Service program that will provide components, diagnostic tools, and documentation for repairing display, battery, and camera for iPhone 12, 13, and third-generation SE models, users will require Apple’s software for pairing parts. This means after you fit a part together, Apple will digitally lock it together, taking control over the process. So, Apple would still be in power to control how long the components can be used.
Final Thoughts:
There isn’t a doubt that iPhones and Macs come with decent technology and innovations; however, not choosing to build repairable devices on purpose isn’t less of a crime than manipulating and blackmailing consumers. Apple is well-equipped with the expertise to create outclass gadgets while maintaining a good repairability rating, but it disregards the ease of consumers for capital. This isn’t a virtuous practice for a company that makes big claims over maintaining the environment and sustainability.