Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon begin offering Face ID repairs on iPhone XS and newer handsets without needing to do a device replacement. The information comes from an internal memo shared by MacRumors.
The Apple memo says Apple Authorized Technicians will soon have access to a new TrueDepth Camera service part containing all Face ID and front camera modules, allowing for same-unit repairs. The move is intended to help reduce the carbon footprint of Apple products by reducing the number of complete unit replacements.
While customers should expect to find that Face ID repairs using the new method should be more affordable than complete unit replacements, Apple did not include pricing information in the memo.
While Apple’s Face ID debuted alongside the release of the iPhone X in 2017, that device does not appear to be eligible for the same-unit repair process for the TrueDepth system. Only iPhone XS and newer will be eligible for the new repair method.
Apple said documentation and training for the new process will be made available at a later date.