September 13, 2024 at 12:42PM
Apple has introduced a new Activation Lock feature in iOS 18, extending it to iPhone parts to make stolen devices useless for thieves. This ties components like the battery, camera, display, etc., to the owner’s Apple ID, preventing unauthorized use and deterring theft. The feature also provides transparency in parts history and addresses repairability concerns.
The meeting notes detail a new feature on the release candidate for iOS 18 aimed at rendering stolen iPhones useless for thieves. Apple has extended its Activation Lock feature to iPhone parts, tying them to the user’s Apple ID, preventing thieves from making money off disassembling and reselling stolen iPhone parts. This feature is available for iPhone 12 and later.
Unauthorized attempts to access the iPhone and calibrate its parts will prompt the person to enter the Apple ID credentials to which the parts are tied. The post mentions that the thief can tap ‘Cancel’ and resume using the iPhone, but the Parts and Service section in Settings will expose the history of the phone’s components, adding “Unknown part” to it.
This feature is a response to customer and law enforcement agency requests and prevents third-party repair shops from unlawfully replacing genuine parts with off-brand ones. While the feature addresses self-repairability criticism, it also brings added safety measures, such as requiring biometrics to access a stolen device in iOS 17.3.
Overall, the feature is likely to reduce theft and improve user security while preventing unauthorized use of stolen devices. It seems to address long-standing criticisms and customer concerns surrounding iPhone repair and device security.