Apple adds warning over third-party cameras in iOS 14.4

The latest beta release of iOS 14 reveals that Apple is about to add cameras to its series of on-screen warnings when non-Apple parts are used in iPhone repairs.

As it already does when you get your iPhone screen replaced by a third party, or they install a non-Apple battery, Apple is now going to warn users about cameras. The new iOS 14.4 beta shows that if a repair shop does not use a camera from Apple, users will see an on-screen warning message.

The beta contains an error message that says, "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple." Until the beta is tried out on an iPhone with a non-Apple lens, it's not certain where this message will appear.

However, it will be clear and most likely will be temporarily on the lock screen. It will probably also be included in the Settings, General, About screen, as the current message about non-genuine Apple displays is.

If this warning, first spotted by MacRumors, works the same way as the ones for the screen or battery, users will still be able to use the camera.

5 Comments

avon b7 20 Years · 8046 comments

About 3 years ago

The warning would be totally advisable. Customer choice is good when it comes to repairability but information is also a key factor.

lkrupp 19 Years · 10521 comments

Are the current warnings persistent or can the user select “Don’t show again”?

greginprague 13 Years · 492 comments

lkrupp said:

Are the current warnings persistent or can the user select “Don’t show again”?

If “Don’t show again” is an option that would allow folks to sell said phone to an unsuspecting customer on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace without the person ever knowing that he/she bought an iPhone with non-OEM (likely inferior) parts. That doesn’t seem great if the goal is increased transparency with these messages to begin with.

elijahg 18 Years · 2842 comments

greginprague said:

lkrupp said:

Are the current warnings persistent or can the user select “Don’t show again”?

If “Don’t show again” is an option that would allow folks to sell said phone to an unsuspecting customer on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace without the person ever knowing that he/she bought an iPhone with non-OEM (likely inferior) parts. That doesn’t seem great if the goal is increased transparency with these messages to begin with.

Presumably resetting the phone (or setting it up with a different AppleID) would reset the warning's do not show again.