Apple plans to update iPhones in-store without opening the boxes
Malcolm OweniPhone 15 Pro on a box
Apple has come up with a way to update an iPhone still in its packaging, with a system allowing for iOS updates to be applied to unopened smartphones while still in an Apple Store.
One of the problems of buying hardware is that consumers often discover their devices need a software update straight out of the box. This can also apply to devices that have just launched, such as the iPhone 15, which needed an iOS 17.0.1 update that was released before the hardware actually shipped.
Writing in his "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman claims that Apple has a system that can update the operating system of iPhones before they get sold. Crucially, it can do so without opening the box.
Consisting of a "pad-like device," store employees place unopened iPhone boxes onto it to trigger an update. The pad wirelessly turns on the iPhone, runs the software update, then turns it off again.
While only iPhones are mentioned in the report, it's plausible that the idea could be extended to other products in Apple's catalog.
It is claimed that consumers may benefit from the system at Apple Stores before the end of 2023.
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17 Comments
So I guess iPhones and similar devices are never truly “off” except when the battery is drained.
Makes sense - turn on the phone with magsafe charging then it probably automatically looks for an update if it hasn't been setup. Probably need to leave it on the charging pad to keep the battery charged during the update.
I had issues with my new iPad yesterday trying to transfer over from my old one. It stalled on the install. I had to stop the side-to-side and go to manual after it completed the update.
What are they thinking? I’m just waiting for someone to hack this process and then to be able to jailbreak our phones without us knowing about it.
I suspect this will also have a MagSafe pad on it to ensure the device doesn’t loose charge while it’s updating. I also suspect that it will have a way to communicate to the pad that the phone has successfully updated.