I have a question regarding iphone replacements

[khalitzy]

So, my iphone xs max is due for a replacement under warranty (9 months in). Handed it to the apple service provider guys here in Egypt to check why it wouldn't turn on, and they issued an order for a replacement device. It is going to take weeks to arrive from Apple UAE since that's where they get the replacement/retail devices from. My question is, is the replacement xs max going to be refurbished or new? I have read conflicting opinions/facts online as to whether it's refurbished or new. And so far I have yet to find any concrete evidence to support either claims.


Thanks in advance!

 

[mattguy10]

In the states, the few times I’ve received a replacement under warranty, they’ve all been refurbished. Refurbished phones look brand new and have a new battery installed. I wouldn’t worry about getting a refurb vs new, it’ll be fine.

 

[khalitzy]

In the states, the few times I’ve received a replacement under warranty, they’ve all been refurbished. Refurbished phones look brand new and have a new battery installed. I wouldn’t worry about getting a refurb vs new, it’ll be fine.

I thought apple sold refurbs cheaper for some reason. It's kind of irritating knowing I'm getting a refurb given that I paid a premium for a new device. Yes the phone has been used for 9 months, but it just decided to die on me without a reason, I guess some faulty hardware. But yeah, quick question, do refurbs come with new displays? or what is exactly refurbished in them? Thanks!

 

[mattguy10]

I thought apple sold refurbs cheaper for some reason. It's kind of irritating knowing I'm getting a refurb given that I paid a premium for a new device. Yes the phone has been used for 9 months, but it just decided to die on me without a reason, I guess some faulty hardware. But yeah, quick question, do refurbs come with new displays? or what is exactly refurbished in them? Thanks!

Anything on the outside of the phone will be replaced to make it look brand new. The battery will be new. All other internals are probably left alone unless they are in need of replacing. I understand the frustration of getting a refurb and thinking it’s not as good as a new one, but if you’re worried about it arriving all scratched and banged up, that won’t be the case. I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll get a refurb either, that’s just my experience a few times I’ve received replacements under warranty. They were all flawless and I never had any problems with them.

 

[Mlrollin91]

There is some misconception with Apple replacement devices. They are not refurbished, they are remanufactured. Remanufactured means they have a brand new battery, new display and new casing. Only the chipset is "reused". Each remanufactured device goes through extensive testing unlike production models. If you are getting from a third party retailer, then you will be getting a refurbished device. These are devices that have been returned and "repaired" and then resold.

Remanufactured phones are often better than original production because of the extensive individual testing.

 

[khalitzy]

Anything on the outside of the phone will be replaced to make it look brand new. The battery will be new. All other internals are probably left alone unless they are in need of replacing. I understand the frustration of getting a refurb and thinking it’s not as good as a new one, but if you’re worried about it arriving all scratched and banged up, that won’t be the case. I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll get a refurb either, that’s just my experience a few times I’ve received replacements under warranty. They were all flawless and I never had any problems with them.

Thanks, very informative!

However, I have a silly question sorry lol. What are they gonna do with my phone, the one that I handed them. Are they going to do the things you said to it and give it back to me as a replacement device? or do they do the refurbishing process to other phones and give them out as replacements? Thanks again <3.
[doublepost=1567788622][/doublepost]

There is some misconception with Apple replacement devices. They are not refurbished, they are remanufactured. Remanufactured means they have a brand new battery, new display and new casing. Only the chipset is "reused". Each remanufactured device goes through extensive testing unlike production models. If you are getting from a third party retailer, then you will be getting a refurbished device. These are devices that have been returned and "repaired" and then resold.

Remanufactured phones are often better than original production because of the extensive individual testing.

On apple's refurbished products webpage it says that refurbs get new batteries, new enclosure and are tested vigorously too. So the difference between remanufactured and refurbished phones seems to be inexistent here..? idk

And I'm getting the replacement from apple not a 3rd party retailer.
So it should be a "remanufactured" device as you referred to it, but on their website that's what they do for refurbished phones, the things you mentioned. Thanks though.


Link for original webpage: https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/iphone/iphone-x

 

[mattguy10]

Thanks, very informative!

However, I have a silly question sorry lol. What are they gonna do with my phone, the one that I handed them. Are they going to do the things you said to it and give it back to me as a replacement device? or do they do the refurbishing process to other phones and give them out as replacements? Thanks again <3.

I don’t work for Apple, so I can’t answer that. I highly doubt they will give you back your phone. They want to make sure you get another phone ASAP, it’s called excellent customer service. I’m sure they’ll refurbish/remanufacture/whatever the phone you gave them at some point and yeah they’ll probably send it to someone else that needs a replacement, but again, I don’t know what their procedures are.

 

[khalitzy]

I don’t work for Apple, so I can’t answer that. I highly doubt they will give you back your phone. They want to make sure you get another phone ASAP, it’s called excellent customer service. I’m sure they’ll refurbish/remanufacture/whatever the phone you gave them at some point and yeah they’ll probably send it to someone else that needs a replacement, but again, I don’t know their procedures are.

Oh, that makes sense. Thanks again!

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks, very informative!

However, I have a silly question sorry lol. What are they gonna do with my phone, the one that I handed them. Are they going to do the things you said to it and give it back to me as a replacement device? or do they do the refurbishing process to other phones and give them out as replacements? Thanks again <3.
[doublepost=1567788622][/doublepost]


On apple's refurbished products webpage it says that refurbs get new batteries, new enclosure and are tested vigorously too. So the difference between remanufactured and refurbished phones seems to be inexistent here..? idk

And I'm getting the replacement from apple not a 3rd party retailer.
So it should be a "remanufactured" device as you referred to it, but on their website that's what they do for refurbished phones, the things you mentioned. Thanks though.


Link for original webpage: https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/iphone/iphone-x

Those are refurbished products - Replacements are remanufactured. The difference is subtle but a difference nonetheless.

 

[khalitzy]

Those are refurbished products - Replacements are remanufactured. The difference is subtle but a difference nonetheless.

Apple has refurbished products for sale at a lower price which prompted me to think that replacement devices being refurbished (or remanufactured as you call it) are inferior to new ones somehow. The difference is subtle you said, but I don’t see the difference exactly. Like what’s the difference between refurbished and remanufactured when it comes to Apple? Thanks though!

 

[AxlTJ]

I doubt there's any significant difference if it's Apple that refurbishes/remanufactures their own devices.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Apple is honoring their warranty and making you whole. The terms of service are made known to all before the sale. I don’t know why you are complaining. Apple doesn’t owe you a brand new, made on the original assembly line phone. They owe you exactly what you are getting.

 

[khalitzy]

Apple is honoring their warranty and making you whole. The terms of service are made known to all before the sale. I don’t know why you are complaining. Apple doesn’t owe you a brand new, made on the original assembly line phone. They owe you exactly what you are getting.

Oooh, easy there buddy. It’s not like I did anything to the phone. It died on me for no reason. Literally, zip, none. And what am I getting exactly? I made the post to ask a question. If you don’t have the answer, don’t bother going full keyboard warrior on me.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Oooh, easy there buddy. It’s not like I did anything to the phone. It died on me for no reason. Literally, zip, none

I didn’t say you caused the problem. I stated fact about Apple. It’s your entitlement thinking that is problem, not Apple honoring their warranty as stated in the TOS.

 

[khalitzy]

I didn’t say you caused the problem. I stated fact about Apple. It’s your entitlement thinking that is problem, not Apple honoring their warranty as stated in the TOS.

Excuse me, I didn’t read the entire TOS. What does it say about replacements there?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Excuse me, I didn’t read the entire TOS. What does it say about replacements there?

You can read it for yourself.

 

[khalitzy]

You can read it for yourself.

Lol, first you jump to the conclusion that I have some sort of entitlement that apple isn’t “honoring” their warranty as stated in their TOS. Then you say this. Did you even read my post? Jeeez. Chill. Better not reply to a question post if you don’t intend to be helpful.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Lol, first you jump to the conclusion that I have some sort of entitlement that apple isn’t “honoring” their warranty as stated in their TOS. Then you say this. Did you even read my post? Jeeez. Chill. Better not reply to a question post if you don’t intend to be helpful.

I read your posts. You feel slighted because you aren’t getting a brand spanking new phone in every way like you bought. I pointed out that Apple is honoring their warranty by giving you what they give you. You are dealing with a first class company. Be glad it isn’t from someone else and you get no service.

 

[khalitzy]

I read your posts. You feel slighted because you aren’t getting a brand spanking new phone in every way like you bought. I pointed out that Apple is honoring their warranty by giving you what they give you. You are dealing with a first class company. Be glad it isn’t from someone else and you get no service.

“You feel slighted”. Ok apparently you know how people feel through their questions. Oh and I got service from numerous other entities/companies. It’s not like Apple is the only company that offers warranty replacements for their products lmfao. Dell, Lenovo, and even Samsung have chimed in for me in the past and provided me with excellent service. Just saying

 

[Apple_Robert]

“You feel slighted”. Ok apparently you know how people feel through their questions. Oh and I got service from numerous other entities/companies. It’s not like Apple is the only company that offers warranty replacements for their products lmfao. Dell, Lenovo, and even Samsung have chimed in for me in the past and provided me with excellent service. Just saying

All I had to do was read your post to know how you feel. I didn't have to guess. Bottom line is you will be getting great service from Apple due to a problem that was not of your doing. No need to feel you are getting less than you paid for.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ng-iphone-replacements.2196577/#post-27690919

 

[khalitzy]

All I had to do was read your post to know how you feel. I didn't have to guess. Bottom line is you will be getting great service from Apple due to a problem that was not of your doing. No need to feel you are getting less than you paid for.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ng-iphone-replacements.2196577/#post-27690919

It doesn’t say in their TOS that refurbished phones are given as replacement units, hence the distastefulness. But alright thanks for your input.

 

[Mlrollin91]

It doesn’t say in their TOS that refurbished phones are given as replacement units, hence the distastefulness. But alright thanks for your input.

“All replacement products provided under this Plan will at a minimum be functionally equivalent to the original product. If Apple exchanges the Covered Equipment, the original product becomes Apple’s property and the replacement product is your property, with coverage effective for the replacement product for the remainder of the Plan Term.”

In all fairness, it’s heavily implied that you will not get a brand new replacement device and thus it’s refurbished/remanufactured. All it has to do is meet the minimum functionality requirement - which is an incredibly low bar. Apple is one of a few companies that properly replaces their customer’s devices.

They could easily take a returned unit and give it to you without remanufacturing it and it would satisfy the requirement.

 

[khalitzy]

“All replacement products provided under this Plan will at a minimum be functionally equivalent to the original product. If Apple exchanges the Covered Equipment, the original product becomes Apple’s property and the replacement product is your property, with coverage effective for the replacement product for the remainder of the Plan Term.”

In all fairness, it’s heavily implied that you will not get a brand new replacement device and thus it’s refurbished/remanufactured. All it has to do is meet the minimum functionality requirement - which is an incredibly low bar. Apple is one of a few companies that properly replaces their customer’s devices.

They could easily take a returned unit and give it to you without remanufacturing it and it would satisfy the requirement.

As you said, it’s an incredibly low bar and that’s the scary part. Thanks for your informative response, could you please provide me the link to that?

Also, “will at a minimum be functionally equivalent to the original product“ sounds like that it has to be equivalent in functionality at a minimum, which kinda doesn’t sound like a low bar ‍♂️?

 

[Mlrollin91]

As you said, it’s an incredibly low bar and that’s the scary part. Thanks for your informative response, could you please provide me the link to that?

Also, “will at a minimum be functionally equivalent to the original product“ sounds like that it has to be equivalent in functionality at a minimum, which kinda doesn’t sound like a low bar ‍♂️?

Equivalent functionality means just that - it needs to function the same - not look the same. Apple goes above and beyond by giving a brand new display and casing. All they really need to do is give a new battery so you have the same functioning battery life.


https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/applecareplus/docs/applecareplusnaen.html

The link says AppleCare+ but it’s the same TOS as the regular limited warranty as well.


As I have stated above, Apple goes above and beyond what they are required to do based on their own TOS (individual testing, new case and new display). You have no need to worry as the replacement device also gets a minimum of a 90 days warranty.

But there is absolutely nothing that says one should get a brand new production line unit.

 

[khalitzy]

Equivalent functionality means just that - it needs to function the same - not look the same. Apple goes above and beyond by giving a brand new display and casing. so you have the same functioning battery life.


https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/applecareplus/docs/applecareplusnaen.html

The link says AppleCare+ but it’s the same TOS as the regular limited warranty as well.


As I have stated above, Apple goes above and beyond what they are required to do based on their own TOS (individual testing, new case and new display). You have no need to worry as the replacement device also gets a minimum of a 90 days warranty.

But there is absolutely nothing that says one should get a brand new production line unit.

Thank you. “All they really need to do is give a new battery” It gets a new battery along the new casing and display right?

Thanks again, you’ve been of great help.