News
Temporary Removal of iPhone 8/8 Plus Services Following iOS 11.3
By Marion Martin
Owner, Martin Digital LLC | APR 16, 2018
We have decided to temporarily remove the Apple iPhone 8/8+ from our price lists and advertisements. Following the release of iOS 11.3, screen replacements on iPhone 8 and 8+ have caused the ambient light sensor to deactivate during the boot sequence (e.g., as the phone turns on.). The ambient light sensor is responsible for controlling the screen’s brightness relative to the intensity of the surrounding light. It is what makes the screen automatically brighten as you walk outside into direct sunlight or dim when you turn off the lights. None of the other series of iPhones are experiencing loss of functionality after third party screen replacements. At the time of this writing, only 8/8+ screen replacements done at Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers are unaffected by this issue.
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There has been no explanation as to why this is happening. We know that no matter the quality of the screen used for the replacement of the 8/8+ the results are the same. Even switching screens between two brand new, out of the box, 8s will result in loss of ambient light sensor functionality. This occurs whether the ambient light sensor is touched during the repair or not. Apple has not released any statements regarding this matter.
The decision to temporarily discontinue repair services for the Apple iPhone 8/8+ comes in response to a steady amount on inquiries regarding iPhone 8/8+ screen replacements and back glass replacements. We work hard to provide our customers repair and support services for all their PC and mobile device needs, especially new flagship devices such as the Apple iPhone 8 series. However, we must remember one of the first laws of repair which is “To return to original quality and functionality.” At this current time, we are not able to provide original functionality for the ambient light sensor following an 8/8+ screen replacement so we cannot, in good faith, offer this service to our customers. We are not certain if this problem will be addressed in later iOS releases.
Being that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were released in September 2017, we suggest to all our customers that bought their iPhone 8/8+ from an authorized Apple retailer visit an Apple Store or Authorized Apple Service Provider, because their 1-year limited warranty should not have expired yet. Apple provides all their iPhones with a 1-year limited warranty starting from the hardware purchase date. To register for your warranty, you must call or visit Apple’s website. After approval, you will have the options to bring or send your device to Apple for repair. For our local customers, the closest options are Augusta, GA and Charleston, SC. Wait times vary from same day to weeks.
For all other customers who do not have the 1-year limited warranty from Apple, we will be offering screen replacements for the iPhone 8/8+ at $110 and $120, respectively while supplies last. We still do not offer back glass replacements for the Apple iPhone 8 or 8 Plus.
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