Apple’s smartphones are extremely delicate things, which is why some individuals or even third-party shops find it hard to repair them. Users must directly head to an official Apple store to make sure that their iPhones will get fixed. But how does the company decide whether to repair or replace the iPhone?

What models are included in the guide?

Apple's warranty for most of its products covers eligible repairs. According to a report from Business Insider, a newly leaked document shows how Apple decides what will happen to the damaged iPhones that are submitted to their shops.

The document was leaked on DropBox, and it is entitled “Visual/Mechanical Inspection Guide.” The guide covers the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.

The leaked guide is a 22-page document that instructs Apple technicians and authorized service partners to inspect iPhones for repair. The document also shows how to categorize the devices, whether it will be marked as an in-warranty repair (inexpensive), out-of-warranty repair (more expensive), or if it cannot be fixed.

The iPhone warranty service covers damages like an incorrect position of FaceTime camera foam, single hairline crack on the front glass that does not have an impact point, pixel irregularity, and dirt or dust under the display glass.

The Visual/Mechanical Inspection Guide also indicate that these types of damages are covered regardless of any accidental or liquid damage.

What is out-of-warranty service?

According to a report from The Verge, the out-of-warranty service covers fractured LCD screens, damage caused by a laser contact with the camera, puncture holes or extreme abrasion, glass cracks, and damaged connectors.

However, the damages that are ineligible for the warranty service are intentional tampering, missing parts, and disassembled units. The Visual/Mechanical Inspection Guide does not have the complete list of all types of damages. If the damage of the iPhone is not covered in the guide, it does not necessarily mean that its repair is not under warranty.

iPhone 8 coming on September 12

On the other hand, the company is expected to launch its flagship smartphone on September 12. The iPhone 8 will feature a larger screen compared to its previous models, and a dual-lens camera. The device will also feature 3D recognition sensors and inductive wireless charging technology. But tech analysts claim that the wireless charging feature of the device will have a slower charge rate compared to other devices. Instead of the usual 15 watts, the iPhone 8’s charging will be limited to 7.5 watts.