Months after owners of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices began complaining that their devices were affected by the so-called “touch disease” flaw that effectively renders the devices useless when the touchscreen becomes unresponsive, Apple has unveiled a fix for the issue on the larger Plus phones — but it’ll cost you $149.
Apple rolled out the repair program Thursday placing the blame for the flaw solely on customers, noting that their devices have been “dropped multiple times on a hard surface” and then incurred “further stress on the device.”
Under the program, consumers whose phones are affected by the flaw but don’t have a cracked screen are eligible for the fix, which is available for five years after the phone is originally sold.
Customers who have already had their phones repaired by third-party technicians may be eligible for a reimbursement of the difference between that repair and Apple’s program.
It’s unclear whether Apple will eventually expand the program to cover the smaller iPhone 6.
Those looking to take part in the repair program will have three options: they can take their phones to an Apple authorized service provider, an Apple retail store, or Apple Technical Support. Wireless carrier partners are not participating in the repair program.
The touch disease issue first came to light back in August, when iFixit reported that more and more owners of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus had seen their devices rendered useless.
The issue, which surfaces after a flickering gray bar appears atop the touchscreen, is apparently the result of Apple’s decision not to use a metal “shield” to protect chips that control the touchscreen.
These two chips translate your finger pressure into information the phone can use, iFixit reported about the flaw in August. When the chips go bad, they don’t register even the most forceful touch.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist