Apple responds to claims of returning iPhone after screen replacement to profit from price differences: repairs can be detected, and official direct stores all sell brand-new genuine products.

IT Home March 12 news: According to a report by Henan Daily yesterday, recently some mobile phone sellers and digital bloggers have reported that criminals bought an iPhone at a direct-operated store, then removed the original Apple screen and replaced it with a third-party, cheaper one. They then used Apple’s 14-day no-reason return policy to return the phone to Apple, causing phones with swapped screens to enter the market.

According to industry insiders’ estimates: With this kind of one-for-one swap and return, the price difference on a single phone screen can be earned at 1100 yuan-1150 yuan. Not only is there no need to bear any purchase cost, but you can also obtain a genuine high-end original screen.

In response to this issue, on March 10, the reporter called Apple’s official technical support. The other party responded that the return principle is indeed that you can return if you are not satisfied within 14 days, but the returned products must be inspected and approved by the warehouse, with no unexpected damage. Disassembling, repairing, or replacing components counts as unexpected damage. Only after the acceptance inspection has no problems will the refund be issued in 3-5 working days. If this product has been disassembled or repaired, it can be detected.

The technical support customer service also emphasized: “Products purchased through the official website and direct-operated stores are definitely brand-new genuine items—unsealed and not activated. Returned products will not be resold again!”

IT Home checked Apple’s official website and found that the current estimated service fees for screen damage for iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are 2698 yuan, for iPhone 17 Pro Max is 3198 yuan, and for iPhone 17e is 1879 yuan.