Ordering Apple parts: checking quality and compatibility
Not every Apple part is what it seems. Find out what to look for in terms of quality, compatibility and reliability, before you make an expensive mistake.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-08-17
Your iPhone screen is cracked, the battery drains like a sieve or the charging port is playing up. Then you quickly think: I will just find a part and fix it myself. Understandable. But the market for Apple parts is a maze of cheap knock-offs, unreliable sellers and components that look right on paper but disappoint in practice. Knowing what to check does not just save you money - it saves you from wrecking your device.
In short: when ordering Apple parts, quality and compatibility are the two biggest pitfalls. Always choose parts specified for your exact model, pay attention to origin and quality grade, and consider whether a professional repair might be safer and even cheaper in the long run.
Why the market for Apple parts is so confusing
Apple does not make its parts freely available to consumers or independent repairers. That has created an enormous grey and black market, mainly fed by Chinese manufacturers producing copies of original components. Some of those copies are surprisingly good. Others are outright junk that damages your device over time.
We see this every week in our workshop in Nijverdal. Customers come in with an iPhone whose screen was replaced three weeks ago by a "handy cousin" - using a part from an unknown brand. The screen works, but the colours are off, the touch response is sluggish and in cold weather the display freezes completely. Sound familiar?
The problem is not only quality. It is compatibility too. A screen that fits an iPhone 13 may physically fit an iPhone 13 mini as well - but the connector is different, the software does not recognise the part and Face ID stops working. Those are details a web shop product page rarely explains.
Which quality grades exist for Apple parts?
The industry uses its own classification that you should know before ordering anything. Note: these are industry terms used by manufacturers and wholesalers - not our own grading for refurbished devices.
| Quality grade | What it means | Suitable for |
|---|
| OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) | Made by the same manufacturer Apple uses, but not sold by Apple | Professional repairers |
| Aftermarket Premium | High-quality copy, meets most original specifications | Experienced DIYers |
| Aftermarket Standard | Cheaper copy, quality varies widely | Throwaway projects, not recommended |
| Refurbished original | Used original parts, cleaned and tested | Advanced repairers |
Our experience shows that OEM parts and refurbished original parts perform best in the long run. Aftermarket standard parts are a gamble - sometimes it works out, but more often it does not.
Compatibility: the underestimated danger
This is where things really go wrong. Apple releases several models a year that look identical but differ significantly inside. Take the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro: same size, same screen resolution, but the displays are not interchangeable. The Pro has different brightness, a different colour profile and a different connector layout for the True Tone sensor.
So always check the following before ordering Apple parts:
- Exact model number - not just "iPhone 14", but A2649, A2882 or another model number. You will find it on the back of your device or via Settings → General → About.
- Production year and region - some parts differ per country of sale.
- Software pairing - Apple pairs certain parts (Face ID, Touch ID, battery) to the logic board serial number through software. A non-certified part triggers a warning in iOS.
- Tool requirements - an iPhone screen requires pentalobe screwdrivers you will not find in an average toolbox.
- Warranty consequences - replacing a part yourself with a non-original component can void your Apple warranty or AppleCare+.
How to go about it sensibly if you want to repair it yourself
Still want to do it yourself? Fine, that is possible. But do it methodically. Here is a step-by-step plan we also give customers who deliberately choose the DIY route:
- Note your exact model number - go to Settings → General → About → Model number (tap it for the A number).
- Find a reliable supplier - iFixit is known internationally and also sells matching tools. Avoid one-off listings on marketplaces without a returns policy.
- Buy the right quality grade - for a device you use every day, go for OEM or premium aftermarket, not the cheapest option.
- Follow an official repair guide - iFixit has free step-by-step guides per model. Use those, not a random YouTube video.
- Keep the original parts - never throw them away straight away. If the new part fails, you still have the originals as a fallback.
- Test thoroughly right after the repair - screen, touch, Face ID, battery percentage, camera, sound. Everything. Not three weeks later.
When is a professional repair the smarter choice?
Honest advice, even though it earns us less: not every repair is suited to DIY. For a simple protective case or a cable - fine, order it online. But for these repairs we always recommend a certified technician:
- Screen replacement on iPhone models with Face ID (fitted incorrectly = Face ID permanently broken)
- Battery replacement on iPhones from the 7 series onwards (adhesive and fragile ribbon cables make this tricky)
- Water damage (no part solves this - the logic board has to be cleaned)
- Camera repair (software-paired to the serial number on newer models)
- Charging port replacement on iPhones with a soldered port
At we use only OEM-quality parts or original Apple components. Many repairs are done while you wait - a screen repair takes us 30 minutes on average. See the full overview on our .
What is the cost difference between DIY and having it done?
Many people think DIY repair is always cheaper. Sometimes it is - but not always. Do the maths:
An aftermarket screen for an iPhone 13 costs between €35 and €70 online. On top of that you need pentalobe screwdrivers (€8-15), a spudger (€5), a heat gun or heating mat (€20-40) and possibly a suction cup (€5). Add the chance of mistakes - a torn display ribbon cable costs €15 extra, and you are already above the price of a professional repair.
If you have us do it, you know what you get: OEM-quality parts, warranty on the repair and no risk of consequential damage. Is ordering the parts yourself still worth it? Only if you already own the right tools and have previous experience with iPhone repairs. That is how honest we are.
Perhaps you are considering parting with your current device altogether? Then take a look at our refurbished iPhones or see whether you can trade in your old device for instant cash. Sometimes a good refurbished iPhone is cheaper than an expensive repair.
Apple parts for iPad and MacBook: extra points to watch
Everything above applies to iPad repairs and MacBook repairs too - but with a few extra complications.
On iPads, screens are often bonded with industrial adhesive. Replacing one yourself without heating equipment almost always leads to a broken screen or a damaged bezel. On top of that, Touch ID and the Smart Connector are software-paired on newer iPads.
With MacBooks the situation is even trickier. Apple solders the RAM and SSD to the logic board on virtually every model from 2013 onwards. So there is nothing to upgrade. Batteries can be replaced, but the software pairing via Apple Diagnostics sometimes makes aftermarket batteries unreliable - you then get the "Battery condition unknown" message in macOS, even when the battery is brand new.
For both categories the rule is the same: only buy Apple parts if you are certain of what you are doing, or leave it to a specialist who works with these devices every day.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly are Apple parts?
Apple parts is a collective term for all the individual components used in Apple products: screens, batteries, charging ports, camera modules, speaker units, logic boards and more. They come from Apple itself (OEM), from the same manufacturers that supply Apple, or from independent producers making compatible copies.
Can I simply order Apple parts online?
Yes, you can. But quality and compatibility vary enormously. Always check the exact model number of your device, choose a supplier with a clear returns policy and read reviews from other buyers. Platforms such as iFixit also offer matching tools and guides, which reduces the risk of mistakes.
Do I lose my warranty if I repair it myself with Apple parts?
If your device is still covered by the Apple warranty or AppleCare+ and you open it yourself, Apple can refuse warranty cover for damage related to that intervention. In practice it depends on the situation, but the risk is real. If your warranty has already expired, this no longer plays a role, of course.
Why does Face ID sometimes stop working after a screen replacement?
Face ID is not in the screen itself, but in the TrueDepth camera at the top of your device. Even so, a poor screen replacement can damage Face ID if the front camera flex cable or the infrared sensor is pulled loose or damaged during the repair. On top of that, Apple pairs the Face ID module to the logic board through software - a replaced module only works if Apple resets that pairing through a special diagnostic system.
Is a refurbished iPhone not simply a better choice than an expensive repair?
That depends on the situation. If the repair costs more than 40-50% of your device's value, a refurbished replacement is often the wiser move. At The Phone Shopper we have refurbished iPhones with at least 85% battery capacity, a 2-year warranty and a 30-day return policy. Have a look at our refurbished range or drop by in Nijverdal for honest advice.
What is the difference between OEM and original Apple parts?
Original Apple parts are only available through Apple itself or through Apple Authorized Service Providers. OEM parts are made by the same manufacturers that also produce for Apple, but they are not sold or certified by Apple. In practice the quality is comparable, but the software pairing may be missing, which is why iOS sometimes shows a warning.
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