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Apple Offers Free Repairs for Faulty iPhone X, MacBook Pro Units

Get your free repair. The iPhone X problem deals with devices that were built with a shoddy display module for the touch screen. The MacBook Pro issue, on the other hand, pertains to faulty SSD drives in the 13-inch non-Touch Bar models.

 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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If you own an iPhone X or a recently purchased 13-inch MacBook Pro with no Touch Bar, you may be eligible for a free repair from Apple.

On Friday, the company announced two repair programs for a limited number of units of both products. The iPhone X problem deals with a shoddy display module for the touch screen that Apple said might fail over time.

For iPhone X owners, your device has the problem if the display, or part of the display, fails to accurately respond to your touch. In some cases, the display might also react even though your finger is nowhere near it.

The MacBook Pro issue, on the other hand, deals with the product's faulty solid-state drive, which can break down and result in data loss. Apple said it noticed the problems in non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros sold between June 2017 and June 2018.

In response, the company is offering to fix affected devices at no charge. You can find more information on the free repair service here for the iPhone X and here for MacBook Pro. The repair process involves bringing your device to an Apple Store or an authorized service provider, and getting it examined.

No other iPhone models are affected by the faulty display module problem, the company said. Apple has discontinued the iPhone X model following the recent release of the new iPhone XS and iPhone XR products, so you won't be affected if you upgraded to the new models.

As for the MacBook Pro repair program, you can determine your device's eligibility by going to the support page and entering your MacBook's serial number. However, the repair for the product will be more of a hassle. You'll have to back up all your data onboard the laptop, because Apple's fix for the device will erase it all.

If you already paid to get these problems fixed, contact Apple about getting a refund.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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