It looks like one thing you won't be able to do with the iPhone 5S or iPad mini 2 is take it to an Apple store and get it exchanged for a refurbished unit through AppleCare. Currently, AppleCare subscribers can simply take their damaged iOS devices to an Apple store and receive a like-new replacement model on the spot.
However, during an internal town hall session on Thursday, Apple Vice President Tara Bunch revealed to Apple staff that the company would begin actually repairing damaged hardware and returning the original device to the customer.
Apple is treating this as a positive and doubtless many customers will appreciate being able to keep their own devices, but there's also something to be said for the convenience of taking a broken piece of hardware to the store and being handed a practically new one in exchange.
If your iPad mini 2 or iPhone 5S were to break, would you prefer an exchange, or a repair?
Apple hasn't announced anything regarding the change in policy, but it's possible we'll hear something at the WWDC in June. AppleInsider first reported on the town hall, citing an anonymous Apple employee:
"The biggest announcement, was the way repairs for iPhones will be handled soon," the person, who asked not to be identified due to their active status as an Apple employee, told AppleInsider. "The way it is now, if almost anything is wrong with an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, the entire device is exchanged for a like-new re manufactured (sic) device, whether brought into an apple store or sent in for mail in repair. Now we are starting to actually repair the products and return the same device to the customer."
