Apple recently launched the iPhone 13 series through online events. One of the most noticeable but subtle improvements in the latest iPhone is the reduction of the notch size. Although the bathtub recess on the iPhone is equipped with a precision sensor for Face ID, it also has a front camera. Apple managed to reduce the size of the gap while retaining all the features. However, the smaller notch may make the device's screen replacement very difficult. 

According to a DIY-based repair YouTube channel called iFixit, if the screen on the smartphone is replaced by a third-party item or store, the iPhone 13 will deliberately disable Face ID. Obviously, if the user replaces or repairs the screen through a third-party/independent repair shop, the complex sensor system that includes Apple iPhone facial recognition technology will not work.

Commenting on this rather illogical discovery, Kevin Purdy of the YouTube channel said: "This unprecedented lock is unique to Apple. It is brand new in the iPhone 13, and it is difficult to understand as a security measure because of Face ID. The illuminator is completely independent from the screen." The new restrictions on replacing the screen from a third-party store will make repairing the iPhone 13 series extremely difficult. 

Apple installed a new chip on the flexible cable that connects the display to the motherboard in the new iPhone series. In addition, there is a small controller on the screen that must be connected to the new chip on the flexible cable. The face ID function seems to only work when this connection is in place. It is also speculated that the connection can be established through secret software that only Apple authorized service partners can use. 

In the past, iPhone screen repairs could be easily done by hand. However, with the new iPhone series, people who repair smartphones need a microscope. The arrangement of parts on the new iPhone will require local repair shops to invest in expensive equipment. Apple smartphones are already difficult to repair. With the new changes, Apple does not seem to want users to repair their devices through local stores.