Quick answer: After a repair, iPhone's Settings app can show a part as Genuine, Used (Genuine), or Unknown under Parts and Service History. Genuine means a new Apple part, calibrated through Apple's system. Used (Genuine) means a real Apple part taken from another device of the same model, calibrated via Repair Assistant. Unknown means the part isn't recognised by Apple's calibration system — which includes most aftermarket parts, even high-quality ones that work perfectly well. None of these statuses affect whether the phone actually works; they affect what's displayed in Settings and, in some cases, trade-in value.
What Parts and Service History actually shows
On iPhone models that support it, you can check this yourself: go to Settings → General → About, and if a part has been serviced, you'll see a message describing that component with one of the following statuses:
- Genuine — the service was completed with a genuine Apple part, and the calibration process (see below) completed successfully.
- Used (Genuine) — on iPhone 15 and later, a genuine Apple part taken from another iPhone of the same model, calibrated via Repair Assistant, so the system recognises it as authentic even though it wasn't new.
- Unknown — the fitted part isn't recognised through Apple's calibration and pairing system. This is what you'll typically see with independently-sourced aftermarket parts, and in some cases with genuine parts that weren't calibrated through the proper process during fitting.
According to Apple's own support documentation, an Unknown Part status can affect the trade-in value of your device — that's the practical consequence worth knowing about before you decide which grade of part to use, particularly if you plan to trade the phone in later rather than keep it long-term.
How the calibration process actually works
Genuine Apple parts are individually calibrated with data uploaded to Apple's servers at the time of manufacture. When a genuine part is fitted, Repair Assistant retrieves that stored calibration data to finish the repair and pair the part to the device. Apple states this process is designed to ensure parts meet performance, security, privacy, and safety expectations — it's not simply a software flag being switched on, it's tied to manufacturing-time data specific to that individual component.
This is why a genuine part fitted without going through Repair Assistant properly can still show as Unknown — the part itself is authentic, but the calibration step that would confirm that to the system wasn't completed.
Genuine used parts on iPhone 15 and later — what changed
Starting with iPhone 15, Apple opened up a specific option: if you're experienced with device repair, you can take a part from another iPhone of the same model and reuse it, then use Repair Assistant to calibrate it into the new device. This is a meaningful shift from earlier models, where only brand-new genuine parts could achieve full "Genuine" status. It reflects the reality of a growing used-parts and refurbishment market, and it means a well-sourced used genuine battery, screen, or camera module can now be installed with full system recognition — provided the calibration step is completed correctly.
Comparison: what you're actually choosing between
| Part grade | Parts and Service History status | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine new (Apple/authorised) | Genuine | Highest | Full factory calibration, no Unknown Part message, minimal trade-in impact |
| Genuine used/pulled (iPhone 15+, calibrated) | Used (Genuine) | High, below new genuine | Authentic Apple component, recognised by the system when properly calibrated |
| Genuine used/pulled, not calibrated via Repair Assistant | Unknown | Moderate | Authentic part, but system can't verify it — functions normally |
| Premium aftermarket | Unknown | Moderate | New manufacture to original spec — quality varies by supplier |
| Budget aftermarket | Unknown | Lowest | New manufacture, wider quality and tolerance variance |
Does an "Unknown" status mean the part doesn't work properly?
No — this is the most common misunderstanding about the whole system. Unknown means Apple's software can't verify the part through its calibration and pairing system, not that the part is faulty or low quality. A correctly-fitted, high-quality aftermarket screen, battery, or camera component can perform extremely well while still showing as Unknown, simply because it was never registered through Apple's calibration data at manufacture. Conversely, a genuine part fitted badly, or without proper calibration, can also end up flagged as Unknown despite being authentic.
Where it does matter in practice:
- Trade-in value — Apple states an Unknown Part status can reduce your device's trade-in value, since the assessment can't confirm what was actually fitted.
- Some feature warnings — certain components (particularly displays and batteries on some models) can trigger an on-screen notice when the system can't verify authenticity, even though the part functions normally.
- Resale transparency — if you're selling the phone privately, a buyer checking Settings will see the Unknown status, so it's worth being upfront about what was fitted and why, rather than letting them discover it themselves.
Step-by-step: how to check your iPhone's part status
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap About
- Scroll down — if any component has been serviced, you'll see it listed here with its status
- Tap the component for more detail on what was fitted and when, where available
If you haven't had any repairs done, you won't see any entries here — this section only populates once a tracked component (screen, battery, or camera on supported models) has been serviced.
Why Apple built this system in the first place
It's worth understanding the reasoning, even if you don't agree with every consequence of it. Apple frames Parts and Service History and the calibration process around performance, security, privacy, and safety — components like the battery and camera involve firmware-level interactions with the rest of the device (thermal management, image processing, biometric security on some models), so Apple's position is that verifying what's actually fitted protects those systems from parts that haven't been through their quality and security testing.
The practical trade-off is that this same system makes it harder for independent repairers and budget-conscious customers to achieve full "Genuine" recognition without going through Apple's own channels or the newer genuine-used-parts pathway on iPhone 15 and later. Neither framing is wrong exactly — it's a genuine tension between device security/verification and repair accessibility, and it's one of the reasons "right to repair" discussions specifically call out parts pairing as a contested issue.
What this means for independent and DIY repairs specifically
If you're repairing your own phone, or using an independent repair shop rather than Apple directly, here's the realistic picture:
- The repair itself will almost certainly succeed — screens, batteries, and camera glass are well-documented, physically straightforward repairs regardless of what status they'll show afterwards.
- You should expect an Unknown status on most independently-fitted parts, including many genuine ones, unless the repairer has access to Apple's calibration tools.
- This is normal, not a sign something went wrong. The overwhelming majority of independent repairs worldwide result in an Unknown status, and the phones work completely normally.
- Keep your receipt and part details regardless of grade — if you ever need to explain what was fitted (to a future buyer, or for your own records), this is more useful than the Settings status alone.
Real parts we stock, by category
Screens (see also our full screen grade comparison):
- iPhone 16 Original Super Retina XDR OLED Screen — from £139.98
- iPhone 14 FHD LCD screen — from £18.99
Batteries and installation:
- Battery adhesive strips for Apple iPhone — from £1.99
Camera components:
- iPhone 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max camera lens glass — from £1.99
- iPhone 12 Pro Max back camera lens glass — from £1.99
How to decide which grade is right for you
- Ask whether you plan to trade the phone in later. If yes, genuine (new or used-genuine, properly calibrated) protects trade-in value; if you're keeping the phone long-term or selling privately, this matters less.
- Ask whether you care about the Settings status specifically. Some people simply don't want to see any warning message, regardless of actual performance — if that's you, insist on genuine parts calibrated through Repair Assistant.
- Weigh cost against the specific component. Camera glass and battery adhesive are low-stakes, inexpensive parts where grade matters less. Screens and batteries are higher-stakes purchases where the gap between genuine and budget aftermarket is more noticeable in daily use.
- Check reviews and warranty on the specific listing rather than the grade label alone — a well-reviewed premium aftermarket part often outperforms a poorly-stored genuine-pull part.
Frequently asked questions
Will an aftermarket part stop my iPhone from working properly?
No, in the vast majority of cases a correctly-fitted aftermarket part functions completely normally. What changes is how the phone's software reports the part in Settings, and potentially the trade-in valuation — not the phone's actual day-to-day performance.
Can I upgrade an Unknown part status to Genuine later?
Generally no, not retroactively for a part that's already fitted — the calibration happens at the point of fitting. If you want Genuine or Used (Genuine) status, that needs to be arranged at the time of the repair, using a properly sourced part and the correct calibration process.
Does this system apply to Android phones too?
Samsung and other Android manufacturers have their own parts-verification approaches, but they're generally less strict about displaying a persistent Settings-level warning for non-genuine parts compared to recent iPhone models. Genuine versus aftermarket grading still matters for quality and fit on Android devices — it's just not surfaced through an equivalent on-device status system in the same way.
Is "Used (Genuine)" better than new aftermarket?
It depends on what you're optimising for. Used (Genuine) gives you full system recognition and protects trade-in value, but the part itself has already been through some usage cycles. A new premium aftermarket part hasn't been used before, but won't achieve Genuine status in Settings. For pure day-to-day function, both can perform well — the difference is mainly about system recognition and resale considerations.
Why does my genuine replacement part still show as Unknown?
This usually means the calibration step wasn't completed correctly during fitting — the part itself may be entirely authentic, but without going through Repair Assistant's pairing process, the system can't confirm that. This is more likely to happen with independent repairs that don't have access to Apple's calibration tools, even when using a genuine sourced component.
Does the Unknown Part message go away if I later have the part replaced again with a genuine one?
Yes — the status reflects the most recently fitted part for that component. If an Unknown-status screen is later replaced with a properly-calibrated genuine screen, the status updates to reflect the new part, not the previous history.
Do all repair categories show this status, or just some?
Coverage varies by iPhone model and component — battery, display, and camera are the most commonly tracked categories on recent models, since these involve the calibration and security considerations Apple cites most often. Smaller components (buttons, speakers) are less consistently tracked through this specific system.
Summary
Genuine, Used (Genuine), and Unknown are about what Apple's software can verify through its calibration system, not a direct measure of part quality or whether your phone will work properly. Genuine and properly-calibrated Used (Genuine) parts protect trade-in value and avoid on-screen warnings; Unknown-status parts, including many excellent aftermarket options, function normally but won't show that verification. Choose based on whether you plan to trade in the phone, how much the Settings display matters to you personally, and the quality signals (reviews, warranty) on the specific part you're buying. Whichever route you take, keep records of what was fitted and when — it's the most useful thing you can have regardless of what status Settings ends up showing.