I'm dealing with a really frustrating situation regarding my iPhone 13 Pro and need some advice. I had my battery replaced at an Apple Authorized Service Center in Saket on December 14, 2025, and everything was working fine until February 5, 2026, when my phone started experiencing random white flashes. By the next day, it went fully white and became unusable. I was traveling, so I couldn't get to a service center right away.
When I finally visited the Apple store in Saket, they diagnosed the phone and confirmed there was no hardware damage, suggesting it might be a software or display issue. They mentioned that Apple usually replaces screens for free in such cases. But when they saw that my model was originally from the UK, they told me that the free display replacement policy only applies to Indian models, not mine.
I explained that I live and use my phone in India, receive Indian software updates, and even got my battery replaced through Apple India. But they still insisted that I would have to pay around ₹21,500 for the display replacement. Given that the phone is already four years old, paying that much isn't financially wise, and they wouldn't let me trade it in because of the display issue.
I escalated the matter to Apple Support and spent almost two hours discussing it with a senior executive, who promised to review the case and call me back in 24 hours—I'm still waiting. My main concern is the potential for regional discrimination. If the issue isn't due to user damage and relates to Apple's hardware or software, why should the country of purchase dictate repair eligibility? It feels unfair to be denied support simply because the phone was sold elsewhere, despite me being a paying customer in India using their services. Has anyone faced similar issues or managed to successfully escalate a region-based denial?
2 Answers
I totally get your frustration. When I had a similar issue, I contacted Apple Support through social media, and they were really responsive. You might want to give that a try, it could speed up getting a resolution!
Honestly, it doesn’t seem fair that they're using the region as an excuse here. I’ve heard of similar situations where people with phones from other countries faced extra hurdles for repairs. Hopefully, Apple will sort this out and recognize that you’re using their services in India. Just keep insisting on your rights as a customer!
Exactly! The model differences are minimal, especially for an iPhone 13 Pro. There shouldn’t be any major service differences based on where it was sold. You might want to escalate further or consider reaching out through different support channels.