Apple sets up replacement program for certain defective iPhone 8 units

Have you ever been the owner of a faulty iPhone 8? It might have been defective.

An Apple Support post dated Aug. 31, 2018 notes that the company has discovered a manufacturing defect in “a very small percentage” of iPhone 8 smartphones. Now that the issue is known, Apple is offering to fix anyone with an affected phone, free of charge.

“Affected devices may experience unexpected restarts, a frozen screen, or won’t turn on,” the post reads. So if you’re experiencing any of those issues with your iPhone 8, it’s probably time to set up a Genius Bar appointment.

Apple notes that the defective units in question were sold between Sept. 2017 and March 2018 — the first six months of that model’s life. Specifically, units sold in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, and the U.S. may be affected.

The issue only affects iPhone 8, so if you have an 8 Plus, an X, or any other iPhone, you’re safe.

If you think you have an iPhone that’s one of those with a defective logic board, you can head over to the support page and check for yourself. All you’ll need to do is type your phone’s serial number into the text field on that page.

You’ll also be able to find instructions on the same page for setting up a repair, whether it’s in store, by mail, or with an authorized Apple service provider.