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India's consumer regulator has escalated a formal investigation into Apple over a warranty clause that most phone buyers never read until it costs them money. The case is a useful reminder of how narrow "warranty" actually is on any phone, refurbished or brand new, and what to check before you buy one.
What the investigation is actually about
According to reporting on the case, India's Central Consumer Protection Authority escalated its probe into Apple in late July after receiving a large volume of complaints tied to the iOS 18 rollout. Users reported green, pink or white lines appearing on their screens, along with microphone problems, after installing the update. Because Apple's software licence terms exclude software from its hardware warranty, affected customers were told to pay for the repair themselves — with the fix for a single iPhone 15 screen estimated at roughly ₹27,900, close to a third of the phone's retail price. Apple's position, per its August reply to investigators, is that the no-warranty-on-software clause is disclosed before installation and is common across the industry.
Separately, other coverage of Apple's repair practices has noted the company moving toward cheaper, more accessible repair options in some markets — a sign that the pressure on manufacturers to be clearer about what a warranty actually covers is a broader trend, not just an India-specific complaint.
The fine print that catches most buyers
The uncomfortable truth this case surfaces is that a phone (or laptop) warranty rarely means "if something goes wrong, it's covered." Most manufacturer warranties are written to cover manufacturing defects in hardware only. Damage that a company can attribute to software, misuse, or an update gone wrong is routinely carved out, and the customer is left to pay full repair cost with no recourse except a regulator complaint or a lawsuit.
That's exactly why it matters more, not less, where you buy a device and what the seller is willing to put in writing about what happens if something breaks.
How this should change what you check before buying
When you're shopping for a phone from our mobile phones collection, don't just check the warranty length — check its scope. A few practical rules:
- Confirm whether the warranty is a brand warranty or a seller warranty, and what it explicitly excludes.
- Record an unboxing video every time. If a device arrives with transit damage, this is what makes a defect claim fast instead of a dispute.
- Know your return window before you pay. A generous return policy on paper is worth little if the fine print excludes the exact failure you're likely to hit.
- Ask what happens if the device is fine but you simply want out — some sellers, us included, don't offer change-of-mind returns, so this needs to be a purchase decision, not an afterthought.
Warranty terms compared: phones vs. laptops
Warranty scope also varies by product condition and category, which is worth knowing whether you're buying a phone or shopping our unboxed laptops or refurbished laptops. On Get Like New, unboxed phones and refurbished laptops carry a 6-month brand warranty, while unboxed laptops and gaming laptops carry a full 1-year brand warranty. None of these cover software-caused damage any more than a new device's warranty would — the difference is that we're upfront about it, and we back every order with a defect remedy for transit damage (unboxing video required) and a buyback program at 80% of your purchase price within 15 days if the device simply isn't what you expected.
A quick warranty-safe buying checklist
- Read the warranty scope, not just the duration.
- Film the unboxing, every time, no exceptions.
- Check the seller's defect and damage remedy process before you need it.
- Understand there's no warranty coverage for issues a manufacturer can trace to a software update — back up your device before any major OS update, regardless of what phone you own.
- Factor in a buyback or resale option if you're not fully sure the device fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a phone warranty cover screen issues caused by a software update?
Generally no. Manufacturer warranties, including Apple's, typically cover hardware defects only and exclude damage attributed to software or an OS update, which is the core issue in India's ongoing investigation.
What warranty do unboxed phones from Get Like New come with?
Unboxed phones carry a 6-month brand warranty covering hardware defects, separate from any seller-side defect remedy for transit damage.
What should I do if my phone or laptop arrives damaged?
Record an unboxing video as you open the package. This is required to claim our defect remedy for transit damage, since we don't offer change-of-mind returns.
Can I return a device if I simply change my mind?
No. We don't offer change-of-mind returns on any product. Transit damage is covered through our defect remedy, and if a device isn't working out, our buyback program refunds 80% of the purchase price within 15 days.
Is a refurbished laptop's warranty different from an unboxed laptop's?
Yes. Refurbished laptops carry a 6-month brand warranty, while unboxed laptops and gaming laptops carry a full 1-year brand warranty, so it's worth checking which category a listing falls into before you buy.
