Apple to offer the iPhone XR as a loaner phone during lengthier repairs

By Prakhar Khanna Published November 2, 2021

Apple discontinued the iPhone XR after the launch of the latest iPhone 13 series, which is understandable given that it’s a three-year-old phone. The smartphone had been the go-to budget iPhone since 2018, and it is still a competitive device in 2021, according to Digital Trends writer Michael Allison, who just spent a week testing a refurbished one.

Now, Apple is offering it as a loaner smartphone while it repairs your broken iPhone, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors, which states that the iPhone XR will be offered as a loaner starting November 4. This won’t be a universal program, though. Only Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will be able to offer the iPhone XR as a loaner device to consumers during lengthier repairs in the U.S. and other regions.

Recommended Videos

The option for a loaner will also only be available if the Apple Store determines that your iPhone must be mailed off to an Apple repair center to be serviced. Notably, you must return the loaner iPhone within 14 days after the date that Apple notifies you that your repaired iPhone is ready for pickup.

For reference, as of now, Apple offers the aging iPhone 8 if your iPhone takes longer than usual to repair. The company is now shifting to the iPhone XR, which came out a year after the iPhone 8. It comes with major upgrades over the iPhone 8, including features like Face ID with a broad notch at the top of the display. It is also powered by the capable A12 Bionic chip, has 3GB RAM, and a 2,942mAh battery. It’s not the most powerful iPhone anymore, but it should be more than enough to tide you over for a week or two, plus it supports iOS 15 with no serious problems reported.

Mobile Writer

Prakhar Khanna is an independent consumer tech journalist. He contributes to Digital Trends' Mobile section with features and…

Topics

Computing

Apple will check your public iCloud links for harmful content, and it doesn’t rule out banning accounts

Public iCloud links now come with a content check.

iCloud Private Relay

I’ve sent more iCloud links than I can count. Still, I never once wondered who else might be looking at what sat behind them. Well, it looks like Apple has started wondering for all of us.

In a new support document, Apple confirms that iOS 27.3 will begin checking content shared through public “Anyone with the link” iCloud links for harmful material (via Apple). While the developer beta is already available, the stable build is expected in December 2026.

Phones

Nothing’s first AI gadget arrives in December, and I don’t want it to be another Humane AI Pin

Nothing’s mystery AI gadget arrives next month with few clues.

The Glyph Matrix on the Nothing Phone 3 in black

I've reached a point where every new AI gadget announcement feels like a solution in search of a problem. So when Nothing hinted at its first AI-native device, I wasn't exactly excited, but I was curious.

Nothing CEO Carl Pei said on Wednesday that the company's first AI-native product ships sooner than you'd expect. The device ships next month, which means December 2026. However, that is the extent of the information we know (via Carl Pei on X).

Phones

This tiny Android phone brings back two features we thought were gone for good

The Enough Phone brings back compact smartphones, removable batteries, and a simpler Android experience, starting at $399.

Phone

Smartphones have become so big these days that finding one you can comfortably use with one hand is almost a challenge. And if you miss the days when phones were smaller, easier to carry around, and came with batteries you could replace yourself, a new Android phone might catch your attention.

It's called the Enough Phone, and it's a compact Android smartphone that doesn't try to squeeze in every feature imaginable. Instead, it focuses on the basics: a small display, decent hardware, and even a removable battery. The company has now launched a Kickstarter campaign, where early supporters can reserve one for $399.