To be fair, the display could conceivably be read by a determined human, since the QR format used is the tiny Micro QR M2 version that measures only 13×13 pixels.

Apple etches iPhone displays with small QR codes that let it precisely track the number of defective screens that are thrown out by suppliers, according to a new report from The Information.

Hidden QR codes help Apple keep reported failures down There are actually two QR codes in every iPhone screen, and they are added to different points, at different stages of manufacture.