Apple has slowly been making its units easier to fix, however the iPhone 15 fell quick in a few key areas, in keeping with the repairability website iFixit. Specifically, the battery was laborious to take away and the machine suffered from a “components pairing” problem that meant you could not simply change the LiDAR sensor with one from one other telephone. With these two issues, iFixit gave the iPhone 15 a relatively low 4/10 repairability score.
Apple has now launched new updates on iPhone 16 repairability and seems to have addressed each these points and a bunch extra. Saying it tries to strike a steadiness between sturdiness and repairability, it targeted notably on the “repairability” side with its newest units.
There’s now a completely new strategy to take away the battery that is purported to make it simpler. By working a low voltage electrical present by way of the brand new ionic liquid battery adhesive (utilizing a 9V cell, as an example), the battery will launch itself from the enclosure. This makes removing quicker and safer in comparison with earlier stretch launch adhesives, in keeping with the corporate.
On the identical time, Apple made modifications to the Face ID sensor {hardware} beginning with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional. Now, the TrueDepth Digital camera might be swapped from one unit to a different with out compromising safety or privateness. Earlier than, solely Apple was in a position to try this sort of restore.
One other huge change is the brand new Restore Assistant, designed to handle components pairing points. That lets prospects and restore professionals configure each new and used Apple components immediately on the machine, without having to contact Apple personnel. Restore retailers beforehand wanted to order official elements immediately from Apple and get on the telephone with an worker earlier than iOS would settle for particular person components replacements.
Apple added newly repairable modules too, saying the TrueDepth Digital camera can now be configured on-device for iPhone 12 and later, eliminating the necessity for a tethered Mac. As well as, the LiDAR scanner on iPhone Professional fashions is now serviceable with the rear digital camera mannequin.
One other huge change is on-device entry to diagnostics. Beginning with iOS 18, Apple diagnostics for restore might be out there on machine, so prospects can decide which components should be changed with out the necessity for a second machine.
Lastly, the corporate introduced new assist for third-party and used Apple components. If a third-party half cannot be calibrated on Apple’s cloud-based servers, the iPhone or different machine will attempt to activate the half and function it to its full functionality, whereas displaying the restore historical past inside settings. Used Apple components can quickly be calibrated and can seem as a “used” half within the machine’s restore historical past. One other future replace will allow True Tone for third-party shows and battery well being for third-party batteries. As well as, the LiDAR Scanner and entrance digital camera will nonetheless work when the module is changed and left unconfigured.
All instructed, the iPhone 16 collection seems to be to have one of many greatest jumps in repairability but, with enhancements in bodily entry, components compatibility and components pairing. We’ll quickly see if that is mirrored in iFixit’s impending repairability rating.