How Apple made iPhone 16 series much easier to repair
What's the story
Apple has recently unveiled its iPhone 16 series, marking a significant stride toward improved repairability. The tech giant has addressed several issues identified by iFixit in the previous model, the iPhone 15. These concerns included a difficult-to-remove battery and complications with "parts pairing," which made it challenging to replace components like the LiDAR sensor.
Battery upgrade
New battery removal method
Apple has introduced a novel method for battery removal in the iPhone 16 series. This process involves running a low voltage electrical current via the new ionic liquid battery adhesive, causing the battery to detach from its casing. According to Apple, this technique is both quicker and safer than previous methods that used stretch release adhesives.
Hardware changes
Face ID sensor hardware and Repair Assistant
The iPhone 16 series also features modifications to the Face ID sensor hardware. Now, the TrueDepth Camera can be interchanged between units sans compromising security or privacy, a repair previously exclusive to Apple. Additionally, a new Repair Assistant has been introduced to resolve parts pairing issues, enabling both customers and repair professionals to configure new as well as used Apple parts directly on their device.
Module enhancements
Additional repairable modules and on-device diagnostics
Apple has added more repairable modules to the iPhone 16 series. The TrueDepth Camera can now be configured on-device, eliminating the need for a tethered Mac. Furthermore, starting with iOS 18, Apple diagnostics for repairs will be accessible on the device itself, allowing customers to identify which parts require replacement without needing a second device.
Third-party integration
Support for 3rd-party and used Apple parts
Apple has announced support for third-party and used Apple parts in the iPhone 16 series. If a third-party part cannot be calibrated on Apple's cloud-based servers, the device will attempt to activate it while displaying its repair history within settings. Used Apple parts can also be calibrated and will show up as "used" in the device's repair history. Future updates are set to enable True Tone for third-party displays, and battery health for third-party batteries.