iFixit disassembled the iPhone 17 Pro: unexpectedly 7 out of 10, but a lot of new nuances

The iFixit team conducted a detailed disassembly of the iPhone 17 Pro to assess its repairability and internal architecture. The smartphone received generally positive reviews, which was reflected in the overall score, but access to some components proved to be very difficult.

Preamble - scratchgate

iFixit has confirmed the existence of a problem - the iPhone Pro scratches a lot. The problem is more specific than it seems - most of the surface is covered with anodising, so in order to get to the silver metal, you need to make a really deep pothole. It's not hard, because aluminium is a relatively soft metal, but if you treat your smartphone with the usual care, this problem is unlikely to manifest itself.

But the protrusion of the camera unit has a sharp "step". Anodising is not painting. In fact, anodising is a controlled chemical corrosion process, so it doesn't peel off, but it does make the metal more brittle. Therefore, thin elements can simply break off in pieces, exposing the silver metal. In addition to the sharp step that will chip, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the camera unit is not a separate element, and to replace it, you need to completely reassemble the iPhone in a new case. So it's better to take care of a reliable case.

Comfortable but troublesome dismantling

Apple refuses to use glue wherever possible. Because of this, the current generation of iPhones has 5 different types of screws (!), including the new Torx Plus, announced this year. Without a special set of screwdrivers, it's better not to get inside. The glue is only used to fix the screen and battery. Moreover, to fix the battery, we now use a current-dissolving adhesive. It is enough to apply 12 V for a couple of minutes and the glue will dissolve, releasing the battery without effort. This is in stark contrast to Samsung's approach, which glues the battery tightly to the fragile AMOLED screen, which is very difficult to remove without damage.

Due to the new layout, it is very difficult to reach some components, such as the USB-C port, and you need to know almost all the details from the chassis. Access through the back cover is no longer possible - only the MagSafe charger is behind the glass, all other components are accessible by peeling off the screen.

Conclusion.

Assessment of repairability: iFixit gave the iPhone 17 Pro 7 out of 10 points, which is a very good score for modern smartphones. Experts liked the screw fasteners and, despite the slowdown in the process, all parts can be separated without damage.