iPhone 17e Teardown Reveals Hidden Upgrade for iPhone 16e: MagSafe Charging Without a New Phone

iFixit experts disassembled the new budget iPhone 17e and came to an unexpected conclusion: it is not so much a new smartphone as it is a neat improvement of the previous model.

What the disassembly showed

According to experts, the internal device almost completely repeats the iPhone 16e. The main changes are the new A19 chip, updated modem, and integration of MagSafe support.

The main "feature" is modularity: many components are fully compatible between the two generations. This means that the 17e and 16e parts can be interchanged, making repairs cheaper and easier.

Unexpected upgrade for old devices

The most interesting discovery is the back panel with MagSafe. It turned out that it can be installed on the iPhone 16e to get magnetic charging support without buying a new smartphone. Although there are nuances: it is not a fact that the system recognizes MagSafe "officially" and it is unclear whether the charging speed will be as fast as possible.

Repairability

iFixit rated the device at 7 out of 10 — this is a good, but not groundbreaking result.

The team highlighted the main advantages of the model:

• double access (can be opened from the screen or back cover);
• relatively simple battery replacement;
• high part compatibility.

There were also some downsides:

• the USB-C port is still difficult to replace;
• some components remain "deep" within the structure.

iFixit conclusion

The disassembly showed that Apple is betting not on revolutions, but on gradual improvements. The iPhone 17e turned out to be more of an evolution, but with an important trend: more interchangeability, easier repair, and even the possibility of upgrading old models.

Source: iFixit