A clip protects a cable throughout an iPhone 16e teardown – Picture Credit score: iFixit
A teardown of the brand new iPhone 16e reveals Apple has adopted repair-friendly practices for the mannequin, with pictures additionally giving a detailed have a look at Apple’s new C1 modem.
It’s customary that each Apple launch undergoes disassembly, as restore outfits examine the internals of the newest {hardware}. In a single teardown a number of days after launch, the iPhone 16e is proven to have glorious repairability, in comparison with iPhones just some years outdated, and commensurate with the remainder of the iPhone 16 lineup.
The teardown by iFixit, printed on Monday reveals that methods such because the electrically-released battery adhesive is getting used within the new mannequin. The system, which replaces the stretch-release adhesive method, requires energy to be utilized to a screw publish and a conductive tab, releasing the battery inside seconds.
Persevering with the disassembly, the iPhone 16e’s lack of MagSafe is on apparent show through CT scans, with the MagSafe ring being fully lacking from the brand new mannequin. Nonetheless, there may be an uncommon profit to the shortage of MagSafe right here.
Based on the teardown, wi-fi charging raised the temperature of the battery “properly above 30C,” which is an elevated temperature that may degrade the battery over time. The slower wi-fi charging of the iPhone 16e with out MagSafe at 7.5W ought to assist scale back the temperature and the degradation charge.
One other change is that Apple is making it marginally simpler to interchange damaged charging ports within the iPhone 16e. It’s because Apple has issued a handbook for changing these ports.
There’s nonetheless a really prolonged process to undertake when opening, however it’s considerably simpler than the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max.
This features a design change the place a steel clip holding the again cowl protects a flex cable for the flash meeting. This helps scale back the prospect of repairers slicing the cable accidentally utilizing a gap choose.
Modem and software program pairing
As a part of the teardown, Apple’s C1 modem was a giant focus, with the brand new bundle situated beneath the RF board.
Die pictures from Yole Group confirmed that the C1 makes use of the identical packaging construction integrating the 4-nanometer modem with DRAM. Nonetheless, the 7-nanometer transceiver just isn’t in the identical bundle because the modem, however is quite positioned on the underside of the RF board itself.
Apple’s C1 modem within the iPhone 16e – Picture Credit score: iFixit
This primary modem, changing the Qualcomm model Apple additionally makes use of, is a giant step in Apple’s program of changing the entire ICs on the logic board with in-house-designed variations. A future iteration could expand alterations to the best way the modem is packaged and included on the board.
The change to make use of Face ID as an alternative of Contact ID as with the iPhone SE line can also be seen as useful for repairs. The elimination of the Residence button, a excessive wear-and-tear element, is now much less of an issue.
As a byproduct, the elimination of Contact ID additionally reduces the variety of parts affected by components pairing methods. Contact ID was exempted from components pairing limitations in Proper to Restore legal guidelines, as a result of being a biometric authentication element.
Utilizing energy to free the battery adhesive – Picture Credit score: iFixit
Whereas the TrueDepth digicam array is now exempted with the change to Face ID, that is a element that is much less prone to want changing by customers. By eradicating the mechanically-moving Residence button, which may break via repeated presses over time, this removes yet one more headache for repairers.
General, iFixit offers the iPhone 16e a “repairability” rating of seven out of 10, although that’s provisional and pending the discharge of spare components. Whereas this does not sound that top, it matches the best iPhone repairability rating achieved by the iPhone 16.
Regardless of this, iFixit provides that there is “not a lot price writing residence about right here,” as a result of elevated worth versus the iPhone SE and the general record of specs. As an alternative, a refurbished iPhone is obtainable as a potential various to “get you extra bang to your buck.”
