Full Breakdown
iFixit Teardown Highlights Repair Hurdles in iPhone 18 Pro Lineup
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Findings from the Teardown
iFixit opened four iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units, noting that the external dimensions match the prior-year iPhone 17 Pro models. Inside, the devices feature a larger vapor-chamber cooling system, a new A20 Pro processor, and NAND flash mounted on a dual-layer logic board, which “makes storage-related repairs less convenient.” All models sold outside the United States include a SIM-card tray, while U.S. versions are eSIM-only. A new variable-aperture camera system with six microscopic mechanical blades was also documented.
Repairability Assessment
iFixit assigned a provisional repairability score of 7 out of 10, identical to the iPhone 17 Pro series. Removing the back glass panel proved straightforward, but the plastic frame behind the display fractured in three of the four units examined.
Data & Statistics
Official Statements & Responses
Liz Chamberlian, iFixit’s director of sustainability, said additional testing is needed to determine why the plastic frame failed and suggested that using isopropyl alcohol might improve display removal consistency. Carsten Frauenheim, iFixit’s repairability engineer, echoed the need for further trials before drawing firm conclusions. iFixit also called the variable-aperture lens “a feat of precision engineering,” while noting that Apple has not yet released replacement parts for the 2026 models, implying that repair costs could exceed the $249 price of the iPhone 17 Pro camera assembly.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Four phones are too few to establish a failure rate. Adhesive strength, heating, technique or a difference in the plastic could all matter. That plastic frame has been present since the 15 Pro. But it hasn’t given us nearly as much trouble in previous years,” — Liz Chamberlian
- “We dismantled the main camera and concluded that an aperture-only repair isn’t going to be feasible: If your aperture gets stuck, you’ll be looking at replacing the entire main camera assembly,” — Liz Chamberlian