iPhone 15 Pro series features repair-friendly design: Repairability score still low

Despite the new repair-friendly internal structure, the iPhone 15 Pro series still has a lower repairability score of four out of ten.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max features the powerful A17 Pro Bionic chipset. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are currently the most repair-friendly smartphones from Apple. According to a disassembly video by iFixit, the new Pro iPhones feature a new chassis, which includes an easy-to-replace back glass, first introduced on the iPhone 14 in 2022.

Despite the new repair-friendly internal structure, the iPhone 15 Pro series still has a lower repairability score of four out of ten. This is primarily due to component pairing, where most internal components, including the display, battery, camera, and even the wireless charging circuit, are paired to the motherboard. This makes it challenging to repair without authorized technicians.

This is also reflected in the service cost of the new iPhones. It costs Rs 14,900 to replace the back glass of the iPhone 15 Pro, while the same repair is priced at Rs 52,900 for the iPhone 14 Pro, as the company would simply replace the phone instead of repairing the glass.

With the new design, the entire iPhone 15 series can be opened from the front and the back. Do note that Apple is one of the few companies that offer easy display repairs on smartphones, and in most flagship Android phones, the display is usually fused with the frame, where, one has to replace the complete mid-frame to replace the screen.

While Apple does offer a self-service program in select markets, the same is not available in India. Even with this initiative, the process of procuring a spare part and authenticating it over a phone call isn’t as streamlined as one might expect.

The video also reveals that the iPhone 15 Pro is using the Qualcomm X70 5G modem, and the company has extended its contract with Qualcomm as the sole supplier of 5G modems until 2026. Apple is reported to be developing an in-house 5G modem, which could be featured in future iPhone models.

Source: indianexpress.com