Apple has slowly been making its devices easier to fix, but the iPhone 15 fell behind in a few key areas according to repairability site iFixit. Namely, the battery was difficult to remove and the device had a “parts pairing” issue that meant you couldn’t easily replace the LiDAR sensor with another phone. With these two problems, iFixit gave the iPhone 15 a relatively low 4/10 repairability score.
Apple has now released new updates on iPhone 16 repairability and it appears to have addressed both of these issues and many others. Saying it tries to strike a balance between durability and repairability, it focused specifically on the “repairability” aspect with its latest devices.
There’s now a brand new way to remove the battery that’s supposed to make this easier. By running a low-voltage electrical current through a new ionic liquid battery adhesive (for example, using a 9V cell), the battery will release itself from the enclosure. According to the company, this makes removal faster and safer than the previous stretch release adhesive.
Also, Apple made changes to the Face ID sensor hardware starting with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Now, the TrueDepth camera can be swapped out from one unit to another without compromising security or privacy. Previously, only Apple was able to perform that type of repair.
Another big change is the new Repair Assistant, which is designed to address parts pairing issues. It lets customers and repair professionals configure new and used Apple parts directly on the device without contacting Apple personnel. Previously, repair shops needed to order official components directly from Apple and speak to an employee on the phone before iOS would accept individual parts replacements.
Apple also added new repairable modules, saying the TrueDepth camera can now be configured on the device for iPhone 12 and later, eliminating the need for a tethered Mac. In addition, the LiDAR scanner on iPhone Pro models is now serviceable with the rear camera models.
Another big change is on-device access to diagnostics. Starting with iOS 18, Apple Diagnostics will be available for repairs on the device, so customers can determine which parts need to be replaced without the need for a second device.
Finally, the company announced new support for third-party and used Apple parts. If a third-party part cannot be calibrated on Apple’s cloud-based servers, the iPhone or other device will attempt to activate that part and operate it to its fullest potential, showing the repair history within Settings.
Used Apple parts can soon be calibrated and will appear as a “used” part in the device’s repair history. Another future update will enable True Tone for third-party displays and battery health for third-party batteries. In addition, the LiDAR scanner and front camera will work even if the module is replaced and left unconfigured.
Overall, the iPhone 16 series features the biggest leap forward in repairability ever, with improvements in physical access, parts compatibility, and parts pairing. We’ll soon see if this is reflected in iFixit’s imminent repairability scores.