Apple made the iPhone 14 easier to repair than expected
Apple has acknowledged that the iPhone 14 was designed to be easier to repair, but it may have undersold that upgrade. iFixit has finished tearing down this year's base iPhone, and it's clear the device has been reworked from the ground up with some do-it-yourself fixes in mind. The rear glass is easier and cheaper to fix, as promised, but used a metal center frame to keep the front just as accessible. The design is more serviceable than many Android phones that are simple to open only from the back, iFixit said.
The midframe of the iPhone 14 retains the same structural rigidity you saw in the 13 family. Apple had already moved the earpiece and front camera array to a more serviceable location on the mainframe of the previous generation.
The iPhone 14 won't make Fairphone buyers regret their purchases. Apple still requires customers and technicians to activate parts after they've been installed, so you can't just use an unofficial back instead of potentially more expensive self-service repair parts. Even so, iFixit claims it's the most repairable Apple handset since 2016's iPhone 7.
The redesign isn't completely surprising. Apple faces pressure to improve repairability from federal and state legislatures. If he didn't address home repairs with his designs, he risked battles with regulators who could force changes and impose penalties. Whatever the reasoning, you probably won't mind if you've been waiting for a really easy-to-fix iPhone.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
Apple has acknowledged that the iPhone 14 was designed to be easier to repair, but it may have undersold that upgrade. iFixit has finished tearing down this year's base iPhone, and it's clear the device has been reworked from the ground up with some do-it-yourself fixes in mind. The rear glass is easier and cheaper to fix, as promised, but used a metal center frame to keep the front just as accessible. The design is more serviceable than many Android phones that are simple to open only from the back, iFixit said.
The midframe of the iPhone 14 retains the same structural rigidity you saw in the 13 family. Apple had already moved the earpiece and front camera array to a more serviceable location on the mainframe of the previous generation.
The iPhone 14 won't make Fairphone buyers regret their purchases. Apple still requires customers and technicians to activate parts after they've been installed, so you can't just use an unofficial back instead of potentially more expensive self-service repair parts. Even so, iFixit claims it's the most repairable Apple handset since 2016's iPhone 7.
The redesign isn't completely surprising. Apple faces pressure to improve repairability from federal and state legislatures. If he didn't address home repairs with his designs, he risked battles with regulators who could force changes and impose penalties. Whatever the reasoning, you probably won't mind if you've been waiting for a really easy-to-fix iPhone.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
What's Your Reaction?
