Apple’s ultra-slim iPhone Air just went under the screwdriver, and the verdict from iFixit is encouraging: going slimmer didn’t mean sacrificing repairability. In its detailed teardown, iFixit praises Apple’s internal redesign, easier battery servicing, and a modular USB-C port, awarding the phone a 7/10 repairability score.
iFixit’s CT scans and disassembly show Apple shifted the logic board above the battery, freeing room for a larger, flatter internal layout. That approach avoids stacking components, which can complicate repairs and increase risk during disassembly. It measured the cell at 12.26 Wh—on the conservative side compared to recent iPhones—but praised the metal casing and dual-entry back-glass access. The headline change is the electrically debonding adhesive: connect the tabs to a power source, and the battery lifts out cleanly after ~70 seconds per strip.
The USB-C port is modular, which is good news since ports are common failure points. iFixit also examined the titanium around the port and, based on microscopy, it confirms that Apple is using an advanced additive manufacturing (3D printing) process for the ultra-compact housing.
In empty-frame bend tests, iFixit snapped the frame at plastic antenna passthroughs, but notes that real-world flex tests so far don’t suggest unusual bend issues for the assembled phone. Apple says the new grade-5 titanium frame and Ceramic Shield 2 on the front improve durability and scratch resistance. iFixit’s 7/10 repairability score is provisional, hinging on two factors: parts availability (including whether Apple will sell key modules like the USB-C port) and parts-pairing behavior in software.
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