Specialists disassembled the new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro Max/still from video
Previously, repair site iFixit took apart the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus to demonstrate a new battery removal process that uses electricity to remove adhesive. Now it's the turn of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 Pro models don't have the same simplified battery removal process as the iPhone 16. Instead, Apple uses a traditional stretch adhesive to their more expensive iPhones, MacRumors writes.
However, it's still easier to get inside because you can do it through the back of the iPhone instead of through the display, which can be easily damaged.
Apple has placed the iPhone 16 Pro's battery in a metal shell, just like the iPhone 16 models, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn't have a metal shell around the battery, and it's not clear why. iFixit called the decision to use a battery in a metal shell only in the 16 Pro model and not in the 16 Pro Max “puzzling”.
The LiDAR scanner is more affordable, which makes it easier to access it for repairs. In previous iPhone Pro models, it was under the main camera. The camera modules are almost identical, but not completely interchangeable due to the different length of the cable and the screw located in two different places inside each model.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Experts took it apart: watch the video
Apple moved the mmWave antenna to make room for the camera button, and on the 16 Pro models, it sits in a hollowed-out space near the top of the device. iFixit claims that mmWave signal may still suffer due to the titanium frame of the iPhone 16 Pro models.
Removing the USB-C port is “significantly” easier but iFixit notes that Apple does not sell spare USB-C ports. The logic board can also be pulled out by just removing the top speaker, which is a significant design improvement.
Notably, teardowns revealed that the iPhone 16 Pro models use a Qualcomm SDX71M modem, which is a custom version of the SDX70M modem used in iPhone 15 Pro models. The Pro models were rumored to feature a Qualcomm X75 modem, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
iFixit gave the iPhone 16 Pro 7 out of 10 repairability scores due to changes in design and availability of repair instructions.