Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature a fresh frame design, which could potentially make it simpler to repair their screens or swap out their batteries. The two most common smartphone repairs, replacing the battery and screen, can be done more expediently with this new design. Unfortunately, according to iFixit's repairability score of 4 out of 10, the phones are still fairly difficult to fix independently since Apple has software in place that ties certain components to the device.
iFixit, a parts vendor and gadget repair advocate, conducted a teardown analysis of Apple's brand new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and found that the devices' new frame design could make repairs such as replacing the batteries and screens easier. Despite this, iFixit awarded the phones a low repairability score of 4 out of 10; the organization cited Apple's software locks as the primary reason for this. With its new design, the Pro and Pro Max have a removable metal frame connecting the main internal parts to the titanium back panel that users touch. Apple has also made replacements of the back glass plates more affordable for these devices. Furthermore, the teardown analysis revealed that the iPhones are using a Qualcomm X70 modem to connect to cellular carriers.
iFixit decried Apple's parts pairing process, which requires authentication and pairing through an official configuration tool and is thus "substantially impacting independent repair enterprises and the overarching issue of e-waste." Apple has made strides to address these concerns this year, passing a California-based right-to-repair bill and introducing Self Service Repair, which allows repair shops and end users to rent professional-level repair tools and buy replacement parts from Apple. These initiatives are in line with the environmental movement, as repairs and extensions to the lifespans of devices help to prevent them from having to be thrown away. Apple representatives have yet to respond to CNBC's request for comment.
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