A clip protects a cable during an iPhone 16e teardown – Image Credit: iFixit
A teardown of the new iPhone 16e shows Apple has adopted repair-friendly practices for the model, with images also giving a close look at Apple’s new C1 modem.
It is customary that every Apple release undergoes disassembly, as repair outfits inspect the internals of the latest hardware. In one teardown a few days after release, the iPhone 16e is shown to have excellent repairability, compared to iPhones just a few years old, and commensurate with the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup.
The teardown by iFixit, published on Monday shows that techniques such as the electrically-released battery adhesive is being used in the new model. The system, which replaces the stretch-release adhesive technique, requires power to be applied to a screw post and a conductive tab, releasing the battery within seconds.
Continuing the disassembly, the iPhone 16e’s lack of MagSafe is on obvious display via CT scans, with the MagSafe ring being completely missing from the new model. However, there is an unusual benefit to the lack of MagSafe here.
According to the teardown, wireless charging raised the temperature of the battery “well above 30C,” which is an elevated temperature that can degrade the battery over time. The slower wireless charging of the iPhone 16e without MagSafe at 7.5W should help reduce the temperature and the degradation rate.
Another change is that Apple is making it marginally easier to replace broken charging ports in the iPhone 16e. This is because Apple has issued a manual for replacing those ports.
There’s still a very lengthy procedure to undertake when opening, but it is somewhat easier than the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
This includes a design change where a metal clip holding the back cover protects a flex cable for the flash assembly. This helps reduce the chance of repairers slicing the cable by accident using an opening pick.
Modem and software pairing
As part of the teardown, Apple’s C1 modem was a big focus, with the new package located underneath the RF board.
Die shots from Yole Group showed that the C1 uses the same packaging structure integrating the 4-nanometer modem with DRAM. However, the 7-nanometer transceiver is not in the same package as the modem, but is rather placed on the underside of the RF board itself.
Apple’s C1 modem in the iPhone 16e – Image Credit: iFixit
This first modem, replacing the Qualcomm version Apple also uses, is a big step in Apple’s program of replacing all of the ICs on the logic board with in-house-designed versions. A future iteration may make bigger alterations to the way the modem is packaged and included on the board.
The change to use Face ID instead of Touch ID as with the iPhone SE line is also seen as beneficial for repairs. The removal of the Home button, a high wear-and-tear component, is now less of a problem.
As a byproduct, the removal of Touch ID also reduces the number of components affected by parts pairing techniques. Touch ID was exempted from parts pairing limitations in Right to Repair laws, due to being a biometric authentication component.
Using power to free the battery adhesive – Image Credit: iFixit
While the TrueDepth camera array is now exempted with the change to Face ID, that’s a component that’s less likely to need replacing by users. By removing the mechanically-moving Home button, which can break through repeated presses over time, this removes one more headache for repairers.
Overall, iFixit gives the iPhone 16e a “repairability” score of 7 out of 10, though that is provisional and pending the release of spare parts. While this doesn’t sound that high, it matches the highest iPhone repairability score achieved by the iPhone 16.
Despite this, iFixit adds that there’s “not much worth writing home about here,” due to the increased price versus the iPhone SE and the overall list of specifications. Instead, a refurbished iPhone is offered as a possible alternative to “get you more bang for your buck.”
