Apple recently started shipping the iPhone Air—the thinnest iPhone to date—to early buyers. Soon after the launch, the DIY repair site iFixit has done one of its traditional teardowns on the iPhone Air. iFixit has posted the teardown video of the slimmest iPhone after the popular YouTuber Zack Nelson of the channel JerryRigEverything took it through a series of durability tests.
This is how Apple made the iPhone Air so slim
iFixit’s teardown has revealed that Apple made one huge design shift in the iPhone Air. As the launch event depicted, the Air is mostly battery on the inside. Apple has placed most of the key components, like the logic board, above the battery to achieve the phone’s ultra-thin profile without sacrificing repairability. The 3D scan of the device shows that Apple placed the key components within the top camera plateau.
Apple has placed the C1X model, a new N1 Wi-Fi chip, and the A19 Pro processor into the logic board. This arrangement, according to iFixit, reduces the complexity of the device and allows for faster disassembly.
The position of the logic board also makes sure that it’s impervious to bending stress if the phone happens to flex. Many bend tests have already suggested that the titanium frame of the thinnest iPhone is quite sturdy. The firm notes that all major components of the iPhone Air are easily accessible when you remove the rear cover.
Fairly easily replaceable components, including the battery
Furthermore, iFixit has revealed that Apple kept the same battery design in the Air that it introduced with the iPhone 16 range. Apple uses an adhesive to attach the battery to the frame, and you can loosen it with a low-voltage electrical current.
Self-repair enthusiasts can safely swap an iPhone Air battery without damaging the expensive display. iFixit also pointed out that the battery matches the exact one found in the MagSafe Battery accessory. The USB-C port is glued in place, but people can easily replace it since it’s modular.
Even though the iPhone Air is the Cupertino tech giant’s slimmest iPhone ever at 5.6mm, iFixit said the design changes make repairs “more approachable, not less.” The firm has given the Air a repairability score of 7 out of 10. It is identical to what the iPhone 16e and 16 Pro received last year. You can watch the step-by-step teardown of the Air in the YouTube video below.
