iFixit just released a video showing its teardown of the recently released iPhone 18 Pro, revealing interesting details about its repairability and the all-new aperture feature.
Let’s start with the obvious feature: the aperture lens. It uses six tiny blades powered by a magnetic actuator (iFixit was able to control them with a strong enough magnet). iFixit noted that the aperture blades — which are very tiny, about as thick as a human hair! — went flying all across the testing room when opened. So be very careful when messing with the camera, losing a blade would suck.
Of course, most people will probably never need to disassemble the camera anyway, and iFixit notes that repairing the aperture “is about as close as it gets” to impossible. Thankfully, Apple makes it easy to swap the whole camera assembly if needed, but the assemblies don’t come cheap. The iPhone 18 Pro parts aren’t out yet, but the 17 Pro camera assembly costs $339 in Canada. Presumably, the 18 Pro will be more with the added complexity of the aperture.
Now, the iFixit team noted that the only way to access the components is through the front screen, which the techs said makes it more complex to repair components toward the back of the device.
To make matters worse, removing the display risks breaking a plastic frame that’s integral to the assembly. iFixit notes that using heat boosted the chance of success, and suggested isopropyl alcohol could help too, but needed more testing.
Interestingly, iFixit praised the metal battery tray, held down by 13 screws, with the only battery adhesive being the cell glued to the tray—which is electrically releasable, and iFixit sells tools to release it easily.
Another notable tidbit is that FaceID moved beneath the screen and to the upper corner, and Apple used neat tricks to make it work. Over the infrared camera, every other row of display pixels is missing, with the pattern shifting around the edge, making it much less obvious to the naked eye than under magnification.
Ultimately, the iPhone 18 Pro scored a 7/10 for repairability, thanks to the battery tray and swappable camera assemblies. However, the need to go through the display — and the associated risks of damage — knock it down a few points.
Source: iFixit
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