Apple’s latest innovation, the iPhone Air – hailed as the company’s slimmest smartphone ever at a mere 5.6mm – made its grand debut earlier this month during the ‘Awe Dropping’ event. Launched alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, this new model succeeds the previous year’s iPhone 16 Plus. It boasts an A19 Pro chipset and integrates cutting-edge Apple Intelligence features. Notably, gadget repair experts iFixit conducted a thorough teardown, providing an in-depth look at its internal architecture and evaluating its repair-friendliness. The analysis revealed that despite its ultra-thin profile, the iPhone Air incorporates a modular USB Type-C port and a remarkably easy-to-replace battery, showcasing Apple’s thoughtful engineering in balancing sleek design with practical serviceability.
A Look Inside: iPhone Air’s Innovative Design for Repairability
The iFixit team started their detailed teardown by carefully removing the iPhone Air’s rear panel. A key finding from their analysis was the strategic placement of the battery at the top of the device. This innovative design choice significantly simplifies battery replacement, preventing potential damage to the delicate OLED screen – a common concern in smartphone repairs.
Apple repositioned the logic board above the battery to achieve the device’s ultra-thin profile without sacrificing repairability. The majority of the phone’s components are efficiently housed within the upper camera plateau. iFixit’s advanced 3D X-ray scan offered an unprecedented, intricate view of this highly optimized internal arrangement. For additional insights, an interview detailing Apple CEO Tim Cook’s design vision for the iPhone Air has also been released.
A video demonstration of the iPhone Air teardown process provides a visual guide to its internal structure.
Inside, the logic board integrates advanced components like the C1X modem, a cutting-edge N1 Wi-Fi chip, and the powerful A19 Pro chip. iFixit observed that this consolidated arrangement not only simplifies the overall design but also facilitates faster disassembly. The repair process showed that after removing just a few pentalobe screws around the modular USB Type-C port, the back glass could be detached with remarkable ease, unveiling the innovative metal-covered battery.
The teardown video confirmed that the iPhone Air’s battery boasts a 12.26W capacity, which is surprisingly identical to the battery found in the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack. The iFixit team highlighted that these two batteries are fully interchangeable, allowing for seamless swaps without any compatibility concerns.
An internal view, courtesy of iFixit, illustrates the carefully designed layout of the iPhone Air’s components.
Ultimately, the iFixit teardown assigned the iPhone Air an impressive repairability score of seven out of ten. This score mirrors those achieved by the iPhone 16e and the previous year’s iPhone 16 Pro. A notable factor contributing to this high score is Apple’s adoption of electrically debonding adhesive, which significantly enhances the consistency and reliability of battery replacements compared to older adhesive methods. Furthermore, the majority of the phone’s critical components are designed for easy access and removal, streamlining the repair process. Separately, reports indicate Apple may have delayed the iPhone Air launch in China due to specific regulations.
Another key detail from the video is Apple’s decision to maintain its acclaimed clipped and screwed-in design for both the screen and back glass. This intelligent engineering choice allows for rapid and straightforward reassembly, completely eliminating the necessity for specialized adhesives during repairs.
In India, the iPhone Air’s pricing begins at Rs. 1,19,900. Powering the device is the advanced A19 Pro chip, complemented by a vibrant 6.5-inch display featuring ProMotion technology. Photography is handled by a robust 48-megapixel rear camera and an 18-megapixel front-facing camera. Apple also highlights its impressive battery life, claiming up to 27 hours of video playback on a single charge. Further video content is available for those interested in more details about the iPhone Air.