The first teardown video of Apple’s new smartphone, the iPhone 17 Pro, has been released. The approximately 9-minute video, from YouTube channel REWA Technology, reveals the device’s internal architecture. This video offers some important clues that the iPhone 17 Pro may be more repairable than previous models.

Is iPhone 17 Pro repair getting easier?

The video shows the use of a vacuum tool and alcohol to open the iPhone 17 Pro. The first thing that stands out is the large graphene pad inside, which aids in heat dissipation. The most encouraging detail is that the device uses less adhesive and a total of 14 screws compared to previous models. This allows technicians to perform repairs with less effort and increases the device’s repairability.

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During the teardown, the larger sensors on the rear and front camera modules are noticeable. In particular, the position of the dot projector and projector on the front camera module has been reversed compared to the iPhone 16 Pro.

The device’s motherboard is more densely packed and laid out horizontally. This design is said to “likely provide better drop protection.” However, a significant issue is that the NAND memory chip on one side of the motherboard partially overlaps the A19 chip. This can complicate the process of heating the NAND chip for storage upgrades and increase the risk of damaging the iPhone’s main chip.

While the 17 Pro is generally less difficult to repair than previous models, some new connectors can make certain parts of the disassembly process more risky. This doesn’t mean the device is completely repairable.