iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max repairability upgrades take hit in initial online analysis

The 15 series are the first iPhones released by an Apple rendered more right-to-repair friendly in its native California as of late - which, as they just might be no more durable than their predecessors, would be a good thing. However, according to some new teardown videos starring the new 15 Pro, this new volte-face has not exactly turned its repairability story into a fairy-tale overnight.

The good news is that the new rear panel is indeed modular, with some components such as the MagSafe charging coil and rear microphone attached. However, the bad news is that the inaugural USB-C sub-board seems to have become more difficult to remove, if anything, with a plethora of screws blocking its removal.

Nevertheless, the new top-end devices still exhibit software locks that discourage the replacement of components such as their screens. In fact, according to prolific electronics repair vlogger Hugh Jeffreys, these latest iPhones have sprouted even more "Important Messages" than usual, which take more Battery Health features away and also to break the selfie camera's functions outright.

Another YouTuber, Phone Repair Guru, corroborates these findings. Then again, the all-new Action Button seems unaffected by a motherboard replacement, as are the iPhone 15 Pro Max' rear cameras. Then again, there is still a chance that most of these issues could be addressed through iOS upgrades over time.

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