iPhone 18 Pro teardown reveals new layouts, tweaks that enable faster charging and improved thermals

Reviews for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are in, and the two standout features are the variable aperture and A20 Pro SoC. Visually, the phones are pretty much identical to the previous generation, to the point where cases for the iPhone 17 Pro fit just fine on the iPhone 18 Pro. However, internally, there are some notable changes, including one that has allowed Apple to shrink the Dynamic Island. A first teardown video shows what’s behind the display of the iPhone 18 Pro.

REWA Technology has shared the video on YouTube showing, in particular, the physical SIM card model of the iPhone 18 Pro that has a slightly smaller battery compared to the eSIM-only variant. Taking apart the display panel reveals the new Face ID sensor that has been moved to the left corner and is hidden behind the display without any cutout. This allowed Apple to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island while still retaining Face ID.

Under-display cameras are nothing new, but it’s a first for Apple. We’ve seen how these work in the past, with a lower-density pixel arrangement in front of the sensor so that the IR camera isn’t blocked completely. The host also points out that this would make aftermarket display manufacturing more challenging.

The teardown also shows the bigger main camera with a new cable layout compared to the iPhone 17 Pro.

Coming to the A20 Pro chip, it has been moved to the top, with a new material used for the thermal pad. It also shows the significantly larger vapor chamber that makes direct contact with the SoC and does actually improve heat dissipation. Furthermore, NAND and Power IC repairs have become more difficult with the iPhone 18 Pro (Max) since Apple has sandwiched those components between PCB layers.

Taking the battery out reveals the larger connector, which is likely what enables the faster charging speeds. The battery itself is 4,056 mAh, as per the host, which is a 1.7% increase from the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple claims that the iPhone 18 Pro’s battery lasts as long as the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s because of how efficient the A20 Pro is. However, battery tests have shown negligible difference between the current and previous generation. 

In conclusion, REWA Technology gives a five-star difficulty rating for motherboard repairs, four stars for the rear camera module, and two stars for the screen and battery.