{"id":854849,"date":"2026-09-21T00:22:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T00:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/854849\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T00:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T00:22:17","slug":"ifixit-tears-down-iphone-18-pro-explores-variable-aperture-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/854849\/","title":{"rendered":"iFixit tears down iPhone 18 Pro, explores variable aperture, more"},"content":{"rendered":"

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iFixit has published its traditional teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro, which shows the variable aperture mechanism up close and explores a potential issue involving display repairs. Watch it below.<\/p>\n

iFixit worries about possible display frame issue<\/p>\n

iFixit\u2019s teardown<\/a> of the iPhone 18 Pro is now live, exploring not just the variable aperture, this year\u2019s biggest camera upgrade, but also the device\u2019s larger vapor chamber, the new under-display Face ID camera, and more.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the variable aperture mechanism, iFixit notes that its six tiny blades are controlled by electromagnets, much like the optical image stabilization system, though the two mechanisms operate independently.<\/p>\n

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During the teardown, one of the tiny aperture blades flew out as iFixit dismantled the lens stack, underscoring how impractical a component-level repair would be. The group says that if the aperture gets stuck, it would likely require replacing the entire main camera assembly.<\/p>\n

Another highlight of the new iPhone 18 Pro is its under-display Face ID infrared camera. For this year\u2019s Pro devices, Apple moved the infrared camera beneath the display, while keeping the selfie camera and IR dot projector within the smaller Dynamic Island.<\/p>\n

Under a microscope, iFixit found that Apple hides the relocated infrared camera by removing every other row of pixels above the sensor. iFixit notes that the effect fades toward the edges, and that there is an IR-pass filter beneath the OLED layer to block visible light.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the filter doesn\u2019t extend all the way to the edge of the opening, creating what iFixit describes as an \u201ceclipse effect\u201d under certain microscope settings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As for the iPhone 18 Pro\u2019s bigger vapor chamber, the teardown offers a closer look at Apple\u2019s redesigned cooling architecture.<\/p>\n

As the company explained during its \u201cSurprise and Shine\u201d event, the A20 Pro uses a new package that places the silicon die side-by-side with the memory, removing the latter from the SoC\u2019s thermal path and allowing the chip to connect directly to the vapor chamber. Apple also said the new vapor chamber has three times the surface area of the one in the iPhone 17 Pro.<\/p>\n

iFixit\u2019s teardown lets us see that setup up close, including the thermal material that presses the A20 Pro directly against the vapor chamber and the chamber itself extending across much of the phone\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

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Now for the concerning part: iFixit says the plastic frame around the display was damaged on three of the four iPhones its team opened.<\/p>\n

While the group notes that other iPhone 18 Pro teardowns haven\u2019t encountered the same issue, and that Apple has been using this same plastic frame since the iPhone 15 Pro, it says it\u2019s too early to tell whether this was an anomaly or a broader repairability concern.<\/p>\n

iFixit also suggests that the device\u2019s improved thermal system may be drawing heat away from the display as the heating pad tries to soften the adhesive.<\/p>\n

Be that as it may, in practice, as iFixIt explains in the video, a cracked frame means the display may no longer sit perfectly flush after reassembly, and could compromise the phone\u2019s water resistance.<\/p>\n

Add to that the fact that some components remain difficult to reach, particularly the USB-C port, which iFixit says requires removing much of the phone\u2019s internals to replace, and DIY repairs of the iPhone 18 Pro may prove challenging depending on which component needs replacing.<\/p>\n

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All in all, iFixit says the iPhone 18 Pro carries over many of the same repairability strengths and weaknesses as last year\u2019s model, including the glue-free battery tray and modular camera assemblies, but also the need to enter through the display for most major repairs.<\/p>\n

For now, the group has given both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max a provisional repairability score of 7 out of 10 as it waits for parts, conducts more tests, and watches whether the display frame issue proves widespread.<\/p>\n

Watch iFixit\u2019s full teardown<\/a> below:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re done, make sure you catch\u00a09to5Mac\u2019s review of the iPhone 18 Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have you ever repaired an iPhone by yourself? Let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n

Worth checking out on Amazon<\/p>\n

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FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.<\/a><\/p>\n

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