Apple’s new iPhone 16e obtained a provisional 7/10 repairability ranking and a broadly constructive write-up in iFixit’s video teardown Monday. However one ingredient got here in for stern criticism: the USB-C port.
Because the presenter notes, the 16e relies on the structure of the iPhone 14, and this creates some oddities. In some respects the brand new telephone is extraordinarily progressive, that includes a state-of-the-art A18 processor and the primary ever sighting of Apple’s in-house C1 modem. However in others it retains the identical design–and repairability issues–because the outdated 14.
“As I’m eradicating the Taptic Engine and the SIM card house holder,” the presenter explains, “I realise that the USB-C port elimination course of that noticed a major simplification within the 16 Professional and Professional Max has regressed within the iPhone 16e.
“That is in all probability due to the shared structure with the bottom mannequin iPhone 14, nevertheless it’s nonetheless disappointing to see.”
The issue is that repairers can’t merely take away a broken port meeting and slot in a alternative. Somewhat, a litany of different elements should come out first to permit entry: the IR digital camera, IR projector, and selfie digital camera; the principle digital camera; the logic board; the SIM card placeholder. In truth, apart from the display, the whole lot within the telephone needed to be eliminated to get on the USB-C port.
iFixit describes this as a “horrible design.” And it’s not like this can be a minor situation: the corporate warns that the port is a frequent level of failure due to the mechanical put on and tear it’s subjected to in regular use. It is a part that ceaselessly must be repaired.
In different respects iFixit was impressed by the iPhone 16e. It counseled, for instance, a brand new steel housing that protects a flex cable on the again housing and prevents repairers from by accident severing it when opening up the case from that path. (The cables connecting the display should not protected on this means and should be handled with care.) The location concluded that the general expertise had been a constructive one–however these points with the USB-C port mar what might have been a standout efficiency.
