iFixit tears down iPhone 18 Pro, explores variable aperture, more

Key Points:

• iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro highlights the new variable aperture mechanism controlled by electromagnets, but notes that repairs to this component would likely require replacing the entire camera assembly due to its delicate nature.
• The iPhone 18 Pro features an under-display Face ID infrared camera, with Apple removing every other row of pixels above the sensor and adding an IR-pass filter beneath the OLED layer, creating a unique "eclipse effect" under certain microscope settings.
• Apple’s redesigned cooling system includes a larger vapor chamber with three times the surface area of the previous model, and a new chip packaging that improves thermal management by connecting the silicon die directly to the vapor chamber.
• iFixit observed damage to the plastic frame around the display in three out of four iPhone 18 Pro units during teardown, raising concerns about potential repairability issues that could affect display alignment and water resistance after repairs.
• The iPhone 18 Pro maintains many repairability features from last year, such as a glue-free battery tray and modular camera assemblies, but some components like the USB-C port remain difficult to replace; iFixit has provisionally rated its repairability at 7 out of 10.