iPhone Air “dissected”: 4 interesting secrets inside revealed

The iPhone Air impresses with its ultra-thin design, but inside there are many notable improvements. Through the teardown, experts found that Apple has arranged the components more reasonably, making the device both beautiful and easy to repair. The battery is glued with voltage-removable glue technology, the titanium frame increases durability, while the modular USB-C port can be replaced separately when damaged. However, some weaknesses such as the plastic antenna is prone to bending and the lack of a heat dissipation chamber make the iPhone Air more likely to overheat when used heavily. However, iFixit rated the device 7/10 for repairability - a high score for a thin device.

1. Use interior space effectively

One of the major challenges of repairing thin phones is that the components are stacked on top of each other, which means that replacing any part requires removing many other parts, which is inconvenient and can easily cause secondary damage. The iPhone Air has solved this problem by placing the battery in the middle of the device, while the logic board and camera assembly are moved to a higher part of the camera plateau, making the middle of the device more compact to accommodate a larger battery, and at the same time, accessing components like the USB-C port is easier because Apple removed the bottom speaker on the other side to make way for this design.

2. Batteries are easier to replace

While the iPhone Air doesn’t have the largest battery in the iPhone 17 lineup, battery life is something that’s inevitable over time. iFixit discovered that the battery is held together with “electrically debonding adhesive strips” — which can be softened by applying low voltage (like 12V) for a period of time — making it easier to open and replace the battery than previous slim devices. Additionally, the battery is housed in a metal “shell” that protects the battery better and reduces the risk of accidental damage.

3. USB-C port and modularity

A part that breaks more often than the battery is the USB-C port. The iPhone Air has a separate modular design for this port, meaning that if the port breaks, the module must be replaced, not the entire motherboard. However, the downside is that Apple has not yet provided official replacement parts for this port, so many repairers have to rely on outside sources, which can be time-consuming and risky if the components are not up to standard.

4. Frame durability and potential weaknesses

The titanium frame design of the device increases durability compared to lighter metal-cased models, while reducing weight. However, through iFixit's CT scan, the Plastic "antenna passthrough" (the plastic part that allows the phone's signal to pass through the frame) at the top and bottom of the device are areas that are more prone to bending when the device is subjected to strong force or impact. In addition, because the device is thin and lacks a vapor chamber-style heat dissipation chamber like on the iPhone 17 Pro, the device getting hotter when using many heavy tasks or playing games for a long time may be an issue users should be concerned about.

Overall repair score & rating

The iPhone Air received a repairability score of 7/10 from iFixit – a very impressive result for a super-thin device. This is higher than many other thin and light phones, showing that Apple has invested in designing the device so that users can still repair it without having to replace the entire device. However, for the score to be truly effective, it is important that genuine accessories and replacement parts are widely available and reasonably priced.

Conclude

If you are looking for a thin, light smartphone but still want it to be easy to repair, the iPhone Air is one of the options worth considering. The sophisticated design, the easier-to-remove battery, the reasonable arrangement of component modules… all help the device to be both beautiful and practical. Of course, there are still small weaknesses such as the durability of the plastic antenna and the lack of a high-end cooling system. But overall, with a score of 7/10 for repairability, the iPhone Air is clearly a step forward towards a smartphone that is “easier to live with” for real users.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/nhip-song-so/iphone-air-bi-mo-xe-lo-4-bi-mat-thu-vi-ben-trong-169658.html