Skip the upgrade? iPhone 18 Pro aperture about as unrepairable as it gets, iFixit finds

Repair costs for a damaged iPhone 18 Pro camera or screen could be significantly higher than for previous models.

iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max reveals significant repairability challenges, primarily stemming from its new camera aperture and screen-frame design. The camera aperture, composed of six minuscule blades, is described as "about as close to impossible" to repair, with any damage likely necessitating the replacement of the entire, costly assembly. This complexity is compounded by a design that requires removing the screen to access internal components, a process that has previously led to damage of the plastic screen frame. While the battery remains relatively accessible, the risk of damaging the frame during screen removal could force expensive display replacements. Consequently, iFixit has assigned the iPhone 18 Pro a repairability score of 7 out of 10, the same as the previous model, but expresses greater concern over the new device's overall repairability due to these specific issues.

The iPhone 18 Pro's new camera aperture, featuring six hair-thin blades, presents a new frontier in repair difficulty. iFixit's reluctance to call the repair "impossible" underscores the extreme fragility and complexity of this component. This suggests that any failure within the aperture mechanism will almost certainly result in a full camera module replacement, a part that has historically been expensive and is expected to be even more so with this advanced feature. The limited functional benefit of such a variable aperture in a smartphone camera, as noted by iFixit and previously by Samsung, also raises questions about its long-term viability and potential inclusion in future models.

Compounding the camera issue, the iPhone 18 Pro continues a design trend where accessing internal components, like the battery, requires removing the screen. iFixit's experience damaging the plastic screen frame in multiple teardowns highlights a potential systemic weakness. If this frame proves to be a common point of failure during repairs, it could negate any other repairability improvements by forcing costly display replacements. This "framegate" concern, building on "scratchgate" from the previous model, introduces a significant risk to everyday repairs, potentially making the device less sustainable despite other design considerations.