iFixit: Apple’s iPhone 14 Is Its Most Repairable in Years

It may seem like Apple added only minor tweaks to the iPhone 14, but there’s a huge change under the hood that makes it the most repairable iPhone in years, according to iFixit. 

Unlike older models, the iPhone 14 can be opened from the back and front of the device, making it easier to repair both the display and back glass panel, instead of picking one over the other.

iFixit discovered the change while conducting a teardown(Opens in a new window) of the iPhone 14. Apple previously only made iPhone models accessible from the front display, dating back to the iPhone 8. As a result, repairing a back glass panel on an iPhone can be an expensive hassle, costing between $349 and $599, depending on the model. 

For the iPhone 14, repairing the back glass panel now only costs(Opens in a new window) $149. This is because you can rather easily pop off and unscrew both sides of the iPhone, assuming you have the right tools. 

Opening the iPhone 14 from the back.
(Credit: iFixit)

The design change promises to streamline repairs for the iPhone 14, opening up easier access to the various components inside.  Apple accomplished the redesign by adding a metal “midframe” that can support holding internal components on both sides. 

“That’s no small feat,” iFixit said. “The new metal midframe that supports the structure required an entire internal redesign, as well as an RF (radio frequency) rethink and an effective doubling of their ingress protection perimeter.”

The redesign resulted in iFixit giving the new model a seven out of 10 in terms of repairability. This makes the iPhone 14 the most repairable model since the iPhone 7 from 2016. 

The bad news is that Apple has activated software locks when it comes to repairing the back glass panel on an iPhone 14, according to iFixit, citing anecdotal reports. So if you use a third-party back glass panel, the iPhone will issue a warning, indicating that the part isn’t genuine.  

“Using software to prevent the use of aftermarket parts gets a big thumbs down from us,” iFixit said. “These locks are frustrating and ultimately futile—Apple simply can’t control all the repairs that happen with their products, no matter how hard they try.”

The other issue is that Apple didn’t adopt the design change for the pricier iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. As a result, iFixit said: “If you’re trying to decide whether to go with the 14 or the Pro or Pro Max, from a repairability perspective the answer is clear: It’s the 14 all the way. Let’s hope this advanced design becomes the standard across the iPhone 15 lineup.”

The iPhone 14 Plus is slated to arrive on Oct. 7.

Hands On With the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Lineup