iPhone Air: Slim design — but repair‑friendly (teardown summary)
The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest iPhone at just 6.5 mm, yet teardown analyses show the internal layout is surprisingly serviceable. Instead of tightly stacked components, Apple placed a large, metal‑encased battery centrally with the main logic board arranged partly under the camera “bump.” This creates a modular, accessible structure that makes key repairs (battery, USB‑C, etc.) easier than typical ultra‑thin phones.
Key findings
- 6.5 mm thickness: Achieved through rearranged internals rather than extreme component miniaturization.
- Central battery: A metal‑cased battery occupies the device’s center and uses electrically debonding adhesive strips that simplify removal.
- Modular parts: Components such as the USB‑C port and camera assembly are modular, improving serviceability.
- Logic board placement: Partly positioned under the camera plateau on the rear, helping protect the board and free central space for the battery.
- Repairability score: Teardowns (e.g., iFixit) rate the device relatively high for repairs given its thin profile.
Bottom line: Apple seems to have balanced a very slim industrial design with practical repairability — a notable shift compared with many previous ultra‑thin phones.
Sources & further reading
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