iFixit iPhone 13 Pro teardown reveals Face ID changes, display swap issues

Repair site iFixit has completed its full teardown of the iPhone 13 Pro, revealing additional details about the TrueDepth sensor and the ability for third parties to swap parts.

The repair specialists at iFixit first completed an initial teardown of the device on Sept. 24. Now, iFixit has published part two of the teardown, focusing on other changes and the overall repairability of the devices.

For one, the iPhone 13 Pro's logic board is even smaller than the previous generation. The A15 Bionic SoC is layered with what iFixit believes is SK Hynix LPDDR4X SDRAM. Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 13 Pro's SIM card reader is now baked onto the logic board.

A view of the iPhone 13 Pro's smaller logic board. Credit: iFixit

The earpiece speaker has also been relocated. The component is now nestled inside the chassis, which should make display replacements easier. The earpiece also features a snoot that fits between the front-facing camera and the Face ID hardware.

On the redesigned notch and TrueDepth array, iFixit notes that the dot projector has moved from the edge to the center of the sensor module. The flood illuminator, previously a part of the display, has now been integrated into the module itself.

The TrueDepth sensor suite. Credit: iFixit

The repair site has given the iPhone 13 Pro a "repairability score" of five, which is down one tick from the iPhone 12 Pro's score of six.

On part-swapping, iFixit says that all of its battery swap tests were successful, meaning the component is still user-repairable. On the other hand, screen replacements will kill Face ID functionality — despite the fact that certain components are now detached from the display module. According to iFixit, each display appears to be serial-locked to a device. That means third-party screen repairs will result in a phone without Face ID.

While iFixit says that screen and battery replacements remain a priority on the new device, there are some software component pairings that "needlessly" complicate many repairs. Other components, iFixit says, are modular and easier to access.

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6 Comments

byronl 376 comments · 4 Years

About 3 years ago

disappointed by apple’s anti right to repair moves

viclauyyc 847 comments · 10 Years

byronl said:

disappointed by apple’s anti right to repair moves

It is not necessary anti right to repair. It is just the industry and consumer want small and smaller electronics. No one want to use the first gen. Motorola cellphone that is the size of a brick and weight like a brick.

when things get smaller it is logical that manufactures will combine a few things together and make it small. I don’t see too many people complaining AirPod is hard to repair because it is so small. Because people understand that why it needs so be small.

StrangeDays 12959 comments · 8 Years

viclauyyc said:

byronl said:

disappointed by apple’s anti right to repair moves

It is not necessary anti right to repair. It is just the industry and consumer want small and smaller electronics. No one want to use the first gen. Motorola cellphone that is the size of a brick and weight like a brick.

when things get smaller it is logical that manufactures will combine a few things together and make it small. I don’t see too many people complaining AirPod is hard to repair because it is so small. Because people understand that why it needs so be small.

Yup, it’s this. If we want the fantastical devices of the sci-fi future, guess what? Neckbeards wont be able to service them. Miniaturization and integrated circuitry & components make things harder to DIY service, and that’s just how it goes.

Life is compromise. If DIY repairability is a must-have feature, just buy a bigger, clunkier device. But don’t whine about a product with different priorities not catering to your niche market wants.

flydog 1140 comments · 14 Years

An electronic device no longer functioned properly after a person with zero training or qualifications swapped out parts.

Shocking!

beowulfschmidt 2345 comments · 12 Years

flydog said:

An electronic device no longer functioned properly after a person with zero training or qualifications swapped out parts.

Shocking!

Are you saying that the people at iFixit have "zero training or qualifications"?

If so, I do not think that phrase means what you think it means.