iFixit
- iFixit 's iPhone X teardown reveals the phone's battery and face recognition sensor.
- The phone's glass back and welded-on back camera will prove difficult to repair yourself if damaged, so it's worth considering buying a case or Apple Care +.
iFixit recently got their hands on Apple's shiny new iPhone X and, true to form, dissected it down to its most essential hardware.
Their assessment? Design-wise, this iPhone model is the one that most resembles Apple's original smartphone; there's similarities between the two models' stacked logic boards and rounded edges. Other surprising finds include the discovery of two battery cells, which is a first for the iPhone (the dual-cell battery has less to do with expanding the phone's battery capacity than they do with allowing for more creativity in its build and battery placement).
But there's bad news as well - especially if you drop it and were hoping for an inexpensive repair process. In the event that your freshly-minted iPhone X takes a tumble, just hope that it lands face down: repairing the gleaming glass back will be expensive. According to iFixit, "Glass on the front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage - and if the back glass breaks, you'll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis."
iFixit The iPhone X's rear camera is welded to the glass back.
It's important to note that iFixit's meticulous teardown is specifically directed toward the DIY-crowd and tinkerers willing to forego their Apple warranty in an attempt to fix the phone themselves, sometimes to save money or simply for the challenge. Most iPhone X owners will want to look into device insurance, either through their carrier or Apple Care +. iFixit has categorized the difficulty of repairing the phone at home with a score of a six out of 10, making the iPhone X just as difficult to repair as the iPhone 8, but a slightly trickier fix than the Pixel XL (7/10). However, it's still an easier self-repair job than the Samsung 8, which the site bequeathed with a dismal four out of ten repair score back in September.
Business Insider broke down the costs of repairing the iPhone X if you didn't buy Apple Care +, highlighting that the glass-sheathed smartphone will be more expensive to repair than any of Apple's previous models. Replacing the screen alone costs as much $249, while any damage to other parts of the phone might cost even more: work done to the iPhone X's backside might be priced as high as $549. If you are covered through Apple Care +, however, the repairs cost quite a bit less - $29 for screen repair and $99 for other damage.
Feeling nervous? Get a case.