iPhone 17e disassembled into parts. Apple is restoring a key feature

The Apple iPhone 16e model is missing a magnetic ring. This could make wireless charging problematic as the phone often slipped off the charging pad. This resulted in energy loss and unnecessary heating of the battery. In the iPhone 17e, the company eliminated this error. MagSafe has returned to its place in the cheaper line of devices of the Cupertino giant.

Magnets guarantee a stable connection with accessories. Users will once again easily connect chargers, external batteries and car mounts. A scan from the Lumafield Neptune CT scanner shows clear similarities between the generations. The insides of both phones are almost identical. The main difference is the presence of the MagSafe module. The rest of the components look very similar.

The big surprise is the full compatibility of the elements with its predecessor. The back panel from the iPhone 17e physically matches the iPhone 16e case. Owners of an older phone can add MagSafe support this way. Replacing this element from an official source costs about $120 (approx. PLN 450). Parts from third parties are currently valued at around $20 (approx. PLN 75). This is a cheap method of expanding your smartphone.

After such modification, the system in 16e will not play the characteristic MagSafe sound, nor will it display new loading animations on the screen. The phone will not go into StandBy mode when turned sideways. However, energy replenishment in the Qi2 standard becomes much more stable. The older model with the new panel consumes up to 10 W of power. It will probably reach up to 15 W with perfect coil arrangement. Standard charging without magnets operates in the range of 5 to 15 W and often disconnects the connection.

The design of the iPhone 17e allows you to open the case from two sides. This allows for simple battery replacement without dismantling the screen. The display, in turn, can be removed without disturbing the rear panel. This solution is already known from its predecessor. The manufacturer removed this useful option in the more expensive 17 Pro models.

The battery in the new smartphone is held on by a special glue. This substance responds to electrical voltage. Just connect a 9 V or 12 V power source. After a minute, the battery detaches itself from the housing. There is no need to use force to pry it off. The battery has a capacity of 15,556 Wh. It is identical to the one in the 16e variant.

The history of cheap iPhones has always been based on old components. The 2020 SE shared many parts with the iPhone 8, but the batteries were not compatible with each other. The screen calibration tool was also missing, which disabled the TrueTone feature. In the case of iPhone 17e, the situation is different. The motherboard from the iPhone 16e works without any problems in the 17e case. The Repair Assistant system tool efficiently calibrates new elements.

The exception is the TrueDepth front camera. When you move the selfie camera, you can’t set up Face ID. The camera still takes photos, but the biometric lock stops working. This is probably an intentional safeguard by the manufacturer. Replacing this element requires service authorization.

The new A19 processor and C1X modem slightly improve the device’s performance. The base memory capacity has increased from 128 GB to 256 GB. The screen is still a panel refreshed at 60 Hz. The main camera is 48 megapixels and the front camera is 12 megapixels. However, Apple did not eliminate all design flaws. Access to the USB-C port remains very difficult.

Replacing the charging port requires removing the entire motherboard. You first need to dismantle the plastic washer and remove a few unusual screws. The service technician must remove delicate tapes and be very careful with the sensitive MEMS microphone. In the basic iPhone 16, the manufacturer made this process easier. The SIM card tray was moved there in the order of disassembly. This important amendment was not included in the 17e model. This is a big disadvantage because the charging ports wear out quite quickly.

Despite this, the iPhone 17e performs well in terms of serviceability. The device scored 7 out of 10 in repairability tests. Wide compatibility of parts makes the work of services easier. Users of older models gain new opportunities to improve their equipment.