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iPhone 17 Pro First Teardown Shows Bigger Camera Sensors and a More Repairable Design

Highlights

The iPhone 17 Pro teardown shows fewer adhesives and 14 screws, making it easier to service.
Both front and rear cameras feature larger sensors with a redesigned TrueDepth layout for improved imaging and facial recognition.
A large graphene pad aids heat dissipation, while a horizontally placed motherboard may enhance drop protection.

The iPhone 17 Pro has already undergone its first teardown, giving us an inside look at Apple’s latest flagship. Just a day after the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery was dismantled, YouTube channel REWA Technology released a nearly nine-minute video showing the full disassembly of the iPhone 17 Pro. Here is a quick rundown of the noteworthy changes the video reveals.

iPhone 17 Pro – Teardown

Caption – Still from iPhone 17 Pro teardown video. (Credit – Rewa)

The teardown shows that the iPhone 17 Pro relies on 14 screws and less adhesive compared to earlier models. The teardown channel REWA notes that means the phone “could be friendly to repairs.” This design tweak should make it easier for technicians to service or replace components without dealing with excessive glue.

Still from iPhone 17 Pro teardown video. (Credit – Rewa)

Inside, the device features a large graphene pad to aid in heat dissipation, helping to keep performance steady during intensive use.

The video also confirms that both the rear and front camera modules now house larger sensors. Apple has also adjusted the front camera’s TrueDepth system, inverting the position of the dot projector and flood illuminator compared to the iPhone 16 Pro.

Caption – Still from iPhone 17 Pro teardown video. (Credit – Rewa)

Another change is the horizontally placed motherboard, which REWA suggests could provide better drop protection thanks to its denser layout. However, the NAND memory chip’s placement partially overlaps with the A19 chip, which could make heating the NAND during storage upgrades riskier as it might damage the main processor.

While the overall design of the iPhone 17 Pro appears to be more repair-friendly than previous generations, REWA points out that new connectors on certain components introduce their own risks, making some parts of the disassembly process more delicate.

You can check out the entire teardown video below –

FAQs

Q1. What makes the iPhone 17 Pro more repair-friendly than previous models?

Answer. The iPhone 17 Pro uses just 14 screws and less adhesive, making it easier to disassemble and service. This design shift improves accessibility for technicians.

Q2. What camera upgrades were revealed in the iPhone 17 Pro teardown?

Answer. Both front and rear camera modules feature larger sensors. The TrueDepth system has also been reconfigured with the dot projector and flood illuminator positions inverted compared to the iPhone 16 Pro.

Q3. Are there any risks associated with internal repairs or upgrades?

Answer. Yes, the NAND memory chip partially overlaps with the A19 processor. Heating the NAND during storage upgrades could risk damaging the main chip, making repairs more delicate.