Richard Dinh, Apple’s senior director of iPhone product design, recently discussed the internal modifications that make repairs easier in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus with Tim Biggs of The Sydney Morning Herald.
The iPhone 14 offers better-sustained performance than iPhone 13 Pro models, says Apple exec
For iPhone 11 and older models with a cracked rear glass, Apple Authorized Service Providers have to replace the entire device. On the other hand, newer models like the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 can be repaired without technicians having to replace the entire device.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models come with removable black glass panels, allowing for repairs to be done easily without having to take the entire device apart. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models do not come with removable back glass panels.
Apple executive Richard Dinh says that the new design with a central aluminum frame “helps to dissipate more heat across the entire surface more consistently,” and that the iPhone 14 is the first iPhone that features a ” four-sided stacked main logic board [which] really condenses all the iPhone 14 components in a smaller space and allows us to access the board from either side, for improved repairability.”
Additionally, Dinh discussed Apple’s method for creating the standard iPhone models, pointing out that there is no set formula used by the tech giant.
“We don’t always follow a recipe, as much as maybe our customers would like to predict what we’re going to go do next, but it always starts with the customer experience,” he said, adding that “sometimes we do draw from the Pros because they’re just incredible, and we’re bringing some of that hardware to a broader audience, and sometimes we go do something different.”
The internal redesign of the iPhone 14 also means that there is less chance of accidental damage during repairs since the display and internal components are separate. In addition, a copper alloy cooling piece and several connection parts are no longer required thanks to the new design, which results in a lighter phone.
Another benefit of the new design is repair costs. The replacement of a damaged back glass panel for the iPhone 14 costs $169 and the bigger model costs $199. Note that if you have AppleCare+, you can get the back panel of your iPhone 14 replaced for $29 – this goes for the standard as well as the Plus model.
