Inside Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max: Don't Scratch The Case

According to this teardown, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphone has not-so stellar repairability, exacerbated by questionable quality control that has been noted by other reviewers.

Spencer Chin, Senior Editor

October 13, 2023

Apple’s recently introduced iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphone is now getting the teardown treatment from different electronics and consumer products sites, and the well-known YouTube repair channel iFixit recently underwent the exercise of taking part the flagship phone.

In this video review, the iFixit reviewer makes note of the smartphone’s shiny titanium colored titanium case and 5x optical zoom periscope camera as standout features. He even noted how Apple has emphasized developing the phone with an environmentally-conscious carbon footprint.

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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphone.

However, good looks and green engineering only go so far. The reviewer noted that the attractive titanium case is prone to microscopic scratches, which can become annoying on a $1,000 smartphone. He also noted recent reviews on the smartphone’s durability, with the unit not standing up to drop tests. As far as repairability, the reviewer gave it a middling 4 out of 10, noting that the smartphone will not be easy to repair, whether by a DIY’er or a local repair shop, and does not accept salvaged parts. Moreover, several software and hardware bugs from previous iPhones have carried over into this generation, which users will have to deal with.

You can view the video here.

Spencer Chin is a Senior Editor for Design News covering the electronics beat. He has many years of experience covering developments in components, semiconductors, subsystems, power, and other facets of electronics from both a business/supply-chain and technology perspective. He can be reached at [email protected].

About the Author

Spencer Chin

Senior Editor, Design News

Spencer Chin is a Senior Editor for Design News, covering the electronics beat, which includes semiconductors, components, power, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and other related subjects. He is always open to ideas for coverage. Spencer has spent many years covering electronics for brands including Electronic Products, Electronic Buyers News, EE Times, Power Electronics, and electronics360. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him at @spencerchin.

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