Thinner, smaller gadgets are usually harder to repair due to their constrained space, but surprise, surprise, Apple's 5.6 mm-thin iPhone Air has earned a respectable 7/10 repair score from iFixit. A key factor in this was Apple relocating the logic board to create more space for the battery, making it easier to access. The phone also uses electrically debonding adhesive, first debuted on the iPhone 16, to make swapping batteries simple.
The iPhone 17 Pro models also scored a 7/10 repair score, though iFixit notes that the Air is certainly easier to work with. The screwed-in battery of the Pro models is similarly easy to replace; however, due to the phone's redesign, these models lack dual-entry access. That means you once again have to remove the display to access the battery. (You can remove the backplate to replace Ceramic Shield 2, but the access to the internals from here only allows you to change the wireless charging coil.)
iFixit also looked into social media chatter about how the latest Pro models are susceptible to scratches (#scratchgate) and found that the sharp corners of the Camera Plateau module are the culprit. The anodization layer doesn't seem to bond as strongly with the sharp edges, meaning you'll likely see more wear and tear around the aluminum camera module. Unfortunately, you can't replace that part of the phone either, so your best bet is to use a case.
OnePlus’ Next Smartphone Is Almost Here
It hasn't been a full year since the OnePlus 13 launched in the US, but the company has already moved on to its follow-up, the OnePlus 15. (The company is skipping “14” because the number is considered unlucky in China, just like the number four.) Details are slim, but it'll be one of the first Android phones powered by Qualcomm's recently announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, joining the likes of the Xiaomi 17 Pro.
OnePlus no longer has a partnership with high-end camera manufacturer Hasselblad, but the company is hoping to instill confidence in its smartphone cameras with a new “DetailMax” image-processing engine. This reportedly prioritizes realism over artificial filters and over-beautification, and should also help the phone stay cool under load. The early announcement may indicate the phone will launch in the US before 2026, so expect to see more news in the coming weeks.
Gemini Arrives on Google TV
Courtesy of Google
Google has announced that its Gemini AI assistant is coming to a number of Google TV devices, elevating the depth of onscreen search functionality for all users. Folks who know Google TV know that it already had pretty capable voice search functionality, but that gets much better with the addition of Gemini.