GoKawiiliFixit teardown finds iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture hard to repair
iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro examined the new variable aperture system, an under-display Face ID infrared camera, and a larger vapor chamber. During disassembly, a tiny aperture blade popped loose, suggesting that any malfunction in the mechanism would likely force a full replacement of the main camera assembly rather than a simple fix.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
As Apple packs more delicate, electromagnet-driven components into its cameras, repairability keeps shrinking, pushing costs onto consumers who may need entire modules replaced for minor faults. The findings also reveal how Apple is engineering around visible hardware, like hiding the IR camera under the display, in ways that complicate independent repair and diagnostics.
- The variable aperture uses six electromagnet-controlled blades independent from the OIS system.
- A dislodged blade during teardown suggests aperture repairs would require replacing the whole camera assembly.
- Apple's under-display Face ID camera hides pixels and uses an IR-pass filter, creating a visible 'eclipse effect' under magnification.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro — If you're intrigued by iFixit's deep dive into the new variable aperture camera system and under-display Face ID, the iPhone 18 Pro itself lets you experience these cutting-edge features firsthand. It's the latest flagship showcasing Apple's most advanced camera and display engineering yet.
See Apple iPhone 18 Pro on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: 9to5mac.com — Marcus Mendes, 2026-09-20
Published there as: “iFixit tears down iPhone 18 Pro, explores variable aperture, finds concerning repair issue”
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