The iPhone 17 Pro has undergone its first detailed teardown, revealing key design changes, repairability insights, and the cause behind the so-called Scratchgate. Released as part of Apple’s iPhone 17 series during the September 9 Awe Dropping event, the Pro model introduces an aluminium unibody design, a new vapour chamber for thermal management, and a redesigned battery plate for easier replacement.
iFixit’s teardown video shows that the iPhone 17 Pro has a removable back panel rather than a full back glass, providing access to the battery while keeping most internal components secure. The phone features 22 screws securing the USB Type-C port, and multiple screw types are used across the device, including tri-point, Phillips, and standoff screws. The logic board is housed in the upper half, while the Taptic Engine and speaker module are positioned below the battery.
The iPhone 17 Pro includes a Leica-style camera plateau with a brittle anodised layer that has caused scratching issues. This phenomenon, known as spalling, occurs when the anodised layer flakes off around the sharp, unchamfered corners of the camera module, leading to what users have called Scratchgate. The vapour chamber features a lattice sandwich design, attached to the new battery plate, and helps dissipate heat from the A19 Pro chip and battery, potentially allowing the device to run cooler than earlier models.
Repairability remains a mixed experience. While the new battery plate allows easier battery swaps, the complexity of multiple screws and loss of the dual-entry design make other repairs more challenging. Overall, iFixit awarded the iPhone 17 Pro a repairability score of 7 out of 10, slightly lower than the iPhone Air but better than previous Pro models.
The teardown also included a 3D X-ray scan, highlighting the internal layout, the Taptic Engine placement, the front sensor array, and the rear camera assembly, providing a clear view of Apple’s latest engineering in the iPhone 17 Pro.
