Introduction: With each new iPhone release comes a wave of excitement, curiosity, and for many, the inevitable question of repairability. As someone who’s deeply invested in the repair community, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to dive deep into the latest iPhone 14 Pro. In my usual fashion, I’ve purchased not one, but two units of this latest iPhone. This not only allows me to disassemble them to see what’s inside but also to assess how repairable they are by swapping parts between the two phones. With a significant price increase from last year, these phones set me back a staggering $3,500. So, the big question is: what do we get for our money, and how easy (or difficult) is it to repair these devices?

Unboxing and First Impressions: Let’s start with what’s in the box—or more accurately, what’s not in the box. Like its predecessors, the iPhone 14 Pro does not come with a charger. However, what we do get is a SIM card tray, which is something to be grateful for, especially considering that all US models now lack this feature due to the move towards eSIM technology. Once I unboxed both the silver and purple units, I immediately noticed how similar they look to the iPhone 13 Pro. But appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to repairability.

Disassembly Process: Before diving into the disassembly, I made sure both phones were set up and fully functional, including programming Face ID. Both phones are model A2890, running iOS 16.0. With that out of the way, it was time to crack them open.

To begin the disassembly, I placed one of the phones on a heat plate set to high for about five minutes. This helps soften the adhesive holding the display in place. Once sufficiently heated, I removed the two pentalobe screws at the base of the phone. While these screws are mainly a deterrent, they still need to be removed to access the internals. Using a suction cup, I carefully pried open the display, inserting a plastic pick to slice through the adhesive and release the retaining clips.

Internal Layout: Opening the iPhone 14 Pro reveals a familiar yet slightly modified internal layout compared to the iPhone 13 Pro. Up top, you’ll notice a more compact Face ID array and the A16 Bionic branding on the logic board. The internal components are meticulously arranged, with only one bracket covering the display and battery connections. However, this bracket is still secured with eight tri-wing screws, which is standard for Apple devices.

Next, I disconnected the battery and display cables, allowing me to remove the display entirely. I repeated the same steps for the second phone, as my plan was to swap the logic boards between the two devices—a test to see how Apple’s software handles part replacements.

Swapping Parts: Here’s where things get interesting. Despite both phones being identical, past experience has taught me that Apple’s software can be notoriously picky about part replacements, even with genuine Apple components. In previous iPhone models, swapping components like the camera, battery, or display often triggered software issues, disabled features, and persistent warning messages. The question now is whether the iPhone 14 Pro is any different.

After disconnecting a total of 13 flex cables, I noticed the logic board was still held down by something. It turned out to be the earpiece, which, once removed, revealed one more hidden screw. With all screws out of the way, I carefully extracted the logic board from the phone. Upon close inspection, I noticed the SIM tray was soldered in place, which raises questions about the internal layout of the US models that lack a physical SIM tray.

With both logic boards freed, it was time for the switcheroo. The only change I made was swapping the logic boards, essentially swapping the brains of the devices. Everything else remained original to each phone. After reassembling the devices, it was time to test them.

Testing and Issues: Once the logic boards were swapped and the displays reattached, I powered on the devices. Initially, everything seemed fine—until I unlocked the phone. I was immediately bombarded with notifications stating that my phone couldn’t verify if the parts were genuine. But how does Apple know? Well, each component in an iPhone is given a unique serial number that’s matched to the phone during manufacturing. As soon as the software detects a mismatch, it triggers these warnings.

These messages aren’t just annoying—they actually block certain features from working. Face ID? Forget about it; it’s disabled. Battery health monitoring? Gone. True Tone and auto-brightness? Both are disabled. This makes the phone inconvenient to use, especially with features like the always-on display, which becomes almost unusable without auto-brightness. And when it comes to the cameras, the rear cameras worked fine, but the front camera refused to function at all.

To confirm my suspicions, I conducted the same tests on the other phone, which produced identical issues. This clearly indicates that Apple is still implementing anti-third-party repair measures, even with their new self-repair program.

iOS Updates and Further Complications: Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, I decided to update one of the phones to iOS 16.0.1 to see if it would resolve any of the issues. Surprisingly, it did restore some functionality to the front camera, but Portrait Mode and Cinematic Mode remained broken. This is because Apple uses some of the Face ID hardware for these modes, so replacing the front camera not only disables Face ID but also affects these camera features.

But here’s where things took a turn for the worse. After the update, the original part was rejected by the original phone, a first in my experience. Resetting the phone didn’t help either—Face ID and the front camera remained non-functional. The only solution was to downgrade back to iOS 16.0, which temporarily restored functionality. This raises concerns about Apple potentially using software updates to further complicate repairs, making it even harder for users and independent repair shops to fix their devices.

Physical Repair Challenges: Beyond the software issues, the physical repair process also presents challenges. For instance, removing the battery—a common repair task—is made difficult by the use of stretch release adhesive that easily breaks. I managed to remove one adhesive strip, but the other snapped off, leaving the battery firmly stuck in place. Even with alcohol to help loosen the adhesive, it was a struggle to get the battery out.

The camera array was another beast to tackle. Secured under a large metal bracket with tri-wing screws, the camera module is massive, dwarfing older iPhone cameras like the one from the iPhone 5S. The rear glass is also incredibly difficult to replace, thanks to Apple’s use of an adhesive that’s so strong it might as well be considered a weld.

Reassembly and Final Thoughts: After carefully reinstalling the original parts back into each phone, I was relieved to see that all the errors and issues had disappeared. However, the entire experience left me questioning Apple’s approach to repairability. Despite their self-repair program, Apple still exerts complete control over the repair process, from the physical disassembly to the software that runs on the device.

If you replace the display, you lose True Tone and auto-brightness. A new battery disables battery health monitoring. A replaced front camera breaks Face ID, Portrait Mode, and Cinematic Mode. And if you replace the logic board, you trigger all of these issues simultaneously.

In conclusion, while the iPhone 14 Pro is undoubtedly a technological marvel, it’s also a stark reminder of the ongoing battle between consumer rights and corporate control. I might have spent $3,500 on these phones, but they don’t feel entirely mine. Apple’s anti-third-party repair measures make it clear that they want to maintain control over their devices long after they leave the store.

Final Remarks: This has been a Hugh Jeffreys video. If you found this teardown and repair assessment insightful, consider subscribing and checking out my playlist for more videos like this one. If you’re in the market for used devices, be sure to visit my online store—link in the description below. Thanks for watching, and I’ll catch you in the next video.