A close examination of Apple’s latest flagship by repair site iFixit reveals a novel camera component and a potential obstacle for independent fixes. The iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture system, which uses six electromagnetically controlled blades to adjust light intake, was observed during the teardown. iFixit noted that the blades are integrated into the lens stack and operate separately from the phone’s optical image stabilization. During disassembly, one blade detached, illustrating the difficulty of repairing the mechanism without replacing the entire camera module. The group indicated that a stuck aperture would likely necessitate swapping the whole unit.

The device’s under-display infrared sensor for Face ID also drew attention. iFixit discovered that Apple conceals the relocated sensor by omitting every other row of pixels above it, creating a partial eclipse effect under specific microscope conditions. An infrared-pass filter beneath the OLED layer prevents visible light interference, though the filter does not extend fully to the sensor’s edge.

A larger vapor chamber, described by Apple as featuring three times the surface area of the iPhone 17 Pro’s cooling system, was another focal point. The redesign positions the A20 Pro chip’s silicon die adjacent to memory, allowing direct thermal contact with the chamber. iFixit observed the thermal interface material pressing the chip against the chamber and noted the chamber’s extensive coverage across the phone’s interior.

A separate issue emerged when iFixit reported damage to the plastic display frame on three of four units examined. While acknowledging that other teardown teams had not encountered the same problem and that Apple has used this frame design since the iPhone 15 Pro, iFixit described the damage as potentially significant for repairability. The group suggested that heat redistribution from the enhanced cooling system might influence adhesive behavior during display removal. A compromised frame could affect flush reassembly and water resistance, according to iFixit.

The teardown also highlighted practical repair challenges. Accessing the USB-C port requires extensive internal disassembly, and most major repairs still necessitate working through the display. Despite these concerns, iFixit maintained the iPhone 18 Pro’s provisional repairability score at 7 out of 10, pending further testing and part availability. The organization emphasized that the device retains strengths such as a glue-free battery tray and modular camera assemblies, while continuing to rely on display-based entry for component-level work.

The full teardown video is available for review, and iFixit plans additional analysis as more units become accessible.