A Look Into The iPhone 8

That was quick: Less than two weeks after Apple unveiled its next-gen iPhone 8, iFixit has already torn it open and peeked inside.

What’s lurking behind that 4.7 inch Retina HD display and glass back? A new wireless charging coil, for starters: The integrated Qi system relies on a magnetic field that induces an alternating current in the receiving coil. The receiving coil is one of the most commonly replaced components of an iPhone.

Additionally, the juice pack pops out easily. The multi-touch display, which has a seven megapixel HD camera breaks free by applying a little bit of heat and some force, which is good for DIY repairs. This allows the battery or a clean display to be replaced, if needed. The addition of wireless charging means less strain on the lightning port, which was a common point of failure on the phones.

However, the water and dust seals are quite complicated. The iPhone 8 looks very similar to the iPhone 7, but the one main aesthetic difference is that it has a glass back, giving it a glossy shine. Apple claims that the glass back of the iPhone 8 is “the most durable glass ever for a smartphone.” iFixit feels the durability of the glass back of the new iPhone 8 is still in question, but will definitely make replacements very difficult. For an item that most people use every day, and with a $700 price tag, hopefully the need for repairs will be minimal.