The iPhone 14 Pro isn’t as easy to repair as the other new models

So much for the iPhone 14’s surprisingly repairable design extending across the lineup. iFixit has completed a teardown of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the easier-to-fix internals haven’t carried over. Break the back glass and you’ll have a harder time repairing it yourself — or an expensive ($549 in the US) Apple Store visit if your device is out of warranty. While Apple never said the Pro models would receive this upgrade, it’s worth considering if you plan to keep your phone running with a little surgery.

It’s not clear why Apple didn’t rethink internals across the entire iPhone 14 range. iFixit speculates that Apple wanted to limit potential delays, particularly given the supply chain risks involved with the Pro family’s new camera and display technologies. We’ve asked Apple for comment, but it won’t be surprising if more accessible innards come with future generations.

The teardown has a few additional surprises. On US versions of the iPhone 14 line, Apple hasn’t replaced the newly removed SIM tray with anything else. This is more to push eSIM adoption than to save space, then. iFixit also couldn’t pinpoint a dedicated satellite antenna for emergency communication, suggesting that Apple might be using the usual cellular or WiFi antennas to send SOS messages.

The overall repairability of the iPhone 14 Pro “isn’t terrible” outside of the requirement to activate parts, according to iFixit. Unless Apple harmonizes its design, though, do-it-yourself repair enthusiasts will have to make sacrifices if they want an iPhone they can fix with relatively little difficulty.

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Apple will fix iOS 16’s annoying copy and paste prompts

Apple has another bug to quash in iOS 16. Senior manager Ron Huang told a MacRumors reader that the company will fix the frequent permissions prompts when you try to copy and paste content between apps. This is “absolutely not expected behavior,” Huang said. While Apple didn’t spot the problem internally, the manager acknowledged that others were dealing with the problem.

Huang didn’t provide a timeline for a patch. Apple is already testing iOS 16.1 betas that could include a fix, but hasn’t said when it expects to deliver the release.

The flaw is the latest in a handful of problems affecting iOS 16 since its debut earlier this month. iPhone 14 Pro owners have complained of camera rattling with some third-party apps, as well as unresponsiveness when transferring data from another iPhone. Apple even had to issue a day-one patch for iPhone 14 models that couldn’t properly activate FaceTime or iMessage. Launch bugs certainly aren’t unheard of for operating systems, but these have been more irksome than usual.

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Apple made the iPhone 14 easier to repair than you’d expect

Apple acknowledged that the iPhone 14 was designed to be easier to repair, but it might have undersold that upgrade. iFixit has finished a teardown of this year’s base iPhone, and it’s clear that the device was reworked from the ground up with do-it-yourself fixes in mind. The back glass is easier and cheaper to fix, as promised, but used a metal midframe to keep the front just as accessible. The design is more repairable than the many Android phones that are only simple to open from the back, iFixit said.

The iPhone 14’s midframe maintains the same structural rigidity you saw in the 13 family. Apple had already moved the earpiece and front camera array to a more repairable location on the previous generation’s mainframe.

The iPhone 14 isn’t going to make Fairphone buyers regret their purchases. Apple still requires that customers and technicians activate parts after they’re installed, so you can’t just use an unofficial back instead of potentially pricier Self Service Repair components. Even so, iFixit claims this is the most repairable Apple handset since 2016’s iPhone 7.

The rework isn’t completely surprising. Apple is facing pressure to improve repairability from both the federal government and state legislatures. If it didn’t address at-home repairs with its designs, it risked battles with regulators that could force changes and dish out penalties. Whatever the reasoning, you probably won’t mind if you’ve been waiting for an iPhone that’s truly fix-friendly.

Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro drops to a new all-time low of $900

This might be your best chance yet to buy Apple’s flagship tablet. Amazon is selling the 12.9-inch iPad Pro M1 with 128GB of storage at a new all-time low price of $900 after an instant savings at checkout, or $200 below the official sticker. You can buy the 256GB and 512GB versions with similar $200 discounts. While you won’t get cellular data or other extras, this is still a significant bargain if you crave a large-screen slate.

Buy iPad Pro (128GB) at Amazon – $900Buy iPad Pro (256GB) at Amazon – $1,000Buy iPad Pro (512GB) at Amazon – $1,199

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro remains one of the most powerful mobile tablets you can buy. The M1 chip is speedy enough for multitasking and other serious work, while the mini-LED screen is a treat whether you’re editing video or kicking back with a TV marathon. Add Thunderbolt support (for peripherals like monitors and external SSDs) and a robust accessory ecosystem and this might replace a laptop in the right conditions, particularly once iPadOS 16 arrives with features like Stage Manager.

This is still a mobile OS-based machine, so you may want a laptop or Windows tablet if you’re juggling multiple apps or need desktop-level software. However, the main reason for pause might simply be timing. Rumors persist of Apple introducing an M2-powered iPad Pro this October with MagSafe charging and other possible upgrades. You might want to wait if you insist on the most powerful iPad you can buy. If you’re mainly interested in value for money, though, the M1 model is difficult to beat.

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All iPhone 15 models will reportedly feature Dynamic Island display cutouts

The entire iPhone 15 lineup will reportedly include the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island. In a tweet spotted by MacRumors, display analyst Ross Young said he expects Apple to make the screen cutout standard on all 2023 iPhones. Additionally, the company will reportedly keep its ProMotion 120Hz display technology exclusive to Pro variants due to a supply chain that “can’t support” the feature on more affordable models. In a subsequent tweet, Young said Apple is likelier to trickle down the technology to less expensive iPhones in 2024.

Making the Dynamic Island standard on every new iPhone moving forward would make a lot of sense for Apple, particularly to encourage developers to take advantage of the feature. Some apps already use the cutout for fun features. Once iOS 16.1 arrives later this year, Dynamic Island will also work with Apple’s Live Activities API. It’s also a feature that would make the standard iPhone more appealing to consumers holding onto their current device. While the iPhone 12 was a big upgrade over the iPhone 11, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have been less exciting. There’s not much reason to buy the latest one unless you’re coming from an iPhone several years old, and that’s not great for Apple’s bottom line.