When Apple announced the iPhone Air, the first thing that caught my attention was its thickness, which comes in at just 5.6mm. For a device this slim, you’d expect them to lock everything down, turning the iPhone Air into a no-go zone for anyone wanting to do more than change a wallpaper. But surprise, surprise: Apple didn’t throw its repair-friendliness out the window. Instead, with help from the folks at iFixit, we can see the iPhone Air keeps repairability at the level you’d expect from the current generation of Apple devices. For anyone worried about swapping batteries or fixing a charging port on their own, this teardown review is for you.
So, let’s break down what makes the iPhone Air so unique and why its repairs will not burn a hole in your wallet.
Firstly, let’s talk about the design –
You see, thing about making a device thinner is obvious: something has to give. Usually, it’s the battery or those easy-open screws. Apple took a swing at this last year, moving to an electrically released battery adhesive across the iPhone 16 lineup. The Air inherits this trick, which makes pulling the battery out a drama-free experience. Gone are the days of sticking a plastic card under the battery and praying nothing snaps inside.
When you open up the iPhone Air, which iFixit rates at a provisional 7 out of 10 for repairability, you’re greeted by a layout that is basically an advocate of modularity. Swapping batteries can still be done through the back glass panel, thanks to Apple keeping that dual-entry approach alive. You don’t need to play roulette with your expensive OLED display every time the battery starts giving up.
Since we are talking about the battery, let’s take a closer look at that as well.
Sure, the iPhone Air is all about looking slim, but someone had to make a call on battery life, and this device is not pretending to be an all-day monster. That said, in real-world testing, the Air can last almost a day, which puts it right alongside other models in the iPhone 17 family.
Here’s the cool part: the battery used inside is the same model found in the latest MagSafe battery accessory. When iFixit cracked it open, they dubbed it a “spare tire”, not because it’s a downgrade, but because you can swap it fast and keep rolling. The battery sits inside a metal casing, which means less bending and easier handling while you’re in the process of replacement.
Apple is clearly using this material to fight off those accidental drops and rough installations that usually call for a new phone altogether. If you are the kind of person who likes to tinker, just know Apple made this battery-friendly design partly with you in mind.
The modular USB-C port is a gamechanger from Apple as well –
One big change with the Air is the modular USB-C port. iFixit calls this “day-one repairable,” and that’s not an exaggeration. You can actually fix or replace the USB-C port without having to tear the whole phone apart.
In the past, it used to be that charging port replacements were something only certified repair shops could do, but the Air’s internal design is as straightforward as you’d hope. With proper parts and the right tools, anyone with intermediate skills can handle it. Apple also includes day-one repair guides to walk users through common fixes like swapping ports and batteries, so you’re not left hunting for answers on unofficial forums.
Now, let’s talk about iFixit’s repairability score –
A 7 out of 10 on iFixit’s scale is a good score, particularly for a device where ultra-thin design could have ruined any hopes for DIY fixes. Apple’s recent efforts to make its devices more open to repairs deserve acknowledgment. Whether you’re part of the right-to-repair movement, an active tinkerer, or just trying to save on repair costs, the iPhone Air keeps the experience hands-on.
You don’t need to take a device to a third-party chain for every little issue. An OLED display that won’t fry when you try to switch out a battery? That’s a win. A modular USB-C port that doesn’t come attached to half the logic board? That’s another.
If you are looking to buy the iPhone Air, what I can tell you is that while you will be investing in a bit of an experimental device, the ease of repairs will reduce the mental and financial burden and you may even warm up to the overall concept. The feedback will also give Apple a direction for the future, which means, a large scale adoption of the iPhone Air could prompt more iterations of the concept and maybe even more innovative engineering.
