iPhone SE teardown reveals some pleasant surprises

(Image credit: iFixit)

Our iPhone SE 2020 review demonstrates that Apple tree's $399 handset is one of the best phones of the twelvemonth in terms of pure value, but we did not get a run a risk to gaze at this handset's guts to see how easy (or not) it is to repair.

The proficient news is that iFixit is already hard at work at its iPhone SE teardown, and information technology has already revealed that some parts are borrowed from the iPhone 8. This should brand finding replacement parts easier and hopefully cheaper as well.

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iFixit says that that the iPhone SE's cameras, SIM tray, Taptic Engine and display associates, which includes the microphone and proximity sensor, are all swappable with iPhone 8 parts. In fact, the site claims that the "screen should exist cheaper to supplant than any new iPhone we've seen in years."

There is a caveat to replacing the display, however. You volition lose Truthful Tone functionality unless you have admission to a screen developer. We don't see this every bit a huge loss, as True Tone merely changes the screen's color temperature in response to the ambience light. Information technology'south nice to have just not a must-accept.

Another trade-off is that iFixit says that home buttons are non interchangeable. So you'll take to pay up to Apple if yous need to supervene upon it. Yes, you accept your chances with an aftermarket dwelling house push button only they you'll lose access to Touch ID.

The biggest surprise is that the 1,821 mAh battery is not backwards compatible with the iPhone eight, despite having the aforementioned chapters. This is because the concoction's logic board connector differs from the one in the iPhone 8. iFixit says you likewise tin't swap one iPhone SE 2020 battery for another, unless you want to stare at a service alarm that says that it is non a genuine Apple battery.

As iFixit notes, its full iPhone SE 2020 teardown is still in progress. And nosotros will follow up to share any boosted details equally they're posted.

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Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for most twenty years. In addition to overseeing the management of Tom'southward Guide, Marking specializes in roofing all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at cardinal industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends. Mark was previously editor in master of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Scientific discipline and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.