Curiosity about Apple’s latest flagship led iFixit to pull apart the iPhone 17 Pro, and what they found mixes innovation with some frustration. At the heart of the changes is Apple’s brand-new vapor chamber cooling system. It sits directly above the A19 Pro chip, distributing heat through the aluminum frame so that the device stays cooler under pressure.

The battery arrangement is also different. Apple now uses a metal battery tray that’s screwed into the frame with Torx Plus fasteners. No adhesive means easier swaps if replacement trays are sold. The placement is smart — the tray doubles as part of the cooling solution, sitting right on top of the chipset and vapor chamber.

Thermal results are impressive. Compared to last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, the new model stayed nearly three degrees cooler under load. Where the 16 Pro Max throttled after reaching 37.8°C, the 17 Pro Max leveled off at 34.8°C with no slowdown at all. iFixit noted that the vapor chamber uses a lattice system to move liquid back and forth as it changes from steam to droplets.

Durability testing, though, revealed weaknesses. The aluminum frame is solid, but the sharp edge of the camera bump scratched faster than expected. David Niebuhr, a Cal Poly engineering professor, said the issue is due to “spalling,” where the anodized finish fails to fully bind on flat surfaces, causing color to chip or rub away.

When it comes to fixing the phone, the story is complicated. Apple removed the more repair-friendly dual-entry design, meaning only the back glass and charging assembly can be serviced from the rear. Tasks like swapping the USB-C port require removing 22 screws, a tedious process. Still, Apple released day-one repair manuals and kept safety in mind with the new metal battery casing. iFixit’s final repairability score: a respectable 7/10.

Source: MacRumors