iPhone 17 Pro Max Teardown: Why Apple Made Repairs Harder Again

When I first cracked open the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I expected the same trend we’ve seen for the past few years: easier access, more modular parts, and a little less frustration. But nope, this year Apple seems to have taken a U-turn.

This teardown took me the longest of any iPhone teardown I’ve ever done. I’m not exaggerating, between the sheer number of screws, the extra shielding, and the way certain components are buried, it feels like Apple went out of its way to slow down anyone attempting a repair.

More Screws Than Ever

Let’s talk screws. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has four different types of screws, and I’m pretty sure it has the most screws of any iPhone ever made. Each time I thought I had them all, another type popped up. It’s like Apple is playing a game of “how many screwdrivers can we make you buy?”

Swapping out the back glass and the front screen is still relatively straightforward (thanks to the design shift Apple introduced back with the iPhone 14). But if you need to replace almost anything else? Good luck.

Layer After Layer

Inside, Apple stacked components in a way that requires you to remove multiple unrelated parts just to get to the one you actually need to replace. Want to get to the battery? Prepare to undo layers of shields, brackets, and, you guessed it, more screws.

For years, Apple had been moving in the right direction, making iPhones more modular and accessible. This feels like a big step back.

Why Did Apple Do This?

That’s the million-dollar question. Was it for structural integrity? Thermal management? EU Mandates? Or maybe just a way to discourage DIY and third-party repair shops from keeping these phones alive longer than Apple would like?

We’ll never know the exact reason, but what’s clear is that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the least repair-friendly iPhone in the last few years.

Final Thoughts

I went into this teardown excited to see what Apple had improved this year, but I walked away kind of disappointed. For a company that’s been under pressure to support right-to-repair, this design choice feels like a step backward.

At least we know one thing for sure: if Apple charged per screw, this phone would cost a million dollars.

See you in the next article!