iFixit rates iPhone 18 Pro a 6/10 for repairability improvements

iFixit gave Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro a 6‑out‑of‑10 repairability score in its latest assessment, according to a Wired report published on Monday. The rating reflects the phone’s overall ease of disassembly, the availability of spare parts and the tools required to replace key components such as the battery, screen and camera module.

The score matters because Apple has long been criticized for making its flagship devices difficult to fix. Since the right‑to‑repair movement gained momentum in 2022, lawmakers in the European Union and several U.S. states have introduced bills that would force manufacturers to provide schematics, tools and genuine parts to independent repair shops. Consumers, meanwhile, are increasingly looking for longer‑lasting phones that can be repaired rather than replaced, a shift that puts pressure on Apple to redesign its products.

iFixit’s breakdown shows the iPhone 18 Pro scores highest for battery replacement, which can be done with a standard pentalobe screwdriver and a few minutes of work. The display, however, still requires a specialized suction tool and a heat gun, dragging the score down. The camera module and the new “dynamic island” hinge are glued in place, making them harder to service without risking damage. Compared with the iPhone 15 Pro’s 5‑point rating, the modest improvement signals Apple is slowly responding to repair‑centric criticism, but the company has not yet opened its official repair manuals to the public.

The rating could influence both buyers and regulators in the coming months. Retailers may highlight the higher score in marketing, while consumer‑advocacy groups are likely to use it as evidence in lobbying for stricter repair laws. Apple has not commented on iFixit’s findings, but analysts expect the tech giant to continue incremental design changes to avoid further regulatory pressure. If the trend continues, future iPhone models may become noticeably easier to open, giving third‑party repair shops a better chance to compete with Apple’s own service network.