iPhone 15 Pro Max Teardown: X70 Modem for Faster 5G, 5x Optical Zoom Lens, A17 Pro Chip, and More

[MacRumors]

Repair website iFixit today shared a video teardown of the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, providing a closer look inside the top-of-the-line device.

While the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a similar internal design as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the device has a redesigned frame that allows the back glass panel to be easily removed, resulting in lower repair fees for cracked glass for customers without AppleCare+ coverage. This change was first made to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus last year.

The teardown provides a brief glimpse at the iPhone 15 Pro Max's upgraded Telephoto lens with a tetraprism system, which enables 5x optical zoom. iFixit said the Main and Ultra Wide lenses on the device appear to look the same as the ones on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, in line with information shared on social media last week. This suggests camera improvements beyond 5x optical zoom are the result of the A17 Pro chip and software optimizations.

iFixit says the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a similar logic board as the iPhone 15 Pro. In addition to the A17 Pro chip, the teardown confirms that the device is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 modem, which reportedly enables faster 5G speeds as expected.

Overall, iFixit gave the iPhone 15 Pro Max a low repairability score of 4/10, in part due to Apple's parts pairing requirement that it says harms independent repair shops.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max Teardown: X70 Modem for Faster 5G, 5x Optical Zoom Lens, A17 Pro Chip, and More

 

[sziehr]

water is indeed wet confirmed.......

now tell me why it is melting in my hand and why there are so many OS bugs it is on a struggle bus

 

[StuBeck]

I wonder if they'll be able to see why the 15 Pro Max is having the back glass breaking issue with the new design too.

 

[sack_peak]

so many OS bugs it is on a struggle bus

Smaller markets complain why they are delayed by weeks and months for their local launches.

But from my perspective it allows larger markets to beta test any lingering bugs on the OS or apps.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

A17 Pro confirmed 👍

 

[arggg14]

We've reached peak iPhone. Incremental changes from here on out.

 

[spamabyss]

Any news wether the standard iphone 15 models also have the x70 modem?

 

[josselinco]

As someone who upgrades fairly often (every other generation) this year I get to have : Always-On, Dynamic Island, 48MP, Satellite thing, Action Button, USB-C, and this Natural Titanium look that I personally find gorgeous. Not too bad for "incremental changes" ;-)

 

[jamdex]

We've reached peak iPhone. Incremental changes from here on out.

Its been like that for years

 

[MrSkoTA]

I wish a new company would come along to do this stuff (teardowns) and leave out all of their opinion and politics. I don’t like when Apple injects their politics or when anyone else does. Just give me the tech facts!

 

[citysnaps]

I wonder if they'll be able to see why the 15 Pro Max is having the back glass breaking issue with the new design too.

I suspect the force of gravity is involved.

 

[cocky jeremy]

We've reached peak iPhone. Incremental changes from here on out.

I've been saying that for a few years now. There is only so much a phone can do. We aren't at day 1 anymore where there is just a massive amount of new features that can be added year after year.

 

[sack_peak]

I suspect the force of gravity is involved.

I'd sue this force of gravity. It's a safety risk!

 

[BorisDG]

Any news wether the standard iphone 15 models also have the x70 modem?

Both are 100% using X70, just like past years. 16 will be on X75 (as usual)

 

[Rychiar]

anyone notice a difference with the X70? ill be getting a 15 soon but I have a 13 pro max now and am just hoping for better cellular connection. reception in my town sucks but I see some other android people getting better signal than i

 

[ROLLTIDE1]

Can you do a story on the poor connectivity on the 15pro's ? my 12 pro is blowing it out of the water

 

[soyazul]

Is this a hint that M3 is coming in October this year? I am really hoping for that.

 

[sack_peak]

Is this a hint that M3 is coming in October this year? I am really hoping for that.

Likely Q1 2024 before April 2024.

There has been various reports that 3nm chip yield is not that high.

October is very optimistic. More likely a replacement for the 2021 iPad mini, 2022 iPad Air or 2022 iPad will be out.

 

[GeoStructural]

water is indeed wet confirmed.......

Not always, it depends on the substance it is in contact with… and the temperature as well.

 

[Populus]

Is this a hint that M3 is coming in October this year? I am really hoping for that.

Contrary to what we want, maybe it is better if the new M3 macs come during next year. Why? If we have M3 macs next month, that will mean they are made using the N3B process node, which I’m not too optimistic about. If they use the new, more standardized N3E process, then we won’t see any new macs until mid 2024. And, in my opinion, that will be a good sign.

 

[AFPoster]

Does this apply to the 15 Pro?

 

[cocky jeremy]

I'd sue this force of gravity. It's a safety risk!

You'd probably win in the US.

 

[Dolmio]

anyone notice a difference with the X70? ill be getting a 15 soon but I have a 13 pro max now and am just hoping for better cellular connection. reception in my town sucks but I see some other android people getting better signal than i

I had a 12 pro max with the x55 and now the 15 pro max with the x70 and there is noticeably much better reception and also download speed . I appreciate you had the x60 so can’t comment on that but between the x55 and x70 there is a significant difference

 

[honam1021]

I wish a new company would come along to do this stuff (teardowns) and leave out all of their opinion and politics. I don’t like when Apple injects their politics or when anyone else does. Just give me the tech facts!

The Chinese has you covered. 10+ minutes of detailed explaination and glorious B-rolls with minimal BS.

 

[Octavius8]

Check A real tear down in Jerry rigs everything in YT!. Super fun and informative. You will see what grade and how much titanium is actually in the iPhones (even less than I imagined or Apple lead me to believe…).
Not sure I am allowed to put the link here but is easy to find.