Some iPhone SE parts able to replaced by iPhone 8 versions

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited April 2020
A second teardown of the iPhone SE reveals some of its components can be replaced by versions used in the iPhone 8, showing just how far Apple is prepared to reuse existing designs and parts to bring down the cost of its lowest-priced smartphone.

The iPhone 8 (left), iPhone SE 2020 (right) (via iFixit)
The iPhone 8 (left), iPhone SE 2020 (right) (via iFixit)


The recently-launched refresh of the iPhone SE borrowed many of the elements of pre-iPhone X designs, including using Touch ID instead of Face ID. As with the original, Apple did so to reduce the overall cost of the model, as well as to continue using an existing catalog of parts it is intimately familiar with, something keenly demonstrated by a recent teardown.

Ahead of its full disassembly of the iPhone SE, repair outfit iFixit reveals there's a lot of components inside the iPhone SE that could be easily replaced. Though this doesn't extend to items located on the main board, such as the A13 SoC, it does cover other more easily detachable elements.

The cameras can be swapped with the version used in the iPhone 8 without issue, according to the firm, as well as the SIM tray, the Taptic Engine, and the display assembly, complete with the microphone and proximity sensor. The display is also thought to be the cheapest to replace out of all the iPhones released in recent years, though True Tone support will be lost unless the repairer has access to a screen programmer.

Despite using a Home button, it isn't interchangeable with the iPhone 8's version, with iFixit warning it needs to be retained during a non-Apple repair, or substituted for an aftermarket version without Touch ID.

The battery is also not able to be switched as it uses a different logic board connector than the iPhone 8's counterpart, but while an iPhone 11 battery uses the same connector, using the iPhone 11 battery in the iPhone SE won't work. Furthermore, it is claimed that a genuine iPhone SE 2020 battery cannot be switched for another without triggering a "not a genuine Apple battery" service warning.

iFixit is "reasonably pleased" with how repairable the iPhone SE is, as many parts are already in the possession of repair shops.

The new teardown follows an earlier version performed by Chinese mobile phone repair and training specialist Ao Technology on Friday. That teardown offered an earlier look at the internals of the iPhone SE, as well as determining the display could be transferred between it and the iPhone 8.

A full teardown of the 2020 iPhone SE by iFixit is anticipated for release on Monday.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    razorpitrazorpit Posts: 1,796member
    Well expect one thing from this, "the SE is using old technology" from the 'tech experts' on podcasts like TWIT.  :D

    Meanwhile Android manufacturers are saying crap, how are we going to compete against this?
    edited April 2020
  • Reply 2 of 14
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,105member
    Cool!
    Why reinvent the wheel?
  • Reply 3 of 14
    WarrenBuffduckhWarrenBuffduckh Posts: 158member
    Man, this device is a stunner. We all knew that Tim would go to the core, to dive as deep as necessary to squeeze all hundreds design pro’s that report to him like a single, giant lemon. But even then, I didn’t know such radical and merely disruptive departure from the iPhone 5 could still happen at Apple these days. It will take a few weeks for me to regain my senses. And not only for me. They must have worked so incredible hard to create this meticulous machine, to make sure that relevance and core innovative capability would melt together in these curvatures of a single, uncompromised new design. Where the continuous quest by the SE userbase for a small screen completely got compensated by the completely new, and innovative use of the bezel, the iconic design element we all thank to Mr. T. Cook and the former Design Master Mr. J. Ive. - for which we can only show our gratitude.
    edited April 2020
  • Reply 4 of 14
    tommy65tommy65 Posts: 56member
    It is what it is an updated iPhone8 with a fast CPU and other enhancements. The name SE is marketing but is well chosen since this is a design we are all familiar with. The internals are updated so this iPhone will receive all the new iOS-versions for the years to come as the old SE did. The price is an unique selling point for the SE as it was before. You simply cannot expect Apple to make this iPhone a competitor for the iPhone 11 or higher. It is a total different market after all. 
    minicoffee
  • Reply 5 of 14
    DAalsethDAalseth Posts: 2,783member
    Let's not forget, the iPhone8 was a good phone. It was overshadowed by the X that appeared on its heals but in its own right it was a good phone. Taking all that works really well out of that design and only updating the bits needed to bring it up to date is a very good strategy. 
    edited April 2020 alanhpulseimageschia
  • Reply 6 of 14
    rotateleftbyterotateleftbyte Posts: 1,630member
    WarrenBuffduckh said:
    Man, this device is a stunner. We all knew that Tim would go to the core, to dive as deep as necessary to press every bit out of the design pro’s that report to him. But I didn’t know this radical and mere disruptive departure from the iPhone 5 could still happen at Apple these days. It will take a few weeks for me to regain my senses. And not only for me. They must have worked so incredible hard to create this meticulous machine, to make sure that relevance and core innovative capability would melt together in these curvatures of a single, uncompromised new design. Where the continuous quest for a small screen completely got compensated by the completely new, and innovative use of the bezel, the iconic design element we all thank to Mr. T. Cook and the former Design Master Mr. J. Ive. - for which we can only show our gratitude.
    I think that you forgot the /s on your post.

    Personally, I think that this device delivers what it says on the tin.
    It is a budget (for apple) phone that uses existing tech with an updated CPU. TBH, if anyone thought that it would be anything really different then that really shoud give up on the wacky backy.
    fastasleep
  • Reply 7 of 14
    WarrenBuffduckhWarrenBuffduckh Posts: 158member
    Man, this device is a stunner. We all knew that Tim would go to the core, to dive as deep as necessary to press every bit out of the design pro’s that report to him. But I didn’t know this radical and mere disruptive departure from the iPhone 5 could still happen at Apple these days. It will take a few weeks for me to regain my senses. And not only for me. They must have worked so incredible hard to create this meticulous machine, to make sure that relevance and core innovative capability would melt together in these curvatures of a single, uncompromised new design. Where the continuous quest for a small screen completely got compensated by the completely new, and innovative use of the bezel, the iconic design element we all thank to Mr. T. Cook and the former Design Master Mr. J. Ive. - for which we can only show our gratitude.
    I think that you forgot the /s on your post.

    Personally, I think that this device delivers what it says on the tin.
    It is a budget (for apple) phone that uses existing tech with an updated CPU. TBH, if anyone thought that it would be anything really different then that really shoud give up on the wacky backy.
    Yet, it’s an unheard of accomplishment that iPhone 6 parts can still be applied with this kind of diversification and wild form variety - of half a decade.
    edited April 2020
  • Reply 8 of 14
    boboliciousbobolicious Posts: 1,146member
    ...another positive is that many existing accessories can be used or reused - more sustainable, efficient and of course cost effective... I still have a backup 4S and actually really enjoy the pocketability of the even smaller size, materiality & build quality...
  • Reply 9 of 14
    commentzillacommentzilla Posts: 725member
    This is better than pushing older models as budget devices. Most people just want good battery life, a good camera and have it be fast! Android is in trouble.
  • Reply 10 of 14
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,362member
    Ugh, yeah, and do we still need to be reminded again that it’s still $399 and has at least 3 years of compatibility with rolling iOS releases and updates?  
  • Reply 11 of 14
    hammeroftruthhammeroftruth Posts: 1,309member
    WarrenBuffduckh said:
    Man, this device is a stunner. We all knew that Tim would go to the core, to dive as deep as necessary to press every bit out of the design pro’s that report to him. But I didn’t know this radical and mere disruptive departure from the iPhone 5 could still happen at Apple these days. It will take a few weeks for me to regain my senses. And not only for me. They must have worked so incredible hard to create this meticulous machine, to make sure that relevance and core innovative capability would melt together in these curvatures of a single, uncompromised new design. Where the continuous quest for a small screen completely got compensated by the completely new, and innovative use of the bezel, the iconic design element we all thank to Mr. T. Cook and the former Design Master Mr. J. Ive. - for which we can only show our gratitude.
    I think that you forgot the /s on your post.

    Personally, I think that this device delivers what it says on the tin.
    It is a budget (for apple) phone that uses existing tech with an updated CPU. TBH, if anyone thought that it would be anything really different then that really shoud give up on the wacky backy.
    Yet, it’s an unheard of accomplishment that iPhone 6 parts can still be applied with this kind of diversification and wild form variety - of half a decade.
    What parts are from the 6, other than the design of the enclosure? The 6 doesn’t have inductive charging, the displays and cameras are different and so is the battery. 
  • Reply 12 of 14
    hentaiboyhentaiboy Posts: 1,252member
    razorpit said:
    Meanwhile Android manufacturers are saying crap, how are we going to compete against this?
    https://www.smartprix.com/mobiles/samsung_galaxy_a51_vs_apple_iphone_se_2020-cpd1vywdd7y0_11010u3w0r5.php
  • Reply 13 of 14
    Fidonet127Fidonet127 Posts: 507member
    I received the new SE on Friday. I love it. My old phone was 6S Plus. I passed that on because it is still good. My reasons for the new SE is it has TouchID, a better camera, better processor, long term OS upgrades and the Apple ecosystem. Everything else that is better than my old phone is gravy. I don’t care about 5G. Actually I think those pushing 5G should be ashamed of yourself with the degradation of weather data due to the overlap of frequencies. 
  • Reply 14 of 14
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    hentaiboy said:
    razorpit said:
    Meanwhile Android manufacturers are saying crap, how are we going to compete against this?
    https://www.smartprix.com/mobiles/samsung_galaxy_a51_vs_apple_iphone_se_2020-cpd1vywdd7y0_11010u3w0r5.php
    That's a pretty dumb comparison.

    Look at some of the so-called "advantages" that they give to the Android phone.

    1. Octa-Core CPU. So fucking what. Android phones have had many cores for years now, and that doesn't mean anything when fewer core Apple phones outperform them. Who cares if there's a 100 core Android phone eventually? Who is stronger, one Mike Tyson or 8 midgets?

    2. More RAM. Again, a pointless stat, as Android phones have a less efficient CPU and the OS is a mess, so having more RAM is meaningless when Apple phones have long outperformed Android phones that have more RAM since the beginning of time. Androids need more RAM to perform simple things, because Android is a lesser OS and inferior. Who is smarter, one Einstein or 8 retards? 

    3. Bigger Screen. That's not exactly an advantage. It depends on what size somebody is looking for. I can buy a 50" TV for cheap, but I can't exactly fit it in my pocket or bring it with me outside.


    edited April 2020 chiatobian
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