Apple's repairability scores suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are slightly easier to repair than the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple released the repairability data in a product information sheet required by EU energy labeling regulations [PDF].
The EU requires smartphone makers to self-rate repairability across categories like disassembly depth, fasteners, tools, spare parts, software update duration, and repair information. Each category gets a 0–5 score, which is combined into the overall index number. Here are the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max scores compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max scores.
- Overall index - 3.14, up 0.10 from 3.04
- Disassembly depth - 2.75, up 0.10 from 2.65
- Fasteners - 3.80, no change
- Tools - 2.55, up 0.50 from 2.05
- Spare parts - 4.00, no change
- Software updates - 1.00, no change (EU only awards a higher software core when manufacturers agree to support devices beyond the five-year minimum)
- Repair info - 5.00, no change
It looks like the iPhone 17 Pro models and the iPhone 18 Pro models have similar builds and are repaired in largely the same way, but there are small gains in tools and disassembly depth. Apple may have new tools for accessing some components, but the regulatory filings don't go into specifics. Both devices are class C on the A-E scale that appears on the iPhone's label.
We won't have to wait long to see what's changed inside the new iPhone models, because repair site iFixit is likely planning a teardown of one of the new iPhones on or shortly after the September 18 launch date.
Since the iPhone Duo isn't available for pre-order yet, Apple hasn't published similar repair data for the device.
