Similar to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, the upcoming iPhone 15 is rumored to have a redesigned chassis that is “easier to repair,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The change could result in the iPhone 15 Pro units having removable back glasses. With its own chassis redesign, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus handsets became the first iPhone models that can be opened from both the front and back sides of the device since the iPhone 4S in 2011. The internal redesign did not extend to the iPhone 14 Pro models, which can still only be opened from the display side, at least for authorized repairs.
A removable back glass system could lead to significantly lower repair fees for iPhone 15 Pro units with cracked back glass for customers without AppleCare+ coverage. As of now, Apple’s out-of-warranty fees for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus with back glass damage range from $169 to $199, compared to $499 to $549 for iPhone 14 Pro models.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 lineup in September. Current rumors have speculated that the devices will be equipped with a USB-C port and the Dynamic Island. Gurman has also noted that he expects the Pro models to feature a titanium frame, thinner bezels around the display, a faster chip manufactured with TSMC’s 3nm process, a customizable Action button, and more. Finally, Gurman has also stated that he believes price increases are possible in some countries, at least for the Pro models.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.