An iPhone 17e teardown revealed that MagSafe support could be added to the iPhone 16e by replacing the back panel with the one used in the newer model. Thus, some users may be able to obtain this feature through a relatively simple hardware modification.
The disassembly, conducted by the iFixit team, showed a high degree of compatibility between the components of the two phones, as most parts can be exchanged between them, including the motherboard, and the two devices also use the same battery with a capacity of 15.56 watt-hours.
However, this amendment is not without some limitations. The iPhone 16e does not support the Qi2 standard, which means it will not always achieve the full 15W wireless charging speed. Also, some MagSafe software features, such as custom animations when connecting, will not be available.
On the other hand, the Face ID feature did not work after implementing the switch, although the front camera continued to work normally. However, this level of compatibility between components indicates greater ease of repair and maintenance.
In an initial evaluation, iFixit gave the iPhone 17e a score of 7 out of 10 in repairability, while awaiting additional details from Apple regarding the prices and availability of spare parts.
