Repair site iFixit today took apart the iPhone 17e, which is the new low-cost iPhone that Apple launched last Wednesday. The ‌iPhone 17e‌ is almost identical to the iPhone 16e in design, but it does include a MagSafe back panel that supports ‌MagSafe‌ and faster Qi charging than the iPhone 16e.


When disassembling the ‌iPhone 17e‌, iFixit found that the ‌MagSafe‌ panel for the device is the same size as the panel for the 16e, and the two are interchangeable. You can take a back panel from an ‌iPhone 17e‌ and put it on an iPhone 16e, adding ‌MagSafe‌ to an iPhone 16e.

That could be good news for iPhone users who bought an iPhone 16e and don't want to upgrade just to get ‌MagSafe‌. iPhone 16e customers may be able to get their hands on an ‌iPhone 17e‌ back panel to make a ‌MagSafe‌ swap, which iFixit says is a big win for repairability. There was a downside with the ‌MagSafe‌ swap because the iPhone 16e doesn't have the built-in software that recognizes ‌MagSafe‌ accessories to provide animations, and it's not yet clear if it charges at the full 15W.

"Cross-compatibility matters," said iFixit. "It makes repairs easier, parts easier to source, and upgrades cheaper."

Apple made day one manuals available for the ‌iPhone 17e‌, so iFixit knew the front and back panels both come off. The battery can be swapped without having to go through the display, though there's still adhesive to deal with. The ‌iPhone 17e‌ continues to use adhesive for the battery that can be removed with an electrical pulse, which makes battery replacements simpler.


Aside from the ‌MagSafe‌ update, the other notable change in the ‌iPhone 17e‌ is the A19 System on Chip that replaces the A18. Apple also swapped out the C1 modem for the new, faster C1X modem, and there's more starting internal storage at 256 GB.

iFixit found that like the ‌MagSafe‌ module, almost all components inside the ‌iPhone 17e‌ and iPhone 16e were interchangeable. It's possible to take an iPhone 16e logic board and put it into an ‌iPhone 17e‌ chassis, with almost no issues registering parts. The TrueDepth camera for Face ID didn't work when swapped from iPhone to iPhone.

While iFixit was happy with the dual entry design and the battery adhesive that releases electrically, the site found the USB-C port was too buried behind components, which will make DIY repairs daunting for people. Apple fixed the USB-C accessibility issue in its main flagship models, but has not made the port easier to get to in the "e" models.

Despite these issues, iFixit awarded points for the parts interchangeability because there's more salvage value and more refurbishment potential. iFixit gave the ‌iPhone 17e‌ a provisional repairability score of 7 out of 10. That's the same score the iPhone 16e got last year, and the same score the iPhone 17 earned.
This article, "iFixit Tears Down the iPhone 17e, Discovers MagSafe Upgrade Path for iPhone 16e Owners" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple replaced the $4,999+ Pro Display XDR with the better, more affordable Studio Display XDR, so we thought we'd pick one up to test out and compare to the now-discontinued Pro Display XDR.


The ‌Studio Display‌ XDR is the same size as the ‌Studio Display‌ at 27 inches, and it has the same 5K resolution. It's smaller than the 32-inch Pro Display XDR that had a 6K display, and that's probably going to be a major downside for people who prefer larger display sizes. A 32-inch display size works well for a single monitor setup, but 27 inches feels comparatively smaller and is better for multi-display setups.

Apple designed the Pro Display XDR with the same perforated, vented back panel that it used for the Mac Pro, and in comparison, the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR is plainer because it adopts the ‌Studio Display‌ look.

With those downsides out of the way, almost every other ‌Studio Display‌ XDR feature is an improvement over the Pro Display XDR. It uses a mini-LED panel with 2,304 local dimming zones (the Pro Display XDR was limited to 576 local dimming zones). It's brighter than the Pro Display XDR, with deeper blacks, better contrast, and improved HDR. The display is bright enough to match the mini-LED MacBook Pro, and it's really the only display that pairs well with Apple's high-end notebook.

The ‌Studio Display‌ XDR also supports a variable refresh rate from 47Hz to 120Hz, which Apple calls Adaptive Sync. It's not as noticeable as it is on a smaller display, but you can tell a difference when gaming, scrolling quickly, or using the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR next to another display that doesn't support a 120Hz refresh rate.

While the Pro Display XDR didn't come with a camera or speakers, the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR does. It has a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera for video calls and a six-speaker audio system that's ideal for most things you want to do on a Mac.

There are two Thunderbolt 5 ports, one upstream and one downstream, so you can daisy-chain multiple displays together. 140W passthrough charging is available, and there are also two USB-C ports for connecting peripherals.

The Pro Display XDR did not have dual Thunderbolt ports for daisy-chaining displays, so the addition of an extra Thunderbolt port adds more setup versatility.

The ‌Studio Display‌ XDR is a solid upgrade over most displays, and there are very few monitors on the market that can match what Apple is offering. Given the $3,299 price point and the focus on professional use, the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR isn't for the average Mac user. The standard ‌Studio Display‌ is better suited to more casual use, and most people can even get away with a cheaper 4K display from a third-party manufacturer.
This article, "Apple Studio Display XDR Hands-On: Better Than the Pro Display XDR in Almost Every Way" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today released the first Background Security Improvement (BSI) update, replacing the rapid security updates that it used to seed out a few years ago. The first BSI updates address a WebKit vulnerability that could allow maliciously crafted web content to bypass Same Origin Policy. There's a macOS Tahoe 26.3.1, iOS 26.3.1, and iPadOS 26.3.1 BSI update, as well as a ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3.2 BSI update exclusive to the MacBook Neo.


Apple says that the vulnerability was addressed with improved input validation.

Background Security Improvements were added with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌, and Apple tested them in iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 before today's official release.

The updates are meant to provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries. Background Security Improvements can be installed in the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app. Scroll down, and then select the Install option to install the update. If Automatically Install is toggled on, BSIs will be automatically installed when they come out.

Users who opt not to install Background Security Improvements will receive the fixes in a subsequent standard software update.

Apple warns that Background Security Updates can result in "rare instances of compatibility issues." Should that occur, the updates may be temporarily removed and enhanced in another software update.
This article, "Apple Releases Background Security Improvement Update for macOS Tahoe 26.3.1, iOS 26.3.1, and iPadOS 26.3.1" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad, as well as $100 off the iPad mini 7. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, which is a solid second-best price on this model.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

iPad

Additionally, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $599.00 ($50 off). Free delivery estimates are placed around February 16 for most of these iPad models, but Prime members should be able to get same-day delivery in many locations.





We saw a few of these iPad models around $20 cheaper over the holiday season last year, but those all-time low prices never reappeared. As of now, Amazon's discounts are the best prices we've tracked so far in 2026.

iPad mini

There are also quite a few $100 discounts on the iPad mini 7 this week on Amazon, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. It's been a few weeks since we last tracked prices this low on the iPad mini 7.





You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.00, both $100 discounts and available in multiple colors. These sales are all solid second-best prices on the iPad mini 7.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

---

This article, "iPad Deals on Amazon Include $50 Off 11th Gen iPad and $100 Off iPad Mini 7" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums