iPhone 17e Teardown: Adding MagSafe to iPhone 16e and Hardware Compatibility Secrets

Earlier this month, Apple introduced the new iPhone 17e, which features modest upgrades over the iPhone 16e, most notably the addition of MagSafe charging. A detailed teardown by the iFixit team has now revealed that these two generations share more than just a similar design. In fact, the hardware is so similar that iPhone 16e users might be able to upgrade their devices with MagSafe functionality using parts from the newer model.

iPhone 16e (left) and iPhone 17e (right)

Replace the back cover and get MagSafe

The back cover of the iPhone 17e fits the iPhone 16e perfectly.

The iFixit teardown demonstrated that replacing the rear panel of an iPhone 16e with one from an iPhone 17e successfully brings MagSafe support to the older device. However, this modification is not without its drawbacks. Since the iPhone 16e lacks native support for the Qi2 charging standard, it cannot consistently reach the full 15W wireless charging speeds. Furthermore, users will miss out on MagSafe-specific software integrations, such as the signature charging animation that appears when the magnet connects.

Repairability and compatibility of the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e

iPhone 16e on top and iPhone 17e on the bottom

Beyond the back panel, the teardown uncovered a high level of component interchangeability. Most internal parts, including the logic board, are compatible between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e. Both smartphones are powered by the same 1,728mAh battery. However, a significant hurdle was discovered: after swapping components, Face ID ceased to function, even though the front-facing camera remained operational. Despite this software-locked limitation, the cross-compatibility of parts is expected to simplify the repair process for technicians. iFixit has assigned the iPhone 17e a provisional repairability score of 7, pending further information on Apple’s official spare parts pricing and availability.