Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro series. (Image source: Apple)
Apple’s limited repair options for the iPhone 16 Pro have raised concerns, with costs to replace the new capacitive camera button reaching $750. Even minor repairs, like fixing a volume button, fall into the same expensive “other damage” category due to Apple’s selective repair policy.
Now that consumers can finally get their hands on the Apple iPhone 16 The good and bad sides are coming to light. Early reactions have revealed a wide range of opinions. The device’s performance and thermal management are better than expected. While the recent DxOMark place it below the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (currently at $1,199 on Amazon) in terms of photography, its dismantling reveals a quick-release battery – a notable improvement over its previous iPhone iterations. However, the new capacitive side camera button – which is the highlight of this year – has provoked negative reactions, especially if we take into account the following information.
Touted as a key feature of the series, this capacitive button features haptic feedback and simulates a “two-step press.” However, some users have reported that the button’s placement makes it uncomfortable, especially when held vertically, where it feels too low. This is an opinion based on preference, of course. But it’s not the only issue.
The repair costs of the device’s components have raised eyebrows. Official estimates show that replacing the simple capacitive button could cost you RMB 4,399 (~USD 615.86 / ~EUR 571.87) for the iPhone 16 and RMB 5,299 (~USD 741.86 / ~EUR 688.87) for the iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Ceramic Shield durability tested in new videos . This high cost is likely due to Apple’s limited repair options, as the company tends to offer full device repairs rather than individual component repairs. Any damage to the camera button falls under the “Other Damage” category, meaning users may face higher costs for even minor repairs, such as replacing the lock button or volume button, for example.
Evident Scientific’s microscope gives you a close-up look at the side-mounted capacitive camera button. (Image source: iFixit)
Furthermore, according to the site iFixit teardown de l’iPhone 16The camera control button appears to be laser welded to the frame, making it even more difficult to repair/replace. The higher repair cost of the Pro and Pro Max models can also be attributed to the fact that only the base models iPhone 16 series (not Pro models) feature “Ionic Liquid Battery Adhesive” which makes it easier to remove/replace the battery.
This question has been widely debated by several digital experts, including Digital Review Era (数评时代) (translated from Chinese), a popular online channel with over 1.14 million followers on Baidu. Recently, users have also complained about the following problem iPhone 16 Pro screen freezing issueThis issue is likely due to a palm rejection sensitivity issue. This issue could also be related to – you guessed it – the new camera button, as reported by the MacRumors forums at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/touch-issues-with-16-pro-max-display.2437423/page-3.
Apple’s integration of the capacitive button will allow developers to integrate it into their apps in the future, which could improve the overall user experience. For now, users should treat the new camera button (and other components) on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro with a little more caution, unless they’re willing to spend a million dollars to replace it. OnePlus 12R($699.99 on Amazon)) for repairs only.
The repair costs of “other damage” of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. (Image source: Baidu)
The dialogue on repair costs, translated by Google Lens. (Image source: Baidu – edited)
Translator: Ninh Ngoc Duy – Editorial Assistant – 436969 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2008
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