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⚠️ iPhone 17 Pro Max • 4.8mm Titanium + Vapor Chamber • Opening voids water resistance • Follow at your own risk Jump to Step 1 →
NOVEATECH LAB • TEARDOWN 047 • IPHONE 17 PRO MAX • SEP 2025

Inside the beast. 17 Pro Max teardown.

We cracked open Apple's first vapor chamber iPhone. Titanium frame 4.8mm, A19 Pro with stacked DRAM, 5x tetraprism + 48MP periscope, 4,685mAh split battery. 23 steps, 45 min, zero stripped screws — here's how.

23 steps • 45 min
A19 Pro + Vapor Chamber
4,685mAh Split Battery
⚠️ IP68 lost after open
LIVE TEARDOWN • STEP 11
Microscope SM-4TZ • 0.5x
iPhone 17 Pro Max • Desert Titanium
A19 Pro • Vapor chamber • Tetraprism 120mm
📱
Display + Face ID flex — lifted
DONE
🔋
Battery A2860 split — pull tabs out
NOW
🧠
Logic board A19 Pro + 12GB — next
QUEUED
⚠️
Pentalobe trap: 17 Pro Max uses P2 + Tri-point Y000 + 0.8mm standoff screws. Don't use iPhone 15 toolkit — you'll strip.

Use JBC micro tip 0.15mm for battery BMS disconnect.

TOOLS — DON'T STRIP IT

17 Pro Max needs new toolkit.
Titanium is unforgiving.

Apple changed screws again. 17 Pro Max uses Pentalobe P2 bottom + Tri-point Y000 + new 0.8mm standoff screws for vapor chamber. Your iPhone 14 kit will strip.

🪛

P2 + Y000 + Standoff 0.8

Pentalobe P2 bottom (2x), Tri-point Y000 for board + camera, 0.8mm standoff driver for vapor chamber bracket.

  • Wiha P2 + Y000 set
  • 0.8mm standoff driver
  • Magnetizer for screws
🔥

Hot Plate 80°C + Isopropyl

Display adhesive stronger — 80°C hot plate 3 min, not heat gun. 17 Pro Max uses cold-press frame glue.

  • Hot plate, not gun
  • 99% IPA for gasket
  • Suction cup + picks
🔬

AmScope SM-4TZ + 0.5x

Battery BMS connector under vapor chamber shroud — you need microscope to not rip flex.

  • Trinocular 0.5x barlow
  • Tweezers ESD 0.15mm
  • Spudger black stick
⚡

DCPS + Anti-Static

Split battery = 2x BMS. Disconnect both before board. Short = dead A19 Pro.

  • Anti-static mat + wrist
  • DCPS 0-5V for test
  • Kapton tape for battery
FULL TEARDOWN — 23 STEPS • 45 MIN

Step-by-step. No stripped screws.
Keep your screws mapped.

Follow order — 17 Pro Max has flexes that tear if you go out of order. Tap a step to mark done, progress saves locally.

Progress: 0 / 23
INTERNALS MAP — WHAT'S NEW

Vapor chamber + A19 Pro +
split battery explained.

🧠 What's actually new inside 17 Pro Max

❄️
Vapor Chamber Cooling

First iPhone with vapor chamber. Copper plate 0.3mm over A19 Pro + graphite sheet to frame. Don't puncture — liquid inside. Bracket uses 0.8mm standoffs.

🧩
A19 Pro Stacked DRAM

12GB LPDDR5X stacked on SoC — taller package, needs thermal pad replacement (1mm). Don't reuse old pad.

🔋
Split Battery A2860 + A2861

4,685mAh total in two cells with pull tabs under board. Disconnect BMS flex before pulling — 17 Pro Max tabs tear if pulled at 90° — pull 30° slow.

📷
Periscope 5x 120mm Tetraprism

Larger prism, 4x screws Y000 + flex under board. Calibration lost if you disconnect without Apple tool — Face ID okay, but camera needs calibration for focus breathing.

📋 Screw Map — Keep This

Bottom Pentalobe P22x • 3.2mm
Display bracket Tri-point3x • 1.1mm Y000
Battery connector bracket2x • 1.0mm Y000
Vapor chamber standoff4x • 0.8mm special
Logic board + antenna7x • 1.3mm + 1.6mm
Periscope camera bracket4x • 1.2mm Y000
Taptic Engine3x • 2.2mm Tri-point
Loudspeaker3x • 1.8mm
💡
Pro tip: Use magnetic mat + photo each layer. 17 Pro Max screws look identical but 0.1mm diff = long screw damage to board.

We use iFixit magnetic mat + label maker. Photo under microscope each step.

FAQ — 17 PRO MAX TEARDOWN

Common mistakes we see
in Harare + US mail-ins

No. 17 Pro Max uses cold-press frame gasket + liquid adhesive. Once opened IP68 is gone unless you replace gasket ($12) + use B7000 + press clamp 30 min. We tell clients it's IPX4 after — not IP68. Don't test with water.
Apple changed adhesive to stronger VHB. Pull at 30° angle, slow, constant force, not 90°. Use 2mm IPA under tab after 50% pull. If snaps, use dental floss + IPA — don't pry battery with metal, split battery puncture = fire. Split battery means double tabs — disconnect BMS flex first.
Yes if you remove vapor chamber. A19 Pro needs 1.0mm pad (not 0.5mm like A17). Use Gelid GP-Ultimate 1mm. Don't reuse — old pad has air gap = throttling. Clean with IPA, no metal scraper on vapor chamber — it's 0.3mm copper, dents easily.
You ripped earpiece flex — it's paired to Face ID dot projector via board. 17 Pro Max earpiece flex has 3 micro connectors, not 1. Lift display to 80° max, not 90°+, and disconnect battery first. If dead, needs microsoldering + Apple calibration — $149 at NoveaTech, not DIY.
Walk-in Hatcliffe: battery $49, screen $149 OEM refurb, board-level $89+. US mail-in board-only $89+ with DHL return + video proof. We have Y000 + standoff drivers + thermal pads in stock. 90-day warranty.

Don't risk $1,199 phone? Let lab do it.

We have iPhone 17 Pro Max toolkit, vapor chamber pads, pull tab jig, and microscope. Same-day battery, 20-min screen, board-level microsoldering with 87% success. US mail-in board-only.