Apple iPhone 18 Pro durability test and teardown: What’s inside Apple’s new flagship
The new Apple iPhone 18 Pro has barely hit the market, and Zack Nelson from the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything has already subjected Apple’s new flagship to a comprehensive durability test and subsequently completely disassembled it. The two videos not only reveal the smartphone’s resilience but also showcase some of the most interesting internal innovations – including the variable aperture of the main camera, Face ID under the display, and Apple’s redesigned cooling system.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Durability Test
In the obligatory scratch test, the Ceramic Shield 2 on the front of the Apple iPhone 18 Pro is particularly impressive. The first visible marks only appear at a hardness level of 7 on the Mohs scale, while more pronounced scratches are visible at level 8. This means the display remains one of the more resistant smartphone surfaces. In contrast, the anodized aluminum frame proves less robust, being relatively easy to damage with metal tools. Keys, coins, and other objects also initially leave visible marks on the back. However, a large portion of these are simply material abrasion and can be removed.
The iPhone 18 Pro also showed no major weaknesses in the heat test. Even after approximately 25 seconds of direct flame exposure, no permanent damage remained on the OLED panel. The subsequent bend test also proved successful: the smartphone could not be significantly bent from either the front or the back, and the glass elements remained intact.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Teardown
Things get even more interesting in the second video, where Nelson disassembles the Apple iPhone 18 Pro. For the first time, the mechanical construction of the new variable aperture of the 48-megapixel main camera is shown in detail. Apple offers four aperture settings: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0. With the camera module open, you can observe the aperture blades actually moving mechanically. This means it’s not just a software simulation of the different aperture values.
Another major change is on the front. Apple has moved part of the Face ID system beneath the display. Under a microscope, the special pixel area above the infrared sensor is visible. The pixel pattern there is modified to allow infrared light to pass through the display. In normal use, this area is barely noticeable, but from certain angles and under specific lighting conditions, the different pixel structure can become visible. This design allowed Apple to reduce the size of the visible Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro.
The cooling system is also significantly more extensive. Inside, there’s a considerably larger vapor chamber that makes direct contact with the A20 Pro chip and is designed to distribute the heat over a wider area. Other teardowns also show that Apple has significantly changed the internal design around the processor and cooling system.
The two videos showcase an iPhone 18 Pro that has undergone only subtle external refinements, but incorporates some interesting internal technical changes. The most noticeable innovations include the mechanical variable aperture, the partially hidden Face ID system, and the improved cooling system. At the same time, the durability test demonstrates that Apple continues to maintain a high level of structural stability and display resilience. Click here for our Apple iPhone 18 Pro price comparison.
