If the US repair service provider iFixit has its way, many more devices are likely to have an external battery like the Apple Vision Pro. In a so-called teardown, the company has now dismantled the first spatial computer from Cupertino into its individual parts and shows weak points, design, but also strengths from the perspective of self-repair enthusiasts. The replaceability of the battery is viewed positively, although it is primarily intended to reduce weight – contrary to initial fears, even the connection cable can be easily disconnected.
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The main focus was on when disassembling but on the front display of the Vision Pro, which can display the wearer’s eyes with its EyeSight function and should thus enable a kind of view. This feature sets Apple’s headset apart from competitors, but early reviewers criticized it as being too dark and dimly lit. The reason for this is that Apple uses a lenticular effect. With the refraction of light and the help of various video signals, a three-dimensional appearance of the eyes is achieved – although this also requires some disadvantages in terms of resolution and luminosity.
Achilles heel of repairability
iFixit calls the screen the “Achilles heel for repairs.” The display consists of three layers, an extension layer, a lens-shaped layer and the OLED display itself. The outer pane is glued on and could only be removed without damage with a lot of time and heat.
Inside, the repair experts found, among other things, small motors that automatically align the lenses of the device, which costs at least $3,500, to the wearer’s eyes. On the way to the M2 chip, the OLED displays and the real-time processor R1, which was used for the first time, a number of screws, clamps and straps had to be loosened. The effort was so immense that the sensor and lens assemblies will only be examined in more detail in a next step. However, the verdict on repairability for the layman has already been made.
Which is easy to fix
The cable connection between the external battery and Vision Pro is implemented with a kind of larger Lightning connector, whereby the cable on the battery can be detached using the tool for removing the SIM card in the iPhone. There are three iPhone batteries in the metal jacket of the Smart Battery Pack – the accessory weighs a total of 353 grams. The easily replaceable speakers on the straps are also considered advantageous for repairs.
(mki)
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