iPhone 16e owners can add MagSafe charging to their devices with a simple back panel swap from the new iPhone 17e, according to a teardown analysis published this week.
Repair specialists iFixit discovered near-identical internal layouts between the two models during their iPhone 17e teardown. The finding means last year's budget iPhone can gain magnetic charging capabilities by replacing its rear glass with the Qi2-compatible panel from Apple's latest entry-level device.
Apple omitted MagSafe from the iPhone 16e when it launched in September, drawing criticism for making wireless charging difficult and blocking access to magnetic accessories like car mounts and wallets. The company restored the feature in the iPhone 17e that debuted last Wednesday, but maintained nearly identical physical dimensions and component placement.
"This kind of cross-compatibility matters," iFixit noted in their analysis. "It makes repairs easier, parts easier to source, and upgrades cheaper."
The repair site gave both phones identical 7 out of 10 repairability scores, praising their dual-entry design that allows opening from front or back without affecting unrelated components. Both models also use electrically-releasing battery adhesive that simplifies replacement procedures.
While hardware compatibility appears straightforward, software limitations may affect functionality. The iPhone 16e lacks built-in software to recognize MagSafe attachments or provide charging animations, according to iFixit's testing.
Early measurements show a modified iPhone 16e with a 17e back panel draws approximately 10 watts during wireless charging, compared to the full 15 watts available on genuine iPhone 17e units.
Apple made repair manuals available for the iPhone 17e on launch day, continuing its recent push toward right-to-repair initiatives. The company also upgraded internal components between generations, swapping last year's A18 chip for the faster A19 processor and increasing base storage from 128GB to 256GB.
Replacement back panels for the iPhone 17e are expected to become available through Apple's self-service repair program and authorized service providers once initial sales stabilize. The discovery marks one of Apple's most direct upgrade paths between smartphone generations in recent years.
