Category: How Tech Works

Explainers on how certain gadgets, features, or scientific concepts work in the context of everyday tech.

One Major Way Smartphone Batteries Can Catch Fire—and How to Prevent It

Lithium-ion polymer batteries, also known as lithium-polymer, or li-po for short, are awesome little pouches of energy that power our beloved smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Any portable gadget that requires…

November 17, 2022

by Arthur Shi - iFixit

Video

iFixit’s Most Interesting Teardown Finds of 2021

Note: The text below is based on a pre-shooting script for our video, iFixit’s Most Interesting Teardown Finds of 2021. The text may not perfectly match the dialogue in the…

December 15, 2021

by Michael Degnan

Tech News

Please Do Not Mount Your Phone to Your Motorcycle (Despite Apple’s Cool Ads)

Apple says two interesting, opposing things about the iPhone 13. One, an advertisement, says it’s the perfect phone for a dashing Spanish moto-scooter courier, guiding them to deliveries and meet-ups…

November 22, 2021

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

The Chips You Find In iFixit Teardowns, Part 1: Power Management

It’s a time-consuming investigation, requiring intuition, experience, wonky Googling, esoteric apps, and spec sheet PDFs. It results in a single rainbow-colored, data-stuffed teardown step. It’s called Chip ID, and you…

August 31, 2021

by Arthur Shi - iFixit

Tech News

Here’s Why PS5 Joysticks Drift (and Why They’ll Only Get Worse)

Mere months have passed since the PS5’s hotly anticipated launch, and already there’s a class-action lawsuit brewing over joystick drift on Sony’s high-tech DualSense controllers. Who could have seen this…

February 17, 2021

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

Ask iFixit: What Is Stretch Release Adhesive (and Why Do We Love It)?

There is a crucial point in every iFixit phone or tablet teardown where the future is about to take a drastic turn. It’s like right before the river card in…

October 28, 2020

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

How LiDAR Works, and Why It’s in the iPhone 12 Pro

How will Apple get people to upgrade to an iPhone 12, now that most of us are home all day and don’t need a portable powerhouse? The world’s most valuable…

October 22, 2020

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

Basic Skills: 5 Common Connectors and How to Handle Them!

July 23, 2020

by Kevin Purdy

How Tech Works

How Lawn Mowers Work

If you want to dip your toes into engine repair, fixing lawn mowers is a great place to start. They’re simple machines and make for great stepping stones toward tackling…

July 10, 2020

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit

Tech News

How Water Heaters Work

I enjoy hot showers, but since the water traveling into my house is only at ground temperature (read: cold), it needs to be heated up. This isn’t done at the…

July 8, 2020

by Craig Lloyd - iFixit