Category: How Tech Works

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

The Secrets Behind Samsung’s Privacy Screen

We tear down the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra to uncover the hardware behind its built-in OLED privacy screen. See how this anti-snooping tech works.

July 27, 2026

by Shahram Mokhtari - iFixit

How Tech Works

TMI about TMR

If you’ve followed our gaming-related teardowns over the previous years, you probably know that we have strong opinions when it comes to joysticks. Time and time again, we’ve taken apart…

March 2, 2026

by Manuel Haeussermann - iFixit

Tech News

Okay, So Apple’s Using 3D Printing in the iPhone Air. But How?

We take another look at the iPhone Air and try to figure out how Apple 3D printed the USB-C port.

November 19, 2025

by Shahram Mokhtari - iFixit

How Tech Works

Why Laptop Batteries Can’t Get Any Bigger (For Now)

No matter how fast powerful laptops get, and no matter how ridiculously big and beefy a portable gaming rig might be, their batteries are basically stuck at their current size.…

May 6, 2025

by Charlie Sorrel - iFixit

Brain Candy

Decoding Electronic Components in CT Scans: Capacitors, Resistors, and More

In Part 2 of our series on how to read CT scans, we're taking a look at some common components that you might find inside electronic devices.

May 5, 2025

by Shahram Mokhtari - iFixit

Tech News

Why’d Apple Bother Making Its Own Modem?

When the iPhone 16e arrived at iFixit HQ today, we immediately sent it in for some intense surgery. For the first time ever, our teardown day started with a little…

February 28, 2025

by Charlie Sorrel - iFixit

Legislation

Why Your Laptop Batteries Are Still So Tiny

No matter how fast powerful laptops get, and no matter how ridiculously big and beefy a portable gaming rig might be, their batteries will never be any bigger than they…

November 18, 2024

by Charlie Sorrel - iFixit

How Tech Works

How To Stop Your Devices From Being So Annoying

Home appliances and portable devices all contribute to a kind of notification pollution. Our gadgets are too annoying, and it's time to make them stop.

November 16, 2024

by Charlie Sorrel - iFixit

How Tech Works

What Is mAh and Why Is It Bad for Measuring Battery Capacity?

tl;dr: If you’re comparing smartphone batteries, the mAh values will usually work. Otherwise, look for a battery’s watt-hour (Wh) value to get a more universal capacity rating. This is the…

September 19, 2024

by Arthur Shi - iFixit

How Tech Works

Why Is Your Old Phone Battery Swollen?

Tell me if this sounds familiar: You just got a shiny new phone! Your old phone still works, so you chuck it in a drawer as “backup” and promptly forget…

August 1, 2024

by Arthur Shi - iFixit