iPhone 4 image source Yutaka Tsutano under a Creative Commons License (Thank you Yutaka)
Pentalobular Screwdrivers and Pentalobe Screws for Sale Information

Information about your iPhone 4 and the issues concerning Apple's policy of replacement of original factory philips head screws with pentalobular screws.



Recently Apple made the decision to replace the Philips #00 screws holding your iPhone together with a fairly rare screw called a Pentalobe screw.  Early versions of the iPhone 4 in the United States were shipped with the Philips head screws while more recent shipments have the Pentalobe head screws.

Obstensibly, it appears the purpose is to thwart iPhone owners from opening their iPhones while producing a windfall of support dollars for Apple.

Compounding the issue, if you take your older iPhone 4 into an Apple store for service it has been reported that the service technicians will replace your Philips head screws with Pentalobe screws.  Thus, further infuriating the do-it-yourself crowd.

Some people mistakenly think that the new Pentalobe screws are Torx screws.  They are not.  A comparison of Pentalobe screws with Torx screws is shown to the right.  From the diagrams shown it is easy to spot the difference.

In the image above, taken from an iPhone 4, the Pentalobe screw has five "lobes" in which the correct screwdriver cinches into properly.

Usage of a Torx type screwdriver, with six sides, will most likely result in a reamed out Pentalobe screw head.  Thus, it is not advisable to try to "force" a Torx screwdriver into emergency duty on a Pentalobe screw head.

Where to buy Pentalobe screwdrivers:

Several venders indicate they carry Pentalobe screwdrivers, a partial listing of those vendors is as follows (please note, Pentalobe-Screwdrivers.com does not endorse any of the following vendors, nor do we claim any applicability of the following products to be applicable to any particular problem):

  • iFixit - iFixit supplies a kit containing a Pentalobe screwdriver, replacement Philips head screws, and a Philips head screwdriver.

  • Amazon - A Pentalobe screwdriver for sale by Silverhill Tools.

    Pics:


  • Amazon - A Pentalobe screwdriver from Wireless Finest with accessories designed to help you extract the screws more efficiently.

    Pics:


  • DirectFix - A Pentalobe screwdriver.



    • Pics:


  • SW-Box - Buy Pentalobe screwdrivers in bulk.

  • EBay - Several vendors are offering Pentalobe screwdrivers.

 
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Information about your iPhone 4 and the issues concerning Apple's policy of replacement of original factory philips head screws with pentalobular screws.