Pentalobe screw

This article is about the screw head used in Apple products. For the Torx Plus five-lobed security screw, see Torx. For the self-tapping screw thread, see Pentalobular screw thread.
Pentalobe screw
Inception2009
ManufacturerApple
Notes
Tamper resistant screw
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Two pentalobe screws left and right of the lightning connector of an iPhone 6S Plus

The pentalobe security screw[1] (Apple nomenclature), or pentalobe screw drive, is a five-pointed tamper-resistant system used by, but not limited to, Apple in their products.[1] Pentalobe screws were adopted by Apple starting in 2009, when they were first implemented in the 15-inch MacBook Pro. They have since been used on other MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iPhone models. Apple attracted criticism upon the introduction of the pentalobe screw; it was seen by some as an attempt to lock individuals out of their devices.[2] In response, inexpensive pentalobe screwdrivers, manufactured by third parties, have become relatively easy to obtain.[3]

Pentalobe screw sizes include TS1 (0.8 mm, used on every iPhone starting with the iPhone 4s), TS4 (1.2 mm, used on the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro with Retina display), and TS5 (1.5 mm, used on the 2009 MacBook Pro battery). The TS designation is ambiguous as it is also used for the Torq-set screw drive.

  1. ^ a b Wiens, Kyle (January 20, 2011). "Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone". ifixit.com. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  2. ^ Foresman, Chris (January 20, 2011). "Apple 'screwing' new iPhones out of simple DIY repair". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Ray, Bill (January 24, 2011). "The cost of beating Apple's shrewd screws? £2". The Register. Retrieved February 14, 2018.