With that, we go to work. Our iOpener was nearly rendered irrelevant by the heat wave here on the west coast—we probably could've just left both phones outside for a spell to soften the adhesive.

While the adhesive remains annoyingly tough, the stakes are a little lower with the plastic back on the base Note 20—it feels more pliable and less likely to accidentally shatter under stress.

You can debate in the comments whether a $1,000 phone should be clothed in plastic, but repairability-wise, it's probably a net win.

That said, if you favor a heat gun for repairs, check your settings carefully. Glass can take a lot of hot, but this plastic will soften and warp unless you're careful.

Next, some careful iSclack and opening pick action—and both back covers lift free cleanly, without booby-traps. This teardown is officially underway.