iFixit demonstrates simplified iPhone 16 battery replacement process

[Shawn Knight]

Bottom line: Replacing an iPhone's battery is now easier than ever thanks to a significant repairability improvement that debuted in Apple's latest handset. Most consumers will still need a trained professional to do the work for them, but the process itself is now less complex and risky.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus utilize a new type of adhesive that can debond when an electrical current passes through it. As outlined in Apple's repair guide, the process involves connecting a 9-volt battery to specific points inside the iPhone – the red lead goes to the silver tab on the battery and the black connector attaches to the grounding screw on the bottom speaker.

After at least 90 seconds, the adhesive should loosen and the battery can easily be removed from its cradle. Apple notes that adhesive debond time may increase as a battery ages, and that higher voltage application (up to 30 volts) will result in faster removal times.

We first heard about the new adhesive technology back in June. iFixit believes the tech comes from adhesive manufacturer Tesa, and we have no reason to doubt them. Technical details are available in iFixit's teardown but in the simplest terms, zapping the adhesive "oxidizes the negative / anode mating surface and loosens the adhesive from it."

The teardown specialists liken it to dipping one half of an Oreo cookie into milk, then twisting. The crème filling (adhesive) will always stick to the top cookie. That sure sounds more pleasant than fighting with sticky adhesive and pull tabs.

According to iFixit, the hi-tech adhesive is only in the base model iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It is not clear why the Pro and Pro Max models don't use the same tech – perhaps Apple wanted to trial the new adhesive in the real world on a smaller subset of devices first. As they say, putting all of your eggs in one basket is rarely a good idea.

Cracking open the iPhone 16 still remains a challenge for the average consumer, but at least the path forward is now easier once inside.

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iFixit demonstrates simplified iPhone 16 battery replacement process

 

[Shaitan]

Starting with 2027, they'll HAVE to make all their devices with user-removal batteries.
Despite their screaming and moaning, they'll have to comply, under EU rules.

 

[Vanderlinde]

Starting with 2027, they'll HAVE to make all their devices with user-removal batteries.
Despite their screaming and moaning, they'll have to comply, under EU rules.

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

Then keep using the specialist. Don't demand that everyone who can remove a battery be forced to do the same just because you are uncomfortable doing so. Literally all phones had them removable 12 years ago.

 

[AlexIL]

I hope EU also invents way that requires company to have at least one model that is actually the size of a phone and mot glorified small tv screen. Finally after years of being unable to replace battery we getting this again. Good job EU.

 

[TheBigT42]

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

Yes having proprietary batteries with chips in them to force people to use APPLE parts that APPLE wont sell to most people is a great model

 

[VariableSpike]

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

My old Nokia that I had when I was younger 12 years or so ago gad a removable battery and had no problem surviving water, or...anything really, meanwhile we now treat phones like they are made of sugar paper and like they will fall apartnin 5 seconds flat, don't understand why the market / consumers has decided that having something that is a pain in the *** to repair (and so will get binned in many cases as ewaste) is a good thing just so their phone can be slightly slimmer...

Removable batteries is absolutely a good thing and it shows how much phone manufacturers rely on a well jammed in battery for forcing a level of planned obsolesence and making it much more likely that someone will think about a new phone even when their current phone might be more than enough otherwise

 

[NotYourITguy]

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

Your post is all about taking away consumer choice. If you don't want to replace your battery and would rather spend $1000 because your battery can no longer hold a charge, that is your choice. For the rest of us that would like reasonable options such as replacing a known disposable component, we would very much like replaceable batteries.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I hope EU also invents way that requires company to have at least one model that is actually the size of a phone and mot glorified small tv screen. Finally after years of being unable to replace battery we getting this again. Good job EU.

Problem is nobody buys them. The market has already spoken on tiny phones. The iphone mini made up a whopping 3% of apple's total sales, android like the Z1 compact and galaxy mini are sales disasters. Kinda like manual transmissions in cars, everyone wants one, but nobody buys one.

 

[SnipeD]

I use both, 13 mini and six speed manual.

 

[Fanboiism101]

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I don't know how incapable you are as a user, but I regularly replace my phone's battery when the other is running out of juice, and I'm too lazy to wait for it to charge. It's an easy 5 seconds steps with my LG V20.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

People have been using phone in the shower or bathtub even before they become water resistant or whatever it is. Get a ziplock bag you are good to go. Why would you have your phone in hand when you are showering?
Get a strap or something so you don't have to drop it.

 

[p51d007]

If it wasn't for CONVINCING everyone you just HAVE to have an ip68 rating on your phone, and the fact they WANT you to not be able to do it, so you'll be "talked" into an upgrade again and again.
I just wish they would go back to plastic backs. Heck, most people keep their phones in a protective case because they are slippery with most glass back and they are expensive!

 

[Nobina]

I'd say that is a downgrade, not a upgrade. Please let folks who have certain expertise into dissecting iphone's as the tech is extremely small and difficult to handle.

I always return my phone to a specialist, because I want to use my phone afterwards in the shower, or on accident drop it into the bucket of waste water without it failing to work.

Do you like using a hairdryer in shower too?

 

[Vanderlinde]

Your post is all about taking away consumer choice. If you don't want to replace your battery and would rather spend $1000 because your battery can no longer hold a charge, that is your choice. For the rest of us that would like reasonable options such as replacing a known disposable component, we would very much like replaceable batteries.

Bro replacing one costs you 40$ (immitation) or 120$ for original.

 

[trgz]

"easier than ever" - that rather implies it was easy once.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Bro replacing one costs you 40$ (immitation) or 120$ for original.

And with a proper design it takes all of 10 seconds to swap out. You dont need a specialist.

"easier than ever" - that rather implies it was easy once.

It was. Back in the day it was a matter of removing screws and the whole body came apart. It wasnt until they started using copious amounts of tar that it became an issue.

 

[Vanderlinde]

And with a proper design it takes all of 10 seconds to swap out. You dont need a specialist.

It was. Back in the day it was a matter of removing screws and the whole body came apart. It wasnt until they started using copious amounts of tar that it became an issue.

Back in the days your phone could not survive a drop in water. Could not survive lots of things to be fair. The situation you imply would no longer make your phone water or corrosion resistant.

I'd prefer paying for having my battery replaced and having my phone being completely water resistant up to a few meters deep.

 

[AlexIL]

Problem is nobody buys them. The market has already spoken on tiny phones. The iphone mini made up a whopping 3% of apple's total sales, android like the Z1 compact and galaxy mini are sales disasters. Kinda like manual transmissions in cars, everyone wants one, but nobody buys one.

Apple utterly lied to us regarding Mini sales. It's hugely popular over here and became next to impossible to find once Apple discontinued them. iPhone Mini were a direct contradiction to their mediocre SE series. They couldn't sell trash SE when Mini was an option as obvious choice to go to was Mini. Until today there's bucket loads of regular iPhones on sale but these who has Mini not selling them as there's no worthy substitute. I personally sick and tired of TV sized phones and waiting for some company to release anything sized less than 5" so far nothing available.