Apple Says iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Batteries Can Be Removed With Low-Voltage Electrical Current

Wednesday September 18, 2024 6:04 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple has confirmed to publications including Engadget that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a new electrically-induced battery removal process.

iphone 16 design
The batteries use a type of adhesive that can be loosened with low-voltage electrical current, such as from a 9V battery, according to Apple. The battery can then be easily removed from the devices, with this new process considered to be easier than the adhesive pull tabs that are found under batteries in some previous iPhone models.

This news seemingly confirms that the batteries in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have metal enclosures, which should be revealed in teardowns soon.

Notably, the electrically-induced battery removal process does not extend to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, according to TechCrunch.

It was previously reported that Apple was planning to make the batteries easier to remove in iPhone 16 models to comply with EU law. Apple previously announced that all four iPhone 16 models received an internal redesign for improved repairability and better heat dissipation, but specific details were not known until now.

All four iPhone 16 models launch on Friday.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16

Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

WarmWinterHat

27 months ago

Spent all of elementary school practicing for this moment.

Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)

vegetassj4

27 months ago

me trying to replace the iPhone battery with my homemade step down transformer

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

krspkbl

27 months ago

that seems awfully complicated.

there is no reason we can't go back to the way old phones connected batteries.

if they are worried about the battery moving then have it clip in or stick a tiny bit of adhesive but it shouldn't really be an issue... it's not like the battery has any space to move lol. that way all you gotta do is remove the screen and easily pull the battery out.

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

con2apple

27 months ago

That damn EU. Instead of investing in camera or battery life, Apple had to make battery replacement easier.

If you're angry about the tiny upgrade, direct your hatred at the European Parliament. This would never have been possible in the States.

/s

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

CarAnalogy

27 months ago

that seems awfully complicated.

there is no reason we can't go back to the way old phones connected batteries.

if they are worried about the battery moving then have it clip in or stick a tiny bit of adhesive but it shouldn't really be an issue... it's not like the battery has any space to move lol. that way all you gotta do is remove the screen and easily pull the battery out.

The thickness of that phone is a reason. People already complain about weight. Also, that phone is dead if it gets hit with any water.

I get where you're coming from, but I don't think plastic backed phones are gonna fly with the vast majority of people anymore. They could make the back easier to get off, but with all the magnetic charging and fancy stuff in there now, it seems about as easy as it could be. It's going to be more complicated no matter how you slice it because the phone itself is just more complicated now.

As for this glue specifically, it sounds like an improvement if it comes off easily and cleanly, which seems to have been an issue in many teardowns I've seen. With the tiny spaces they're working with, to be able to use a small precise amount helps a lot.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MayaUser

27 months ago

did you hear this Samsung? please copy paste on your next models

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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Apple Says iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Batteries Can Be Removed With Low-Voltage Electrical Current

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