Apple’s iPhone 16 batteries look to be easier to replace than predecessors’
A June report via The Information said that Apple would introduce a new, easier way to replace batteries in the iPhone 16 as required by new regulations in the European Union. The EU is requires all smartphones to ensure that batteries can be replaced by users with easily accessible tools by June 2025 with some exemptions (see below).
Apple’s iPhone 16 press release confirms a change to make battery service easier:
The internal design of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus has been reengineered to allow for an even larger battery and to better dissipate heat, while making battery service easier.
We’ll need to wait for a teardown to confirm other battery changes, but The Information‘s report also said that Apple would use a different type of adhesive that’s easier to remove. Apple typically uses adhesive strips to hold the battery in place, and the adhesive is tough to deal with. The new method could involve an electrically induced adhesive debonding technology.
Using low voltage electricity to remove a battery would require a battery encased in metal, and images of an alleged iPhone 16 battery with a metal casing leaked late last year. Metal around the battery has the added benefit of improving thermal regulation. These internal battery changes will be able to be confirmed after the iPhone 16 models are released.
Apple’s mention of an easier to service battery is only in the iPhone 16 press release, and not in the press release for the iPhone 16 Pro, so it is not clear if all models have the same battery-related changes. Apple did, however, change the thermal design in both models, with the changes described during the keynote event.
MacDailyNews Take: The EU regulation also exempts devices with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating that retain 83 percent battery capacity after 500 full charges and 80 percent after 1000 charges from having easily replaceable batteries.
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