Highlights
- The iPhone 16 stands out for its easy repairability and battery replacement.
- iFixit’s teardown reveals new electric adhesive technology in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
- The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max remain harder to repair but feature larger batteries and enhanced durability.
iPhone 16 launch may have received a lacklustre response leaving many Apple fans underwhelmed, but there are certain aspects where the new iPhones are scoring well. Easy repairability is one such aspect. Many experts and reviewers have already pointed it out and now with every new analysis, we are just getting confirmation that iPhone 16 might be the most easily repairable iPhone in years.
A recent teardown of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus by iFixit also reaffirms this. The video demonstrates how these new iPhone models are significantly easier to repair especially when it comes to battery replacement.
We have the new electric adhesive technology to thank for this.
This improvement earned Apple its highest-ever repairability score for the iPhone.
The teardown showed that Apple is using a special adhesive that makes removing the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus batteries rather easy. By applying an electrical current through the adhesive, it quickly loses its stickiness. This allows technicians to swap out the battery easily. It is also less time-consuming to replace iPhone 16 batteries.
In fact, the iFixit video does it in about 90 seconds.
“The dual-entry design, first introduced on the 14 series, remains very elegant. Once inside, lots of components are independently accessible with little to no additional disassembly. The layout is smart, prioritizing access to critical repairs like battery and camera replacement. In past models, it was normal to see, for example, battery pull tabs blocked by a Taptic Engine, which was blocked by a speaker, which was blocked by a big grounding bracket—all of that having to come out in sequence. The 16’s design offers independent access to the battery, the speaker, the Taptic Engine, cameras, display, back cover, and so on. It’s really thoughtfully laid out.” – iFixit.
Apple recommends using a simple 9V battery with two alligator clip cables to complete the process. This earned the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus an impressive 7/10 repairability score from iFixit.
However, the electric adhesive is only available on the regular iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
Higher-end models, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max don’t have this technology.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a metallic battery casing. The top model Pro Max does not have the same case, which may be in preparation for upcoming EU battery regulations.
Another Popular YouTuber JerryRigEverything put the iPhone 16 Pro Max through a series of durability tests. This included a scratch test, a brutal fire test, and bend tests from several angles. While the phone did pick up some scratches, it survived all other challenges.
The teardown also highlighted some interesting battery changes.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 9.4% larger battery compared to last year’s model. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus saw increases of 6.3% and 6.6%, respectively.
The metallic battery design in the iPhone 16 Pro is believed to help with heat dissipation and could lead to higher battery densities in future models.
Apple has definitely improved repairability for some models. But this is limited to iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus only. The absence of the electric adhesive in Pro models makes them still harder to repair.
Overall, the iPhone 16 lineup showcases new technology and increased durability. It is surely making these iPhones more user-friendly for repairs.
FAQs
Q1. What makes the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus more easily repairable?
Answer. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature new electric adhesive technology that allows for easy battery replacement by applying an electric current to remove the adhesive, earning them high repairability scores.
Q2. Do the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max also have easy repairability?
Answer. No, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max do not feature an electric adhesive technology, making them harder to repair. They do, however, have larger batteries and enhanced durability.
Read More: iPhone 16 Brings Improvements in Repairability, Including Simpler Battery Replacements