The first teardown of the iPhone 16 shows that there are a number of improvements when it comes to repairability. You need to know this!
iPhone 16 teardown: repair is easier
The iPhone 16 series includes several repairability improvements. Perhaps the most important change in hardware is a new type of battery adhesive. This makes it easier and safer to replace the battery when the frame is removed from the iPhone.
iFixit video
iFixit demonstrates this in action in the first iPhone 16 teardown video, which you can watch below. Applying a low-voltage electrical current causes the adhesive holding the battery to loosen. The battery then pops neatly out of the iPhone’s chassis. This is all very simple and is a significant improvement over previous iPhone batteries.
Previous iPhone batteries were glued in place with regular glue. You had to remove it using four stretchable adhesive strips. That is quite difficult and sometimes the strips break. In that case, you have no choice but to remove the battery with a tool. If the battery is damaged during this process, there is a significant risk of a fire.
The iPhone 16 teardown video shows that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are currently equipped with this new repair process. The batteries in the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max still have the old well-known stretchable adhesive strips. However, the batteries themselves are now in a new metal housing.
If all continues to go well with the iPhone 16, it is not unlikely that the new electrical glue will be rolled out to all iPhone models (and perhaps other Apple devices as well) in the coming years. Especially now that in April of this year the ‘Right to repairlaw has been passed.
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