The iPhone 16 and its Plus version have been launched, lacking the new battery shield found in the higher-end 16 Pro and Pro Max models. However, the standard versions of this flagship series offer a unique feature that may compensate for this absence.
New Battery Repair Guide
Apple has introduced a fresh iPhone 16 Battery Repair Guide, which reveals that the battery is secured with electrically-induced adhesive instead of the usual pull-tabs. According to Apple, users can effectively "hot-wire" this adhesive using just a simple 9V battery and red and black crocodile clips.
To perform this process, one clip must connect to a new silver tab on the battery, while the other should attach to a grounding screw located on the nearby speaker array.
iFixit Confirmation
iFixit has validated this method through its latest iPhone 16 teardown video, indicating that it can also work with other power sources up to 30W, including certain power banks. The innovative battery adhesive, believed to be provided by Tesa, is notably difficult to remove without utilizing its electrochemical properties, as noted by Phone Repair Guru in another teardown of the 16 series.
Repairability Score
Despite these challenges, the new feature has granted the iPhone 16 series an iFixit repairability score of 7 out of 10. The 16 Pro and Pro Max have yet to match this score due to their conventional pull-tabs, making it unlikely for them to achieve a similar rating for ease of repair in the near future.
