As your iPhone ages, its lithium-ion battery also degrades, resulting in a decreased capacity to hold a charge. This means that over time, you may find yourself needing to charge your phone more frequently throughout the day.
Fortunately, you don’t have to buy a new iPhone when this happens. Instead, you can opt to replace the battery at a relatively affordable cost. Not only will this potentially increase the time you can go without charging, but it may also improve your device’s performance. iOS tends to slow down the processing power of iPhones with degraded batteries.
Replacing the battery yourself is possible but can be challenging. Apple secures the battery inside most iPhones with strong adhesive, making it difficult to remove without breaking the tabs. Additionally, delicate cables need to be detached and reattached during the process. While it is feasible to replace the battery on your own, taking it to a repair shop is a simpler option. Apple recommends using their authorized repair centers.
However, some iPhone 16 models, including the newly released iPhone 16e, have made the battery replacement process notably easier.
Some iPhone 16s use a different adhesive
The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16e come with a new type of battery adhesive that simplifies repairs. Although it may not appear different at first glance, the battery tab should not be pulled immediately after prying open the back case. Instead, an electric current needs to be applied to the adhesive holding the battery for 60 seconds. This current effectively loosens the battery, allowing you to gently remove it using the tab. Gravity alone could even remove the battery due to its loose state.
According to iFixit, this technology works by oxidizing the adhesive with the electric current, breaking the bonds that make the glue adhesive. While the technical details may be complex, it is an impressive and innovative solution that enhances the safety and ease of replacing the battery in iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16e models.
Apple’s decision to introduce this change is likely influenced by an EU law requiring smartphones to have replaceable batteries by 2027. Europe has had a significant impact on Apple’s recent decisions, leading to the opening of closed platforms and the allowance of independent app stores and browsers on iOS.
However, if you own an iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max, the battery replacement process remains challenging. These models still use Apple’s traditional battery adhesive, making battery replacement just as difficult as before. It is unclear why Apple chose to exclude the new adhesive from the Pro phones, but it is possible that they are testing the technology on select devices before implementing it across their entire lineup. Perhaps the upcoming iPhone 17 series, including the Pro models, will feature easily removable batteries. For now, the benefits of the new adhesive are limited to the more affordable iPhone 16 models.
The iPhone 16e has some added repairability
In addition to the new adhesive, Apple has introduced additional repairability features in the iPhone 16e. Most notably, the company has issued a manual specifically for repairing the USB-C charging port on this particular iPhone. This is the first time Apple has provided a guide for such a repair.
However, as reported by iFixit, this repair is not easy. It involves removing various iPhone components, including the back glass, front camera, top speaker, and battery, among others. The logic board must also be lifted to access the USB-C port for repair. While this was the procedure before, Apple now acknowledges the complexity of the repair with a step-by-step guide.
Furthermore, opening the back cover of the iPhone 16e is less delicate. One of the metal clips that secure the back cover now protects an important flex cable. With previous iPhones, there was a risk of damaging this cable while opening the back case with pick tools. However, the clip in the iPhone 16e ensures that the cable remains undamaged during the process.
