Apple has introduced a few major lineups, but none are as notable as the new battery removal process in the base iPhone 16. Apple is ditching the traditional pull tabs and using an adhesive that releases in response to a low current. According to Apple, it only takes about a minute and a half to remove. Our teardown shows the process in action, and it looks easier than ever. “I don’t know if a battery removal process has ever been this clean and smooth,” said iFixit technician Shahram Mokhtari.
The new adhesive is exclusive to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which earned a 7 out of 10 on iFixit’s repairability scale. “Apple is definitely leveling up on repairability,” Mokhtari said, adding that Apple “scored another repairability win” with this year’s entry-level iPhones thanks to the new battery removal process.
