In addition to a completely new design and interesting functionalities, the new devices Apple I bring another novelty that will certainly matter a lot in a few years. The iPhone 16 battery is easier to replace than any previous model. Apple has made internal changes to the iPhone 16 design to facilitate battery replacement, as required by a new European Union law. This law, which will take effect in June 2025, requires smartphone manufacturers to allow easy replacement of batteries with tools accessible to users.
Design changes inside the iPhone 16 include better heat dissipation and the use of an easier-to-remove adhesive, made possible by electrically induced peel-off technology. Also, the company Apple says the battery is encased in metal, which also improves thermal management.
Apple mentioned these changes only for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models, without clarifying whether the iPhone 16 Pro models also benefit from the same improvements. Instead, the iPhone 16 Pro models have a new recycled aluminum case and a structure that increases performance by up to 20%.
Although there are exceptions in EU law for water and dust resistant devices, Apple must still meet certain battery replacement requirements even if the iPhone 16 meets the exception criteria.
Related: When to replace your iPhone battery and how much it costs.
The fact that the battery of iPhone 16 devices is easier to replace is good news for users. Over time, when the battery's performance declines, they will be able to change it themselves, without having to call an authorized service center and incur additional labor costs.
