The Apple iPhone 16 is the easiest iPhone to repair ever – iFixit

iFixit team disassembled the latest iPhone 16 and called it “the easiest iPhone to repair so far”. This is mainly due to a series of improvements made by Apple to the machine’s internal structure, including using a new adhesive to hold the battery in place.

For years, iFixit has criticized Apple’s devices for being difficult to repair. Even with the ability to replace internal components, parts pairing issues mean they don’t work correctly. However, with the release of the iPhone 16, Apple seems to be working hard to make its devices more accessible to repair.

The iFixit team discovered that the iPhone 16 uses a new “sticky glue” to hold the battery in place. This special glue degums when a small amount of current passes through it, allowing the iFixit team to remove the battery quickly. This method is much better than the pull-tab adhesive previously used by Apple, making battery replacement faster and easier.

iFixit’s iPhone 16 teardown also shows that Apple uses iron heatsinks to provide better heat dissipation for the A18 chip. Interestingly, it covers only half of the SoC, presumably the area where the Neural Engine is located.

The iFixit team discovered that the new camera control buttons were laser welded to the phone’s frame. So, if the button is broken, you need to replace the phone’s frame. iFixit also praised Apple’s repair manual.

As a result of all these changes, the iPhone 16 received a serviceability score of 7 out of 10, which is much higher than the iPhone 15’s 4. The team also highlighted the phone’s dual-entry design, easy access to multiple parts, and independent access to the battery for quick and easy service.

Apple seems to be working hard to make its devices more accessible to repair than before, likely due to regulatory pressure, but ultimately benefiting consumers.