The iPhone 16 is the most-repairable iPhone yet, according to iFixit

The new iPhone is out, which means it's time for the iFixit repair team to get out their screwdrivers, take the new iPhone apart, and assess its repairability. This year, it's good news for those who like to repair their own devices, as there have been several improvements aimed at making it easier to fix.

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First up is a big change to the adhesive holding the battery down. Previously, Apple used strips to hold the battery in place, and the idea was that you carefully grabbed the free end, pulled on it, and that would free the battery.

Well, that was the plan, but the reality was that the strip would break, and you'd end up prying on the battery and hoping it didn't rupture and blow up in your face. Apple has now switched to an adhesive that can be debonded by applying a 9–12V DC current across either side of the mating surface, allowing the adhesive to release its grip on the battery.

Apple's repair documents show a method using a 9V battery, but the folks at iFixit used 12V from their new FixHub soldering station to debond the battery, a process that took only a minute. Simple.

Next up, the battery's soft, plastic pouch has been swapped out for a hard steel case reminiscent of that found in the Apple Watch.

This simple upgrade prevents unexpected battery detonations from the slip of a screwdriver or pry bar, dramatically improving safety.

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Finally, having to remove a fragile, expensive display in order to change a battery makes no sense. Apple changed this for a design that allows entry to the innards of the phone from either the front or the back for the base iPhone 14, but it has taken two generations for Apple to bring that to the Pro line. This is now here for the Pro and Pro Max too, making common repairs such as battery swaps or port changes a lot easier.

iFixit awarded the iPhone 16 a repairability score of 7, a huge improvement over the 4 that the iPhone 15 was given, and the best score to date for an iPhone. It's a good score, but there's still room for improvement.