iPhone 16e iFixit teardown reveals easier battery replacement

The iPhone 16e features “electrically released adhesive under the battery,” first seen in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. Elizabeth Chamberlain said, “It has the cool electrically released adhesive under the battery that we saw in the vanilla and Plus iPhone 16 models.”

She added, “The new electrically released adhesive, on the other hand, is basically fool-proof: hook some alligator clips supplying 9–30V DC up to a special conductive tab and a screw post, and the adhesive disengages quickly and cleanly.”

With iFixit’s VoltClip at 12V, “the battery is free in just 5 seconds,” a leap over stretch-release adhesives that “tend to break off” or require prying. Batteries degrade over time, so easy swaps matter. Apple promises “up to 26 hours of video playback,” hinting at fewer charge cycles and a longer-lasting battery.

Thanks to Right to Repair laws in Oregon and Colorado, Apple has softened software restrictions. Chamberlain noted, “We didn’t see any parts pairing issues when we swapped logic boards”—at least with OEM parts, where “Repair Assistant worked as advertised.” This marks a repair-friendly shift.

Repairability: 7/10 Score The iPhone 16e scores a provisional “7 out of 10” for repairability, matching the iPhone 16 lineup, pending spare parts. Chamberlain praised the “dual-entry design” from the iPhone 14 and the C1’s potential for battery life. Still, she noted, “There’s not much worth writing home about here, especially with the increased price,” suggesting refurbished buys over upgrades.