Apple is reportedly working on a new system to easily replace the battery of an iPhone

Replacing an iPhone battery is no easy task. First, you have to be able to open the smartphone without breaking everything. And arriving in front of the battery, you have to fight against the adhesive in the hope that the component does not explode. Apple is reportedly working on a new system that will make it easier to remove the battery.

It is not easy to replace the battery of a iPhone. To avoid accidents, Apple strongly recommends going through one of its stores or an approved repairer, who have all the necessary tools (and expertise) to carry out this delicate operation. Through its self-service repair shop, the manufacturer also offers certified batteries, as well as the possibility of renting specialized tools.

An electrical impulse to remove the battery

Apple would like to go even further. According to the site The Information, the company is working on a new system to easily remove a battery from its housing. Current models are stuck to the chassis with adhesive strips, making them awkward to remove. The company’s idea is as follows: detachment using an electrical impulse. It would be enough to administer a small electrical impulse to the battery for it to separate from the chassis.

This would require a change in the material for the battery casing. Out with aluminum, in with stainless steel, which also recalls an indiscretion from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. If Apple were to launch this new process, it would be an iPhone 16 model that would benefit from it, while the technology is tested; then, all iPhone 17s would be equipped with it.

Read iPhone 16 Pro Max: a denser battery for more autonomy

Glue is one of the main difficulties that repairers face, and any initiative to replace it is welcome. But that’s only part of the problem: sure, the battery would be easier to remove, but before you can do that you still have to open the iPhone and remove the components that prevent access to the battery. And it’s still just as complicated!

Making it easier to replace batteries is also one of the EU’s requirements: a text voted on in June 2023 by the European Parliament requires manufacturers to integrate batteries that are easily replaceable by consumers, without going through an approved repairer. Apple still has a few years to comply, but it’s not going to waste any time.