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Apple Shares Full iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Repair Manuals

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Following today's launch of the new iPhone 16 models, Apple has shared repair manuals for the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The repair manuals provide technical instructions on replacing genuine Apple parts in the iPhone 16 models, and Apple says the information is intended for "individual technicians" that have the "knowledge, experience, and tools" that are necessary to repair electronic devices.

apple-iphone-battery-repair.png

Apple has support documents on the tools that are required for various repairs, and while the iPhone 16 tools aren't yet available on Apple's Self Service Repair website, they'll likely be added soon.

Compared to prior iPhone models, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are easier to repair. Apple is using an electric battery removal process, and the steps for accessing a battery to replace it are outlined in a separate support document. Per Apple's instructions, a 9-volt battery and 9-volt battery clips can be applied to the iPhone 16 battery to remove the adhesive that holds it in place.

Note that the simpler electricity-based battery removal process is limited to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. For the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, Apple is using standard adhesive tabs that need to be carefully pulled to release the battery.

Apple's instructions for all of the battery repairs include expensive equipment like an iPhone battery press to put a replacement battery back in place. The cost of the tools required for device repair and the cost of genuine components make self repair almost as expensive as getting a repair from an Apple retail location or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, so these manuals are really aimed at independent repair shops rather than individual consumers.

Apple made other changes to the iPhone 16 models this year to improve repairability, enabling on-device configuration for the Face ID camera, allowing LiDAR Scanner repair, and offering support for swapping the TrueDepth camera modules between iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.

In addition to offering repair instructions, Apple's manuals provide some insight into the internal structure of the new iPhones that we often don't see until there are device teardowns. The iPhone 16 Pro, for example, has a metal casing for the battery, a change made for thermal reasons, and both Pro models have new casing structure that improves heat dissipation.

Article Link: Apple Shares Full iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Repair Manuals
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/20/iphone-16-repair-manual/
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... while the iPhone 16 tools aren't yet available on Apple's Self Service Repair website, they'll likely be added soon.

Per Apple's instructions, a 9-volt battery and 9-volt battery clips can be applied to the iPhone 16 battery to remove the adhesive that holds it in place.
Click to expand...
I wonder how much Apple will attempt to charge us for a 9-volt battery and 9-volt battery clips, $39.99?
 
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Reactions: CharlieBoyWoof, rain111, swiftapplefan and 7 others
Seems simple enough, once you buy the $15k worth of “required” equipment. /s
 
I didn’t read the whole thing… But, “sand” is a required tool, yet is not mentioned in the instructions? Very confused lol.
 
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This is pretty slick. I’m guessing they went to this new adhesive to increase the thin-ness of the design vs the 3M style pull-tab adhesive.

I know people complain that batteries need to be easily replaceable, but the truth is they are and have been the whole time. This is pretty low level on the skill chart for any tech service repair. The real issue is maintaining the seal when closing the phone back up after. And the other real issue being parts availability via a right to repair. Swapping a battery is one thing, being able to obtain a proper manufacturer battery or screen or other component by an end user for a reasonable price through an official channel and all that…. That’s the biggest issue.
mrat93 said:
I didn’t read the whole thing… But, “sand” is a required tool, yet is not mentioned in the instructions? Very confused lol.
Click to expand...
It’s precautionary…
 
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mrat93 said:
I didn’t read the whole thing… But, “sand” is a required tool, yet is not mentioned in the instructions? Very confused lol.
Click to expand...
Was wondering what on earth you'd want sand for (not something you'd want getting introduced inside the phone). Perhaps a "If all else fails, please go pound sand." at the end of the instructions? ;)

As others have pointed out, for potential battery issues...
 
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AppliedVisual said:
I know people complain that batteries need to be easily replaceable, but the truth is they are and have been the whole time. This is pretty low level on the skill chart for any tech service repair. The real issue is maintaining the seal when closing the phone back up after. And the other real issue being parts availability via a right to repair. Swapping a battery is one thing, being able to obtain a proper manufacturer battery or screen or other component by an end user for a reasonable price through an official channel and all that…. That’s the biggest issue.

It’s precautionary…
Click to expand...
Easy replaceable are batteries of a Maglite.
So there is a long way to go
 
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I wonder how easy it'll be to fry the circuit by connecting the battery to the wrong place. This is genius, Apple makes it easier to change the batteries, but a lot easier to fry the mother board. Full iPhone replacement at that point.
 
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I don't understand this. I've come across a variety of techniques to hold batteries in place:
1) The simplest type like on old radios and stuff, where you insert cells into a spring-compressed chamber and then close the battery door.
2) Rechargable easily replaceable batts like on my old iBook G3/700 which had a button you'd press and the battery would pop out. Thinkpad I had used a similar technique.

Couldn't Apple just use a couple of screws to hold the pack in place? Or a clip?

Why has Apple used glue and this technique to hold a battery?
 
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capamac said:
Couldn't Apple just use a couple of screws to hold the pack in place? Or a clip?

Why has Apple used glue and this technique to hold a battery?
Click to expand...
Because, thin. That’s the reason for the glue and it holds more solid than a clip or other retaining mechanism.

Simple screws to hold the back in place or the shell together is how they used to do it. But the goal here is to maintain the thin, light, minimalist nature while also providing a device that is environmentally sealed. I’m not saying the trend toward the thin aspect is what everyone wants, bit this is where we are. In some ways I miss the old days of being able to pop on a fresh battery, but at the same time I also appreciate the current phones being watertight. It was mentioned above that batteries in a Maglite (common brand of flashlight) are easily replaceable and there’s still a long way to go. Sure... But that’s not the paradigm that’s being designed for and a complex personal computing device is a far cry from a flashlight.
 
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gaximus said:
I wonder how easy it'll be to fry the circuit by connecting the battery to the wrong place. This is genius, Apple makes it easier to change the batteries, but a lot easier to fry the mother board. Full iPhone replacement at that point.
Click to expand...

I was in the repair business. Navigating an idiot's basic mistakes was a part of the job. I'd open up a phone and find missing parts, mangled connectors, ripped cabled, masking tape, solder blobs. You name it, people were able to botch it.
 
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JitteryJimmy said:
I was in the repair business. Navigating an idiot's basic mistakes was a part of the job. I'd open up a phone and find missing parts, mangled connectors, ripped cabled, masking tape, solder blobs. You name it, people were able to botch it.
Click to expand...
And they all claimed that they never opened the phone themselves right? 😂
 
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capamac said:
I don't understand this. I've come across a variety of techniques to hold batteries in place:
1) The simplest type like on old radios and stuff, where you insert cells into a spring-compressed chamber and then close the battery door.
2) Rechargable easily replaceable batts like on my old iBook G3/700 which had a button you'd press and the battery would pop out. Thinkpad I had used a similar technique.

Couldn't Apple just use a couple of screws to hold the pack in place? Or a clip?

Why has Apple used glue and this technique to hold a battery?
Click to expand...

Because of safety reasons. The ideas you propose are not entirely safe.

When Li-ion packs are charged, they expand slightly. If the cells are defective, the pack may increase in pressure and expand. In both cases, this means the electrodes can more easily short circuit and result in thermal runaway. One of the reasons why Note 7 fires happened is lack of space.

Something screwed or clipped down does not provide space to expand.
 
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How is it that the battery can be released with electricity and then removed, but putting one back in requires a "battery press?"

Something screwed or clipped down does not provide space to expand.
Click to expand...
Screwed down, maybe. Clipped? That sounds like a lot better way to allow expansion than glue.
 
MobiusStrip said:
How is it that the battery can be released with electricity and then removed, but putting one back in requires a "battery press?"
Click to expand...

The press keeps a sustained amount of pressure for a few minutes to fully activate the adhesive. This is normal procedure for any kind of adhesive.

MobiusStrip said:
Screwed down, maybe. Clipped? That sounds like a lot better way to allow expansion than glue.
Click to expand...

It's not glue, it's a stretchable adhesive strip, similar to a Fruit Roll-Up. Both screws and clips are rigid attachment methods and do not allow for expansion. They also have small contact points, increasing stress. Apple engineers thought about this.
 
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JPack said:
It's not glue, it's a stretchable adhesive strip, similar to a Fruit Roll-Up. Both screws and clips are rigid attachment methods and do not allow for expansion. They also have small contact points, increasing stress. Apple engineers thought about this.
Click to expand...
What solution would be possible in 2027, when user swappable batteries become mandatory to sell smartphones and other devices in the E.U.?
 
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