Easier iPhone 16 repair: Apple implements this (also) thanks to the EU
Apple has announced various improvements to the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro that will also help amateurs to repair their devices. One reason is political pressure.
iPhone 16 Pro: The new titanium colors for 2024.
(Image: Apple)
If repairers or (soon) even amateurs take a look at the iPhone 16, they will notice that Apple has made some optimizations in terms of repairability. The company confirmed this to US media this week. It is the "most repairable iPhone ever", writes Tom's Guide, for example, with whom Apple shared the new features.
Five areas optimized
The TrueDepth camera modules, which are used for Face ID facial recognition, can now be interchanged – regardless of which iPhone 16 model is involved. The unit can now also be calibrated or configured directly on the iPhone without the need for a Mac computer. With the two iPhone 16 Pro models (Pro and Pro Max), the LIDAR scanner installed on the back can now also be repaired individually without having to replace the entire module.
According to Apple, it has also "made access to components easier", opening the device and reaching certain points in the system (which were not explicitly mentioned, however) should now be less stressful. Finally, the last optimization concerns the battery in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: This is now held in place with a special adhesive that can be removed using voltage (a 9-volt battery is sufficient). Previously, the company used so-called pull-taps, which had to be replaced after removal.
EU is partly to blame
The easier battery removal could have something to do with the fact that the EU decided in the summer to make it easier to replace batteries in smartphones. The regulation introduces labeling and information requirements, including with regard to battery components and the proportion of recycled material, heise online wrote in the summer. In addition, a digital battery passport in the form of a QR code will be required for batteries with a higher capacity.
However, this did not become law and is not expected to happen until 2027. Nevertheless, Apple already seems to be preparing for this, at least for its standard iPhones. The EU goes even further than the company: it demands that users must be able to "easily remove and replace" the battery themselves. Electrically induced removal may only be the first step.
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(bsc)