Replacing Batteries in the iPhone 16
The amazing avenue that Apple took with the iPhone 16 is using a 9V battery and alligator clips for a new, electrically-activated adhesive. That could be overkill, which is where iFixit, the popular repair advocacy group, comes in with a creative solution to make the process a great deal more manageable.
Enter the VoltClip
And the latest from iFixit, a $10.95 tool dubbed the VoltClip, designed for easy battery removal on the iPhone 16: the USB-powered device with alligator clips on one end and a 12V DC adapter on the other essentially does the job of converting a barrel connector to a USB-C port.
When connected to a device that supports USB-C power delivery, the VoltClip can supply either 9 or 12 volts of power range broad enough to debond the adhesive on an iPhone 16 in anywhere from 60 to 90 seconds, depending on the voltage applied.
How It Works
The functionality of the VoltClip depends on the power that the USB-C device it is attached to can provide. For functionality, the device should support higher voltage outputs:
Output: 9V or 12V – effectively removes adhesive in 60-90 seconds
– 5V output: Poor power to efficiently remove adhesives
Notably, while Apple’s repair documentation calls out that as many as 30 volts can be used in order to expedite battery removal, iFixit has elected to prioritize affordability and simplicity with this first release of the VoltClip.
Is It Worth the Investment?
At $10.95, the VoltClip’s value proposition depends largely on your repair habits:
Frequent iPhone 16 battery replacements: VoltClip can be that money-saving addition to your toolbox. – Single battery replacement: A 9V battery and clips might be cheaper
iFixit also imagines a few niche uses for the VoltClip, like jump-starting RC cars or reviving smart door locks, but those use cases aren’t going to justify the purchase for most casual users.
Looking Ahead iFixit notes that it will include the VoltClip in iPhone 16 battery repair kits going forward, but it’s a few months away from releasing those full kits, after which time it’s up to early adopters to decide if the VoltClip alone is worth investing in. As such, this new wave of right-to-repair means devices are increasingly complicated to fix, and tools such as VoltClip are an essential step in making those repairs more accessible to pros and DIYers alike. Yet to be seen is whether this will become a mainstay in repair kits or prove a progenitor for even more innovative solutions.
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