Increased battery density may be advantageous for iPhone 16 models.
Recently, there has been much discussion regarding how Apple is altering the design of the iPhone in order to comply with EU rules. The iPhones from last year finally came with a USB-C port, and this year we should see improvements in terms of repairability.
A little more intriguing development is that these modifications will also extend the iPhone 16 battery life. According to a post made on X by industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next iPhones will include a stainless steel battery shell that makes changing the battery pack easier.
According to Kuo, Apple designed the new battery casing with two goals in mind: first, it had to adhere to EU repairability laws; second, it had to improve the cell density by 5–10% while still fulfilling all safety criteria.
The information was released after the discovery of pictures of a prototype metal battery case on X, which was purportedly intended for the next iPhone 16 Pro. It's an enormous job, as anybody who has tried to change an iPhone battery can attest. The present battery design is protected by a soft, black bag that is firmly adhered to, requiring specific equipment and extreme caution to remove properly.
The removal process will be considerably easier with a steel housing, but it can't just be taken out and replaced quickly. It's not something the typical iPhone consumer would notice, more of an upgrade to help repair shops and skilled tinkerers.
According to the leaked housing, the capacity has increased to 3,355 mAh from 3,290 mAh on the iPhone 15 Pro. That's less than a 2% increase in capacity, but according to Kuo, there may have been a bigger gain in density. Time will tell whether the capacity of this early prototype matches that of the final iPhone 16 Pro.
September is when the new iPhone 16 models are anticipated to launch, and as that month draws near, there will undoubtedly be more leaks and speculations. While you wait, read our guides to the top gaming iPhones available for purchase and the top iPhone games that can be played on them.