Will the iPhone 16 End the "Planned Obsolescence"? : From "Replace When Broken" to "Repair and Use" ― How the iPhone 16 is Changing Smartphone Norms

Why the iPhone 16 is Gaining Attention for Its "Repairability"

The buzz surrounding the iPhone 16 didn't just end with its AI features or camera performance. Instead, a growing perspective suggests that "Apple might be seriously improving repairability." The original article we referenced positions the iPhone 16 as a symbol of a "repair revolution." In reality, Apple is simultaneously advancing the publication of repair procedures, revising the handling of parts, and improving the post-repair certification process with the iPhone 16 generation. This indicates a comprehensive overhaul of the repair experience rather than a one-off appeal.

A symbolic change is the new battery securing method adopted in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. According to iFixit, these two models use a new adhesive method that weakens its adhesive power by passing an electric current through it. Compared to the previous unstable task of stretching out deteriorated adhesive tabs, this method offers higher reproducibility and reduces the risk of damage. WIRED also noted that this advancement leads to faster and safer battery replacements.

What's important here is that Apple hasn't merely made improvements for the sake of "looking good in teardown videos." In the repair field, work time, failure rates, post-replacement recognition, and parts availability all impact costs. Even making batteries easier to remove reduces the risk for repair shops and lowers the psychological barrier and repair costs for users. As smartphones become more expensive and it's no longer standard to replace them every two years, this change is significant.

Apple Can No Longer Remain an "Anti-Repair" Company

When discussing Apple's changes, one cannot ignore the presence of regulations. In the EU, eco-design regulations and energy label regulations for smartphones and tablets will apply from June 20, 2025, clarifying requirements for durability, battery life, repairability, and spare parts supply. Additionally, a system for displaying repairability scores is being introduced for smartphones.

The original article aligns the iPhone 16 with the EU's repair-focused trend, and this perspective is largely valid. Apple itself announced the expansion of support for repairs using used genuine parts by 2024, introducing mechanisms for verifying and calibrating parts on the device, enhancing the display of repair history, and extending Activation Lock to curb the distribution of parts from stolen devices. In other words, Apple has moved beyond the stage of "whether to allow repairs" to "under what conditions can repairs be expanded while maintaining its safety and quality standards."

This trend is also a realistic response to the criticism Apple has faced for years. The company has been criticized for making repairs unnecessarily restrictive through parts pairing and warning displays for non-genuine parts. However, in the iPhone 16 generation, iFixit praised the smooth operation of the Repair Assistant, and complaints about "not being recognized properly after replacement" have decreased compared to before. While it cannot be said to be fully open, the effort to improve usability after repairs should not be overlooked.

However, It's Not "Easy for Anyone to Fix"

Nevertheless, it's too early to unconditionally praise the repairability of the iPhone 16. Looking at Apple's published guides and the reports introducing them, battery replacement requires a 9V battery, clips, protective gear, alcohol wipes, and sometimes sand or specialized tools. On Hacker News, reactions like "even if it's 'easier to repair,' it's a relative matter" have already emerged, with notable comments on the abundance of necessary tools. This is not mere nitpicking; it highlights the gap between the "easy to fix" envisioned by general consumers and the "safer to repair than before" claimed by manufacturers.

Moreover, this "progress" is not uniform across all models. According to information from WIRED and MacRumors, the new adhesive method that can be removed with electricity is adopted in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, while the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max retain the traditional stretch-to-remove adhesive tabs. In other words, Apple has not completely overhauled everything at once but is introducing changes gradually from the standard models. While promoting improved repairability, there is a visible caution in not fully committing.

However, there is progress for the Pro series as well. iFixit has praised the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max for making it easier to access major components like the battery, camera, and speakers from the back glass side. In the previous generation, the frame structure was an obstacle, and there were many repairs that required approaching from the fragile and expensive display side. This time, the structure has been revised to make many repairs easier from the back, offering significant benefits even for repair beginners. Although the direction of improvement differs between the standard and Pro models, the intention to enhance repairability across the entire series is evident.

Welcoming and Skepticism Spread Simultaneously on Social Media

Looking at the reactions from public communities, the welcoming voices stand out first. In related threads on Reddit, multiple users shared experiences of damaging their devices during battery replacements in previous iPhones, with a sentiment of "if this really improves, it's a good thing." Even if repairs are theoretically possible, they are meaningless if accidents frequently occur during actual work. Those who think this way find value in improvements that reduce the risk of damage during replacement.

On the other hand, there is also a strong sense of skepticism. On Reddit, reactions like "old phones allowed for much easier battery replacements" and "this is more of a new service conduit for manufacturer convenience than actual repairability" were observed. On Hacker News, there were doubts about whether it can truly be called improved repairability for general users, given the list of required tools. Thus, on social media, evaluations of "better than before" coexist with "but far from ideal."

Furthermore, the view that regulations prompted Apple to act was quite strong. On Reddit, voices suggested that it was the pressure from the EU and various U.S. states expanding repair rights that led Apple to implement a more repairable structure so quickly. Indeed, the new EU rules include spare parts supply and repairability display, making "difficulty in repair" itself a competitive disadvantage for manufacturers. Such reactions on social media indicate that the discussion about the iPhone 16 has evolved beyond a mere new product review into a debate about corporate attitudes and the effectiveness of regulations.

Where is the Impact on the Entire Industry?

The significant change with the iPhone 16 is that Apple is one of the most influential designers in the smartphone industry. When Apple organizes repair manuals, revises parts authentication and history management, and changes the method of battery removal, it impacts parts suppliers, repair shops, the refurbishment market, and even the design philosophies of competing manufacturers. WIRED reports that the new adhesive technology adopted by Apple is not exclusive to Apple, suggesting it could spread to other manufacturers in the future.

Additionally, Apple announced in 2024 the expansion of support for used genuine parts and began selling parts for the iPhone 16 series for its self-service repair in 2025. While it cannot be said to be cheap in terms of price, the connection between genuine parts, manuals, and calibration has improved, increasing the options for repairs through official channels. This movement incorporates "repairs for long-term use," which were often treated as a gray area, into a manufacturer-led system.

As repairability improves, consumer behavior changes. Instead of replacing a phone just because the battery is weak, it becomes easier to decide to replace the battery and use it for another two years. Issues like cracked back glass or port malfunctions can be considered separately from the overall lifespan of the device. In an era where smartphone evolution seems to have plateaued, "how many years it can be used" and "how much it costs to repair" influence satisfaction more than performance growth. The iPhone 16 can be said to visualize this shift in value standards.

Has Apple Changed, or Did It Have to Change?

In conclusion, it's likely both. Apple is indeed beginning to change. The battery adhesive method, accessibility from the back, support for used genuine parts, Repair Assistant, and transparency in repair history—these are significant advances from the past image of Apple. iFixit gave the iPhone 16 series a provisional score of 7, stating it is becoming one of the most repairable iPhones, underscoring the magnitude of this change.

However, at the same time, Apple remains a company with a strong inclination for control. While repairs have expanded, they are not completely free. The necessary tools are numerous, the processes remain delicate, and Apple's framework for handling parts is still prominent. This is why both praise and caution arise simultaneously on social media. The iPhone 16 is not the "completion of repair liberalization" but rather a "transitional product where Apple has begun to incorporate repairability as part of its competitive edge."

Nonetheless, this step is significant. The smartphone industry has long advanced on the premise that the more it prioritizes thinness, waterproofing, sealing, and luxury, the harder it becomes to repair. The iPhone 16 has demonstrated that "high performance and repairability are not as mutually exclusive as before." If this trend is further solidified in the next-generation models, future smartphone selection might naturally include "how easy it is to repair" as a standard comparison item, alongside camera and AI features. The true meaning of the iPhone 16 is not just that a single device has become easier to repair. It is that repairability itself has begun to move closer to the center of brand value and market competition.

Source URL

An article discussing the iPhone 16 as a "repair revolution" and its impact on the industry.
https://www.ad-hoc-news.de/boerse/news/ueberblick/iphone-16-wie-apples-reparatur-revolution-die-smartphone-branche/69083842

Apple's official iPhone parts support explanation. Referenced to confirm the approach to genuine parts, used genuine parts, third-party parts, and repair history display.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/120555

Apple's official iPhone 16 Repair Manual. Referenced to confirm repair procedures and the publication status of target parts for the iPhone 16.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/120652

Apple's official newsroom. Referenced to confirm turning points in repair policies, such as support for used genuine parts, on-device calibration, and Activation Lock expansion.
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/04/apple-to-expand-repair-options-with-support-for-used-genuine-parts/

iFixit's iPhone 16 teardown article. Referenced to confirm the new battery adhesive method that can be removed with electricity.
https://www.ifixit.com/News/100352/we-hot-wired-the-iphone-16

iFixit's iPhone repairability score update. Referenced to confirm the provisional score and evaluation points for the iPhone 16 series.
https://www.ifixit.com/News/101397/an-update-on-iphone-repairability-scores

iFixit's iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max teardown article. Referenced to confirm the ease of access to major components from the back glass side.
https://www.ifixit.com/News/100693/more-modular-than-ever-before-iphone-16-pro-and-pro-max-teardown

EU's smartphone and tablet regulation explanation page. Referenced to confirm the introduction of eco-design regulations, energy labels, and repairability scores from June 20, 2025.
https://energy-efficient-products.ec.europa.eu/product-list/smartphones-and-tablets_en

EU Commission's announcement page. Referenced to confirm the start date and overall framework of the new rules.
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-durable-energy-efficient-and-repairable-smartphones-and-tablets-start-applying-2025-06-20_en

WIRED article. Referenced to confirm the new adhesive method in the iPhone 16/16 Plus, its non-adoption in the Pro series, and the potential industry impact.
https://www.wired.com/story/iphone-16-battery-is-easier-to-replace/

Article introducing Apple's list of repair tools. Referenced to organize the point that there are many necessary tools from a general user perspective.
https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/09/20/apple-has-a-list-of-everything-you-need-to-repair-the-iphone-16

9to5Mac article. Referenced to confirm the specific list of tools required for battery replacement.
https://9to5mac.com/2024/09/20/heres-every-tool-youll-need-to-replace-the-iphone-16s-battery/

The Verge article. Referenced to confirm the start of sales and price range of genuine replacement parts for the iPhone 16 series.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/10/24292775/apple-iphone-16-pro-max-plus-repair-parts-diy-self-service

Reddit's r/gadgets thread. Referenced to confirm reactions of repair welcome, past repair troubles, and the view that regulations moved Apple.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gadgets/comments/1frey0r/ifixits_iphone_16_teardown_finds_a_greatly/

Hacker News discussion. Referenced to confirm skeptical reactions like "easier is relative" due to the abundance of necessary tools.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41606530

MacRumors Forums discussion. Referenced to confirm reactions regarding the differences in battery removal methods between the iPhone 16 standard and Pro models.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-17-pro-and-pro-max-rumored-to-feature-easier-battery-removal.2439711/