Tipster Majin Bu on X has shared some images of the iPhone 16‘s battery pack. Surprisingly, the battery comes with a metal casing instead of the soft foil packaging. Although initially it seems like dummy units, upon a closer inspection it appears to be an actual battery, with an extra metal casing on top of the plastic foil packaging.
The metal casing will reportedly improve the heat dissipation
The battery pack retains the familiar shape but packs a higher 3,597mAh capacity as compared to the iPhone 15’s 3349 mAh. The battery capacity is engraved on the metal surface.
While the exact reason behind Apple going back to the hard casing design is unknown, reports mention that it could be aimed at dissipating the heat from the battery quickly. The iPhone 15 series indeed suffered from overheating after the launch. While for most people the issue has also been solved with subsequent software updates, a further improvement in heat dissipation is expected with this change in the battery.
Inside the metal casing could be a different battery tech
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max weigh a staggering 240 grams, which is heavier than the book-style foldable Honor Magic V2 (231g). Last year Apple replaced the stainless steel middle frame with titanium. As a result, the iPhone 15 Pro Max became 19g lighter than its predecessor.
The extra metal casing for the battery will make the iPhone 16 heavier as compared to the 171g iPhone 15. The higher battery capacity should also add some weight to the device.
In addition to that, the use of a metal casing also takes up a significant portion of precious internal space, which was also one of the biggest reasons behind smartphone makers switching to the much thinner plastic foil packaging. The soft packaging is also safer as it allows the gas (if it forms due to an accident) to expand and easily exit the battery pack without risking the user’s life.
That being said, there could be a new battery tech inside that requires a hard casing but might not have a similar risk of explosion. It may also offer a higher energy density as otherwise, the phone will have to become thicker to house the 3597mAh metal-encased battery. For example, the vivo X Fold3 Pro houses a 5700mAh battery (the biggest battery in a foldable). The battery packs a relatively new Silicon carbide (Si/C) composite material.
(Source)
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