iFixit now sells a USB-powered tool for removing the iPhone 16’s battery

Apple recommends removing the iPhone 16’s battery, which is held successful spot with a caller electrically debondable adhesive, by utilizing a 9V artillery and immoderate alligator clips. iFixit’s caller USB-powered VoltClip is an alternate instrumentality that eliminates the request for a disposable battery, portion besides perchance speeding up the debonding process.

The VoltClip, disposable present for $10.95 done iFixit’s online store, features a brace of alligator clips attached to abbreviated wires connected 1 extremity and a 12V DC adapter connected the different that converts a tube connector to a USB-C port.

When plugged into a device that supports USB-C powerfulness transportation (such arsenic the artillery that comes with iFixit’s caller portable soldering station), the VoltClip volition output either 9 oregon 12 volts of power, which is capable to debond the adhesive holding the iPhone 16’s artillery successful spot successful 60 oregon 90 seconds, respectively. If a instrumentality doesn’t enactment astatine slightest 9 volts of powerfulness output, the VoltClip volition driblet down to 5 volts, which, successful iFixit’s testing, is not capable powerfulness to debond the caller adhesive.

Apple’s repair documents accidental that utilizing up to 30 volts of powerfulness “will effect successful faster removal times,” but iFixit wanted to “keep things elemental and debased outgo retired of the gate” for the archetypal iteration of the VoltClip.

Is it worthy spending astir $11 for this precise circumstantial tool? If you deliberation you’re going to beryllium regularly replacing iPhone 16 batteries, it seems similar a utile summation to your repair kit. But if you’re conscionable replacing a artillery once, buying a single 9V battery (or temporarily borrowing 1 from different device) and a compatible pair of artillery clips is simply a spot cheaper. Other imaginable usage cases for the VoltClip, similar jump-starting an RC car, arsenic iFixit suggests, oregon temporarily reviving a dormant astute doorway lock (assuming you transportation the VoltClip with you everyplace you go) are also very circumstantial usage cases that whitethorn not help warrant the cost.

iFixit plans to yet bundle the VoltClip with iPhone 16 artillery repair kits, though those aren’t expected for astatine slightest a fewer months.