The iPhone 16 series is now available, and as usual, the durability tests and teardowns are already pouring in. Zack from the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything has performed a teardown on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. While both devices share most of their internal structure, there is one intriguing difference.
iPhone 16 Pro Max does not include a metallic battery enclosure, teardown shows
Zack starts by opening up the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This year, Apple debuted a new metal enclosure to make cell removal easier. However, for unknown reasons, the Pro Max variant does not have it. The YouTuber also opened up an iPhone 16 Pro to show that the metal enclosure for the battery is present. That said, the rest of the components and internal layout are the same between both models.
Another thing missing from the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is the new voltage-sensitive battery glue. For some reason, Apple only implemented it on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, keeping the classic pull tabs for the more expensive models. Anyway, we’ll probably see the new adhesive and metal battery enclosure on all upcoming iPhone models (except, perhaps, the next iPhone SE).
Some believe that the metal battery enclosure is for better thermal control. However, Zack showed that the internal structure does not facilitate heat dissipation in the area. He believes the change stems from EU regulations mandating removable batteries by 2027. Regarding the batteries, the Pro variant has a capacity of 3,582 mAh, while the Pro Max integrates a 4,695 mAh cell.
Continuing with the iPhone 16 Pro Max teardown, removing a pair of metal plates with seven TriPoint screws allows you to unplug the key ribbons to get deeper into the “guts” of the device. Zack laments that Apple complicates the process by using multiple sizes of screws. There is also a thermal graphite layer to transport heat from the motherboard to the device’s aluminum frame.
This trick makes the speakers louder
The teardown shows an interesting trick to make the bottom speaker sound louder. Apple implements a small secret chamber filled with tiny “beads.” An orange rubber gasket highlights the speaker opening. The bottom area also integrates the haptic motor and the USB-C port. Moving on to the motherboard, Apple uses a dual-stacked design that is smaller than a human finger.
If you’re not aware, the iPhone 16 series is available outside the US with a SIM port. So what is Apple doing with that space on the US version of the device? It simply fills it with a small black plastic box.
A close look at the cameras
The video offers a closer look at the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s rear camera system. All the sensors are together in a single module. There’s OIS hardware on the main and periscopic sensors, but not on the ultra-wide one. Apple implements sensor-shift stabilization where the magnets and components are inside the sensor. You can also see tetraprism glass separating the telephoto sensor and the lens to enable the periscopic system.
Finally, Zack removes the display from the iPhone 16 Pro Max chassis, showing that it’s relatively easy. He also “destroys” the device’s remaining structure to finish it off with a flourish. You can watch the full video below.
