X tipster Majin Bu shared several images of the iPhone 16 battery. Surprisingly, the battery comes in a metal box rather than a soft foil package. Although it appears to be a fake unit at first, upon closer inspection it appears to be a real battery with an additional metal casing over the plastic foil packaging.

The metal body will reportedly increase heat dissipation

The battery retains its normal shape but has a higher capacity of 3,597 mAh compared to the iPhone 15’s 3,349 mAh. Battery capacity engraved on metal surface.

While the exact reason for Apple’s return to a rigid body design is unknown, reports mention that it may have been intended to quickly dissipate heat from the battery. The iPhone 15 series suffered from overheating issues after its launch. While this issue has been resolved for most with subsequent software updates, further improvements in heat dissipation are expected with this battery change.

There may be a different battery technology inside the metal case

The iPhone 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max weigh a whopping 240 grams, which is heavier than the foldable Honor Magic V2 (231g), which folds like a book. Last year, Apple replaced the stainless steel frame in the middle with a titanium frame. As a result, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is 19 grams lighter than its predecessor.

The additional metal battery grip will make the iPhone 16 heavier compared to the 171gr iPhone 15. Larger battery capacity will also increase the weight of the device.

Additionally, using a metal body takes up a lot of valuable internal space, which is one of the main reasons why smartphone manufacturers are switching to much thinner plastic foil packaging. Soft packaging is also safer as it allows gas to expand and easily escape from the battery (in the event of an accident) without endangering the life of the user.

However, there may be a new battery technology that requires hard work inside but doesn’t have the same risk of exploding. It could also offer a higher energy density, otherwise the phone would have to be thicker to accommodate the 3,597mAh metal battery. For example, vivo X Fold3 Pro has a 5700 mAh battery (the largest battery among foldables). The battery contains silicon carbide (Si/C), a relatively new composite material.