Apple recommends using a 9V battery and some alligator clips to remove the iPhone 16 battery, which is held in place with a new electro-peelable adhesive. iFixit’s new USB-powered VoltClip is an alternative tool that may eliminate the need for disposable batteries and speed up the stripping process.
The VoltClip, currently available from iFixit’s online store for $10.95, features a pair of alligator clips attached to a short wire on one end and a barrel connector on the other that converts it into a USB-C port. Comes with a 12V DC adapter.
When connected to a device that supports USB-C power delivery (such as the battery included with iFixit’s new portable soldering station), the VoltClip outputs 9 or 12 volts of power. This is enough power to remove the adhesive holding an iPhone 16. It takes 60 seconds or 90 seconds to install the battery in place, respectively. If the device doesn’t support an output of at least 9 volts, the VoltClip will drop to 5 volts, but in iFixit’s testing, this isn’t enough power to remove new adhesive.
Apple’s repair documentation states that using up to 30 volts of power “reduces removal time,” but iFixit notes that the first version of the VoltClip “kept things simple and low-cost from the start.” I was hoping for that.
Is it worth spending nearly $11 on this very special tool? If you plan on replacing your iPhone 16’s battery on a regular basis, it might be a handy addition to your repair kit. However, if you only need to replace the battery once, it’s a little cheaper to buy a single 9V battery (or temporarily borrow it from another device) and a pair of compatible battery clips. Other potential uses for VoltClip include jump-starting an RC car or temporarily reviving a faulty smart door lock (assuming you carry the VoltClip with you everywhere), as suggested by iFixit. ) etc. Also Very special use case Helps justify the cost.
iFixit plans to eventually bundle VoltClip with iPhone 16 battery repair kits, but it won’t be available for at least several months.
