Apple is using a new compound to secure the iPhone 16 battery, which comes off when exposed to electricity. The company itself recommends using a 9-volt battery and a pair of alligator clips. iFixit has introduced an alternative USB-powered VoltClip tool that eliminates the need to purchase a battery and also potentially speeds up the peel-off process.
Image source: iFixit
The VoltClip features a pair of alligator clips attached to short wires on one end and a 12-volt DC adapter adapter on the other. When connected to a charger or power bank with USB Type-C (the company itself offers, as an example, the battery of the new iFixit portable soldering station), VoltClip, depending on the parameters of the power source, will produce either 9 or 12 volts. This is enough to peel off the compound holding the iPhone 16 battery in 90 or 60 seconds, respectively.
If the power supply doesn’t support at least nine volts of power output, VoltClip will drop the voltage to five volts, which iFixit testing shows isn’t enough to peel off. Apple’s service documents say that using voltages up to 30 volts “will result in faster release times,” but iFixit decided to “keep it simple and inexpensive” with the first version of VoltClip.
Is it worth spending $11 on this very specific tool? For repair professionals, this may be a useful addition to their existing arsenal. But for a one-time battery replacement it is cheaper and easier to purchase a 9-volt battery and a pair of alligator clips.
Other potential uses for the VoltClip, such as jump-starting an RC car like iFixit suggests, or temporarily fixing a broken smart door lock, are also very specific and unlikely to help justify the cost of the device.
IFixit plans to eventually bundle VoltClip with iPhone 16 battery repair kits, although they aren’t expected to be released for at least a few months.
VoltClip is available now in the iFixit online store for $11.