Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max could feature a battery with up to 10% more capacity, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo suggests that Apple will use a stainless steel casing for the battery, increasing its density by 5 to 10%.
This adjustment aims to meet new EU regulations requiring smartphones to have replaceable batteries accessible with simple tools by 2025 and made mandatory by 2027.
The improved battery may debut in some iPhones this year, with Kuo highlighting the iPhone 16 Pro Max as a primary candidate for enhanced battery performance.
This enhancement could mean longer battery life without increasing the battery size or maintaining similar performance to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Leaked images purportedly show a metal-cased iPhone 16 Pro battery, indicating Apple’s efforts to simplify battery replacements starting with the iPhone 16 series.
Apple plans to use electrically induced adhesive debonding technology, allowing users to remove the battery with a low voltage instead of intricate adhesive strips.
Kuo noted Sunway as a key supplier for stainless steel battery cases. If adopted for all second-half 2025 iPhones, Sunway could see revenue and profit rise by 200–250%. Successful mass production could extend this new battery design to all iPhone 17 models next year.
The iPhone 16 line-up launches in about four months, likely mid-September, with the new battery method expected in at least one iPhone 16 model and potentially all iPhone 17 models next year.