Since the full range of iPhone 16 went on sale, many iPhone 16 Pro disassembly videos have appeared one after another, confirming that Apple uses stainless steel battery casings for iPhone 16 Pro. However, there are conspiracy theories circulating on the Internet that using metal casings can easily cause the iPhone 16 battery to explode. , causing widespread panic, Apple’s technical consultant also came forward to refute the rumors and sternly refuted the online rumors as unverified news.
Why does Apple only use stainless steel metal battery casing for iPhone 16 Pro? Will it really explode easily? We will comprehensively guide you to understand the key technical principles behind it, reveal the five major technical advantages behind stainless steel batteries, and explain in detail Apple’s efforts in battery safety and efficiency.
Source of news that iPhone 16 Pro stainless steel battery will explode
Since the release of the iPhone 16 disassembly video, Apple has used stainless steel case batteries for the iPhone 16 Pro for the first time. This is a bold and innovative decision. However, there are a lot of reports on the Chinese Internet that iPhone 16 Pro steel case batteries are prone to explosion, etc. Some people believe that using metal shells to dissipate heat for batteries will increase concerns about explosion safety.
The original source of the argument that the iPhone 16 battery will explode was when a Chinese blogger deliberately removed the insulation protection measures when dismantling the metal battery casing of the iPhone 16 Pro, and then directly connected the positive terminal and the casing with iron tweezers to cause a short circuit. This causes the battery to undergo a chemical reaction and burn. Simply put, it means deliberately short-circuiting the battery and removing the safety insulation. Strictly speaking, it is a completely wrong test method.

Subsequently, some Chinese netizens began to have various conspiracy theories, thinking that Apple was playing a role in the game, and began to associate it with the explosion of communication equipment in Lebanon. They were worried about the security equipment of mobile phone terminals. Some even worried that Apple could remotely control the iPhone 16 battery to explode. False claims that the iPhone 16 Pro battery is a steel-cased battery is a time bomb planted by the United States instantly spread wildly on social media and Douyin.
There are even some people who are interested in deliberately processing the old iPhone 2G lithium battery test experiment several years ago. It is not to detonate the phone, but to bomb the iPhone with explosives. In the end, it turns out that the Apple phone can detonate the experiment, and even more Warning that the steel case of iPhone 16 will be more powerful, randomly posting slogans, Apple officials are deliberately trying to mislead the truth. In fact, this is all fake news.

In fact, in order for the iPhone to be detonated remotely, it is necessary to disassemble the phone and modify it to put explosives in it. It is impossible to detonate simply by controlling the battery short circuit at the system level.
Netizens actually tested the iPhone 16 metal battery and it will not explode normally
Some netizens also conducted actual measurements on the iPhone 16 metal battery. After using a tool to pierce the stainless steel casing battery, a chemical reaction occurred in the lithium battery, causing white smoke to emit from the gap. The stainless steel casing also expanded, causing the entire deformation. There was no so-called battery explosion. occur.

The actual iPhone 16 is still a lithium battery. The only difference is that a stainless steel casing is added to the outside of the battery. As long as the battery casing is damaged and the electrolyte inside encounters air or water, a chemical reaction will occur immediately, which will also produce toxic gases, a large amount of smoke, and Heat, it is unlikely to explode under normal use.
Officials come forward to clarify Apple’s battery safety design for iPhone 16
Apple has always given top priority to product safety. This time it launched a stainless steel battery for the iPhone 16 Pro. In response to external doubts, Apple’s technical consultant also responded: “It is impossible to confirm the authenticity of the information circulating on the Internet, but Apple products will go through Strict quality inspection process will only be released if there are no problems. If there is a function such as remote detonation, the country will definitely not allow it to be sold, so there must be no problem with the battery. “
For the former vice president of MeizuLi NanAfter seeing rumors on the Internet that the iPhone 16 Pro uses a steel battery and remote detonation, I also refuted the conspiracy theory about Apple’s remote detonation on social media, believing that those who spread such news are either stupid or bad.
Li Nan also pointed out that many Bluetooth headset products now use steel-shell batteries, such as Huawei headsets, Xiaomi headsets, TWS or OWS. If it is true that steel batteries will explode, how come there has never been an eardrum explosion after so many years of use? It will be shattered by the explosion. Why don’t those who have doubts report it to China’s major regulatory and security departments?

Nowadays, even electric vehicles use battery casings that are also made of steel. There have been no battery explosions in so many years without a car accident. On the contrary, this conspiracy theory started to appear as soon as the iPhone 16 adopted steel batteries.

Why does Apple only use steel case batteries for the iPhone 16 Pro?
Not all iPhone 16 series use steel battery casings. From the disassembly video, it can be confirmed that only the iPhone 16 Pro uses stainless steel batteries, and the other three models also use original soft-pack lithium batteries.
In fact, this is not the first time Apple has used steel batteries. This technology was first used in the 40mm model of Apple Watch Series 4. In the following years, large-sized batteries also used ordinary soft-pack batteries, and it was not until the Apple Watch Ultra 1 that it began to appear. .
Strictly speaking, the new “steel case battery” technology used by Apple on the iPhone 16 Pro has been used in Apple Watch for many years. The actual technology is quite mature and was finally transferred to iPhone devices.

The main reason is to consider the safety of the iPhone battery. After all, Apple is not like other brands that blindly pursue charging speed. It is also more conservative in new battery technologies. After all, as long as there is a problem with the iPhone battery, it will easily become a catastrophe for Apple.
However, if you want to improve the battery life of the iPhone, it is basically impossible to put a larger battery in the limited small body space. The final solution is to use “stainless steel batteries” that can increase the battery capacity density, which can solve the problem without changing the In the case of smaller size, a larger battery capacity can be obtained, so that the iPhone 16 Pro can last 4 hours longer than the iPhone 15 Pro.

So why does only the iPhone 16 Pro use a steel-cased battery, but not the Pro Max? As mentioned earlier, Apple is based on safety considerations. Even though Apple Watch has used steel-cased batteries for many years, the uncertainty about battery safety is even greater for the iPhone. We will try the stability on this model first, and then try it later. Only by delegating it to other models can the risk be minimized.
Another reason is cost control considerations. Regarding stainless steel batteries, Mr. Crazy has also consulted relevant industry insiders. New batteries will cause higher parts costs, which is why Apple announced the replacement battery price for iPhone 16 Pro, which is more expensive than iPhone 15. About 20%.
After the iPhone 16 Pro’s small-size body is tested first and there are no problems, it can be mass-produced, and the manufacturing process and yield rate can also be improved. By then, the cost of the iPhone’s steel-cased battery should also be reduced, and it can be transferred to other models. .
What are the advantages of iPhone 16 Pro stainless steel battery?
Although some people will question the replacement of the iPhone 16 Pro with a stainless steel battery, will this lead to worse heat dissipation? If this is really the case, why do we continue to use Bluetooth headphones and Apple Watch? Internet legends are actually very contradictory.
In fact, the iPhone 16 Pro stainless steel battery has many advantages over ordinary aluminum-plastic film soft-pack batteries. The features are as follows:
1. Stronger physical protection design
Compared with the traditional aluminum-plastic film soft-pack battery casing, the steel casing has higher hardness and is not easy to deform or break. It can better withstand external impacts, such as when a mobile phone is accidentally dropped or collided, and provides more protection for the battery core. Reliable protection reduces the risk of battery damage and reduces safety hazards such as internal short circuits and leakage of batteries.
It can effectively prevent the battery from being deformed due to extrusion and avoid damage to the internal structure of the battery, thus reducing the chance of battery fire and explosion.

2. Pressure control and safety improvement
The steel shell has high strength and allows higher internal pressure. When the battery is in use, gas may be generated due to internal chemical reactions, temperature changes, etc., causing the internal pressure to increase. The steel shell can withstand higher pressure and protect the battery. There is a pressure relief valve at the plate position, which will automatically release the pressure when the internal pressure reaches a certain level, further enhancing the safety of the battery.
3. Better heat dissipation and thermal conductivity
Steel has good thermal conductivity and can quickly conduct the heat generated by the battery during operation to avoid heat accumulation inside the battery. This helps to keep the battery temperature within an appropriate range and prevents the battery from overheating, which affects performance. Lifespan may even cause safety issues. Good heat dissipation performance can enable the battery temperature to be effectively controlled when the phone is operating under high load, such as playing games for a long time, running large applications, etc., ensuring the stability and performance of the iPhone.

4. Small space occupation and higher energy density
The steel shell can provide more stable structural support, allowing the cells inside the battery to fill the entire space more closely, thereby cramming more battery capacity into a limited space and increasing the energy density of the battery.
For example, the battery energy density of the iPhone 16 Pro has reached 764 wh/l, which is significantly improved compared to the previous generation, thus providing the phone with longer battery life.

5. Technological breakthroughs and attempts
Apple is committed to innovating in product design and technology. The use of steel battery casing is also an attempt and breakthrough in battery technology. It also demonstrates Apple’s continuous pursuit of performance and quality, and also helps To enhance product competitiveness and market attention.
Summarize
The above is a detailed explanation of the iPhone 16 Pro metal case battery. As for what will cause this situation, in the end, Apple has not fully disclosed the technical details of the stainless steel battery case. Perhaps we can only wait and see whether there will be official technical documents released later. This can truly prevent such false online rumors from spreading further.
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