iPhone 16 Pro Has a Hidden Difference Compared to iPhone 16 Pro Max

While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are equal in many ways, the Pro model has an internal difference compared to the Pro Max.

iPhone 16 Pro Battery Teardown
As confirmed by teardown videos, the iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with a metal-enclosed battery, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max battery still has a black foil casing. It is unclear why this change is exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro, but it likely helps to improve heat dissipation inside of the device, and it reduces the risk of punctures during repairs.

The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus also have black foil batteries still, but with an innovative type of adhesive that can be easily loosened with low-voltage electrical current, such as from a 9V battery. This process does not extend to the batteries in the Pro models, which still have stretch-release adhesive pull tabs like many previous models.

All four iPhone 16 models launched on Friday.