iFixit experts cut the iPhone 12 Pro Max battery and shot it up with a nail gun. Why?

A few months ago, a blogger noticed his old smartphone batteries bloated after the gadgets had been sitting on the shelf for several years without being used. Bloated batteries are dangerous because they can cause a fire. However, the experts at iFixit decided to conduct an extreme experiment to prove that smartphone batteries are safe if handled properly.

Here's How It Works

According to experts, despite the high-profile examples of battery explosions that appear in the news from time to time, modern lithium-ion batteries are generally safe if you follow some rules. The most important tip is to always discharge the battery to 25% before you start disassembling or repairing it. After all, it's the amount of charge that determines whether a short circuit can create enough heat to trigger a fire or explosion.

For example, the experts at iFixit took several batteries, including those from the iPhone 12 Pro Max. They were poked with a special knife and even "shot" with a nail gun. As a result, the battery with a low charge at most let out some smoke and small sparks, while the charged battery caught fire.

In addition, experts advise using a non-conductive plastic spatula instead of a metal one when replacing the battery, and smartphone manufacturers are advised not to pour glue on batteries to make it easier to repair the device.

Source: iFixit
Photo: cliplab/Shutterstock