Apple Initiates iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program

Friday August 22, 2014 4:17 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple has begun an iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program to replace the batteries of a small percentage of iPhone 5 units that have a faulty battery resulting in a shorter battery life and longer, more frequent charging times.

iPhone 5 devices exhibiting battery issues were sold between September of 2012 and January of 2013 and are eligible for a free battery replacement.

Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently. The affected iPhone 5 devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fall within a limited serial number range.

If your iPhone 5 is experiencing these symptoms and meets the eligibility requirements noted below, Apple will replace your iPhone 5 battery, free of charge.

Apple says the issue affects only a "limited serial number range." iPhone 5 users can input their serial numbers on Apple's replacement site to find out whether their phones need a new battery. Those who do have a faulty battery can get a replacement through an Apple Authorized Service Provider, an Apple Retail Store, or through Apple Technical support.

Users who already paid to replace their batteries will be eligible to receive a refund for the cost of the battery from Apple. Apple's support site says the program covers iPhone 5 batteries for two years after the first retail sale of the unit or until March 1, 2015, whichever provides longer coverage. Replacements are available beginning today in the United States and China, with the program beginning in other countries on August 29.

In addition to the new Battery Replacement Program, Apple also has a replacement program for iPhone 5 units that have a faulty sleep/wake button, which also provides repairs at no cost. Some iPhone 5s units have also experienced faulty battery life but Apple opted to reach out individually to affected users rather than implementing a replacement program for those devices.

Top Rated Comments

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iBlazed

71 months ago

Thanks, I replaced it myself almost a year ago because it was out of warranty. Douches.

Honestly, they really had to wait two years after a product is released to acknowledge a bug when most people who were effected by it already replaced the batteries at their own expense when they started acting up a long time ago and dying at 30% charge?

EDIT: My bad, I see they refund if you already paid for it. Still though, they really took their sweet time on this one. How many people who don't read macrumors and paid for replacements will know about this or bother to do it and get their refund? Feels like apple did this late to ensure that most people who need replacement batteries already paid for them at their own expense.

Rating: 12 Votes

cptbill80

71 months ago

"The iPhone 5 serial number you entered is eligible for this program."
lucky me. my battery was suffering the last 6 months causing sudden shut down at even 20%. I had tried hard reset, setup as a new phone, nothing worked. And when i was about ready to buy a new battery...thank you Apple!

Rating: 7 Votes

Enabledobject

71 months ago

It's interesting that people are mad that they had to get replacements themselves and that it took Apple so long to respond to this issue, and in the next breath say they are ready for the iPhone 6.
That's some loyalty there.

Rating: 6 Votes

thmsup

71 months ago

HA! I knew something was off. Went to the Apple Retail Store in Vegas back in June, they told me "nothing out of the ordinary... regular battery life for an almost 2 year old smartphone...you can replace the battery for only $80+tax though."

I told them, that it was bulls*it, because even my 4,5 year old 3gs still had better battery life.

Going to the store tomorrow.

Rating: 6 Votes

My Name is URL

71 months ago

Mine isn't eligible apparently. Shame my iPhone 5 battery life has been absolutely awful last few months.

Rating: 6 Votes

RedOrchestra

71 months ago

How can there be battery problems - people responding to the Samsung Wall Pluggers ad said that Samsung was wrong, dead wrong - iPhones have the best batteries in the business.

This is too funny.

Rating: 5 Votes

bushido

71 months ago

Just paid out of pocket to have my battery replaced a week and a half ago, so when I entered my serial number it said:

The serial number you entered is not eligible under this program because either:
- It's not one of the serial numbers in the affected range
- Our records show that your battery has already been replaced. If you paid for a battery replacement service, check with Apple to see if you are eligible for a refund.

I called support, and a few minutes later the refund is on the way.

i got the same message which is odd cuz i never got my battery replaced. i got a replacement due to the sleep wake button early last year. maybe my refurbished replacement had an battery issue before and theres a mix up?

Really I don't understand what all the complaints with the 5 are about. Other than a few software issues that were corrected in a subsequent update, I've had no problems with my 5 from January 2013. Verizon 16gb silver/white.

well DUH! there is a problem with the iPhone 5 obviously ... apple doesnt initiate a replacement program for fun

Rating: 5 Votes

newyorksole

71 months ago

The iPhone 5 was definitely one of the most poorly made iPhones . I had to get mine exchanged FOUR times because of flurries of dead pixels .

The Slate colored phone looked horrible when the silver/aluminum would peak thru, then there's the sleep/wake button and now the battery .

Ouch .

Rating: 5 Votes