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Apple Says $29 Battery Replacements Are One-Per-iPhone When Device Passes Diagnostic Test
iPhone users hoping to double dip on Apple's discounted $29 battery replacements this year may find themselves out of luck.
While we previously confirmed that Apple is offering $29 battery replacements to any customer with an iPhone 6 or newer regardless of diagnostic result, Apple has indicated that this policy can only be taken advantage of once, according to new fine print on its iPhone service pricing page.
In other words, after you've had your iPhone's battery replaced once this year, the device must explicitly fail the diagnostic test to qualify for any additional battery replacements for $29. If the test passes, a customer can still choose to have the battery replaced, but Apple's standard $79 fee applies.
Apple says iPhone batteries are designed to retain up to 80 percent of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles, and this is likely the primary benchmark for its diagnostic test, but results may vary.
While it's unlikely customers would need to have their iPhone battery replaced more than once in a year, some people may have planned on taking advantage of the $29 deal now, and then again near the end of 2018, as the combined $58 cost for two replacements would still be cheaper than the standard $79.
Apple reduced the price of iPhone battery replacements as part of its apology over a lack of communication about the power management changes it made starting in iOS 10.2.1. The discount is effective immediately and available worldwide through December 31, 2018. Prices vary outside of the United States.
To initiate the process, read our guide on how to get your iPhone's battery replaced with an appointment at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or by mailing the device to an Apple Repair Center.
While we previously confirmed that Apple is offering $29 battery replacements to any customer with an iPhone 6 or newer regardless of diagnostic result, Apple has indicated that this policy can only be taken advantage of once, according to new fine print on its iPhone service pricing page.
In other words, after you've had your iPhone's battery replaced once this year, the device must explicitly fail the diagnostic test to qualify for any additional battery replacements for $29. If the test passes, a customer can still choose to have the battery replaced, but Apple's standard $79 fee applies.
Apple says iPhone batteries are designed to retain up to 80 percent of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles, and this is likely the primary benchmark for its diagnostic test, but results may vary.
While it's unlikely customers would need to have their iPhone battery replaced more than once in a year, some people may have planned on taking advantage of the $29 deal now, and then again near the end of 2018, as the combined $58 cost for two replacements would still be cheaper than the standard $79.
Apple reduced the price of iPhone battery replacements as part of its apology over a lack of communication about the power management changes it made starting in iOS 10.2.1. The discount is effective immediately and available worldwide through December 31, 2018. Prices vary outside of the United States.
To initiate the process, read our guide on how to get your iPhone's battery replaced with an appointment at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or by mailing the device to an Apple Repair Center.
Tag: iPhone Slowdown
[ 309 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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10 months ago
What do you expect them to do, replace discounted batteries forever?
maybe make the price more reasonable. $79 seems a bit much for a consumable
10 months ago
What a mess, Apple. Tsk tsk. Should have been transparent from the beginning. You did this to yourself.
10 months ago
I didn't think Apple would find a way to make this worse, yet they did.
What do you expect them to do, replace discounted batteries forever?
10 months ago
I didn't think Apple would find a way to make this worse, yet they did.
Out of warranty they're not under any obligation to open up your iPhone, yet they are allowing one battery replacement per device even if it passes their tests. Stop trying to drum up negativity and sensationalism where there really isn't any.
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I still don't get why apple gets to choose who can get a battery replaced and who can't.
They're not choosing that at all.
They're choosing whether they (Apple) are willing to change the battery since you know, they're the ones doing the work.
If you so wish you can choose to take your phone to a 3rd party who will replace a battery for you.
10 months ago
I still don't get why apple gets to choose who can get a battery replaced and who can't. even when it was at full price they would turn people away..... shoot if I'm paying for it just replace it Apple some people don't want to wait for a crap battery to replace it and have the means to do so before then........
10 months ago
So basically you get the first one with a discount, then you pay the usual price unless the battery is bad.
Makes sense to me. The important thing is being able to replace the battery for $29 at least once even if their diagnostic test says the battery is fine. I'm planning to change my dad's iPhone 6 battery later this year, it isn't really bad but the phone is more than 3 years old and it ought to have more than 1000 cycles. By replacing the battery the phone will continue to work with a decent battery life for at least another 3 years
Makes sense to me. The important thing is being able to replace the battery for $29 at least once even if their diagnostic test says the battery is fine. I'm planning to change my dad's iPhone 6 battery later this year, it isn't really bad but the phone is more than 3 years old and it ought to have more than 1000 cycles. By replacing the battery the phone will continue to work with a decent battery life for at least another 3 years
10 months ago
Went to the Apple store for my scheduled battery replacement. My 6S shuts down at about 40% battery consistently. They ran diagnostics and said my battery was still in good shape! Interesting. I kindly asked them to replace it anyways, so I am waiting for them to get more batteries in stock then I will make another appointment and trip to the Apple store. Not sure why they scheduled me for a battery replacement when they didn’t have replacements. Apple sure is going down hill
10 months ago
Has Apple announced the intent to make the power management options visible, with toggles so users can opt to use them or not? Put in a new battery is nice but if the same stuff comes back into play a little further down the road, wouldn't we rather have the option of flipping a toggle in iOS instead of having to then buy a new battery over and over? I would.
Proactive Note (to the defenders/apologists): such an option forces nothing on you. If Apple has it exactly right "as is" from your perspective, the OPTIONAL toggle(s) for OTHERS to flip or not flip would have zero effect on your experience.
Proactive Note (to the defenders/apologists): such an option forces nothing on you. If Apple has it exactly right "as is" from your perspective, the OPTIONAL toggle(s) for OTHERS to flip or not flip would have zero effect on your experience.
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