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.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)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
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?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.
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
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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