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Make Sure to Get Your $29 iPhone Battery Replacements Soon as Apple's Discount Program is Set to End on December 31
If you have an iPhone that needs a battery replacement, it's a good idea to get it fixed soon as Apple's $29 battery replacement program is set to end on December 31, 2018.
Apple is still offering $29 battery replacements for the iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X. All of these devices are eligible for a discounted $29 battery following the processor slowdown scandal that Apple faced earlier this year.
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After December 31, 2018, replacement iPhone batteries will return to regular price. For most iPhones, replacement batteries will be priced at $49, with the exception of the iPhone X. Apple will charge $69 for an iPhone X battery replacement.
The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are not eligible for $29 replacement batteries as these devices were released well after the battery issue first came to light and are still under warranty.
To initiate a battery replacement, use Apple's battery support site. You can take your iPhone to an Apple retail store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or send it in for replacement at an Apple Repair Center.
With both replacement methods, Apple warns that it could take up to five business days, but in-store battery replacements are often completed more quickly. Some mail-in repairs can take as long as nine days.
Any damage that impairs the replacement of the battery, such as a cracked screen, will need to be repaired first before the battery can be swapped out for a new one.
You can check on the health of your battery by opening up the Settings app, choosing the Battery section, and selecting "Battery Health."
The Battery Health option will let you know the exact maximum capacity of the battery in your iOS device and whether your iPhone is able to operate at Peak Performance Capability.
If the battery is not operating at Peak Performance Capability, you will see a recommendation for a battery replacement in order to restore the full functionality of the device.
iPhones that are not operating at peak performance can see random shutdowns due to a degrading battery's inability to keep up with processor demands at times of peak usage.
To prevent processor shutdowns, Apple introduced a performance management feature that throttles the processor of the iPhone when the battery cannot provide the power the processor needs.
Performance management does result in slower performance, and while the feature can be disabled by following these steps in an iPhone with a degraded battery, the only permanent fix is a new battery.
Apple initially implemented performance management quietly in the iOS 10.2.1 update in January 2017 and did not let customers know what was going on. The feature was discovered in late 2017, leading to customers who were outraged that Apple did not tell them their devices were being throttled.
There was a huge public upset, leading Apple to issue an apology and to provide the $29 battery replacement program. Apple has been offering no-questions-asked $29 battery replacements since December of 2017.
All iPhones will eventually face battery degradation issues due to the nature of lithium ion batteries. While performance management software was initially limited to the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE, Apple in iOS 12.1 added it to the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X to prevent future shutdowns should these devices suffer from failing batteries.
In the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, performance management features introduced due to degraded batteries "may be less noticeable" because of their "more advanced hardware and software design."
Future iPhones, such as the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, will also eventually receive performance management software until battery technology improves.
Apple is still offering $29 battery replacements for the iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X. All of these devices are eligible for a discounted $29 battery following the processor slowdown scandal that Apple faced earlier this year.
Battery Replacement Cost After Program Ends
After December 31, 2018, replacement iPhone batteries will return to regular price. For most iPhones, replacement batteries will be priced at $49, with the exception of the iPhone X. Apple will charge $69 for an iPhone X battery replacement.
The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are not eligible for $29 replacement batteries as these devices were released well after the battery issue first came to light and are still under warranty.
How to Initiate a Battery Replacement
To initiate a battery replacement, use Apple's battery support site. You can take your iPhone to an Apple retail store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or send it in for replacement at an Apple Repair Center.
With both replacement methods, Apple warns that it could take up to five business days, but in-store battery replacements are often completed more quickly. Some mail-in repairs can take as long as nine days.
Any damage that impairs the replacement of the battery, such as a cracked screen, will need to be repaired first before the battery can be swapped out for a new one.
Checking the Health of Your iPhone Battery
You can check on the health of your battery by opening up the Settings app, choosing the Battery section, and selecting "Battery Health."
The Battery Health option will let you know the exact maximum capacity of the battery in your iOS device and whether your iPhone is able to operate at Peak Performance Capability.
If the battery is not operating at Peak Performance Capability, you will see a recommendation for a battery replacement in order to restore the full functionality of the device.
Performance Management and Minimizing Shutdowns
iPhones that are not operating at peak performance can see random shutdowns due to a degrading battery's inability to keep up with processor demands at times of peak usage.
To prevent processor shutdowns, Apple introduced a performance management feature that throttles the processor of the iPhone when the battery cannot provide the power the processor needs.
Performance management does result in slower performance, and while the feature can be disabled by following these steps in an iPhone with a degraded battery, the only permanent fix is a new battery.
Apple initially implemented performance management quietly in the iOS 10.2.1 update in January 2017 and did not let customers know what was going on. The feature was discovered in late 2017, leading to customers who were outraged that Apple did not tell them their devices were being throttled.
There was a huge public upset, leading Apple to issue an apology and to provide the $29 battery replacement program. Apple has been offering no-questions-asked $29 battery replacements since December of 2017.
The Future of Performance Management
All iPhones will eventually face battery degradation issues due to the nature of lithium ion batteries. While performance management software was initially limited to the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE, Apple in iOS 12.1 added it to the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X to prevent future shutdowns should these devices suffer from failing batteries.
In the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, performance management features introduced due to degraded batteries "may be less noticeable" because of their "more advanced hardware and software design."
Future iPhones, such as the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, will also eventually receive performance management software until battery technology improves.
Tag: iPhone Slowdown
[ 192 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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9 months ago
And NEVER forget the shenanigans that led to the discounted battery offer when Timmy preaches about transparency and the virtues of Apple.
As others saw, Apple NEVER replaced a battery unless there were charging issues or the battery discharged unusually soon (according to Apple’s definition). Otherwise, Apple never replaced an aged battery to restore performance or to satisfy a customer’s request.
Frankly, I doubt their stores are equipped to replace batteries routinely, especially in the numbers that will be common going forward.
Again, don’t forget that Apple could have (should have) advised customers to replace their aged batteries when those customers had no desire to replace the phone itself. Many said they purchased new phones unnecessarily, believing the latest iOS upgrade was to blame.
I’ll never forgive this stunt as long as the current leadership is present, and is a big reason I feel phone culture ruined Apple’s soul.
As others saw, Apple NEVER replaced a battery unless there were charging issues or the battery discharged unusually soon (according to Apple’s definition). Otherwise, Apple never replaced an aged battery to restore performance or to satisfy a customer’s request.
Frankly, I doubt their stores are equipped to replace batteries routinely, especially in the numbers that will be common going forward.
Again, don’t forget that Apple could have (should have) advised customers to replace their aged batteries when those customers had no desire to replace the phone itself. Many said they purchased new phones unnecessarily, believing the latest iOS upgrade was to blame.
I’ll never forgive this stunt as long as the current leadership is present, and is a big reason I feel phone culture ruined Apple’s soul.
9 months ago
So should I go into an apple store and get my iPhone X battery replaced if it's at 95%? I'd rather pay $29 for it now than $69 for it in another 6 months.
I wouldn’t. They have to open your phone to do this.
I’ve had my 6s battery done and it was better but not massively. If you’re at 95% it would be a waste of $29.
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Does you iPhone have to be below a certain battery percentage to qualify for the battery replacement program?
No you are paying.
9 months ago
No
Would you rather your phone unexpectedly shut down and/or unnecessarily chew through battery or marginally throttle performance to preserve it? The battery program was instated due to uneducated and unnecessary consumer backlash. It wasn’t necessary to begin with. Apple is nice to offer it.
That defense has already been throughly destroyed in earlier discussions on this site and among the web. We’ll see if it works for Apple in the class action suits.
The problem with that defense is that you assume their throttling patch was Apple’s only option. It wasn’t, and it wasn’t the best solution for anyone other than Apple.
If their decision was so “nice”, as you think, why didn’t they disclose it even to their service techs? In fact, they were worse than secretive about it. They publicly lied when asked if they throttled older phones.
If Apple had told people about its software bandaid AND told owners that a battery replacement would restore performance, they wouldn’t have betrayed people’s trust, or misled them into buying new phones.
Kid, I sipped Apple’s kool-aid for three decades. But that was before someone spiked the kool-aid with roofies.
9 months ago
Any recommendation? I thought 3rd party apps weren't allowed to report exact battery capacity any more?
Coconut battery (MacOS)
9 months ago
I brought both of my sons iPhone 7's in even though they were showing 84%. The rep proceeded to tell me if it was showing under 80% it would not cost me anything but since it was I would be charged $29. He proceeded to process the order and said 'Huh, looks like AppleCare is going to cover it'. In the end they couldn't get the home button to work after the batter replacement (I think on both of them) so they ended up replacing the screen as well. Cost me $0.
9 months ago
SERIOUSLY?!?
A YEAR wasn't ENOUGH?!?
Well, no. In my brother’s case it isn’t. The ‘Genius’ told him to keep track of the battery issue in his phone over the coming months and disabled features on his phone in order to do so.
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/02/apple-replaces-iphone-batteries-that-pass-tests/
I remember the news, but had forgotten about the threshold not having to be met. Thanks for that, I will be heading in there today and so I’ll raise this with them and challenge them on why they stonewalled.
Thanks for the heads up.
9 months ago
If you want your battery capacity to last longer keep the charge between 80% and 20% as much as possible. Going to 100% and 0% destroys the capacity faster.
I don't believe this is true. This is advice from the old NiCad days, and is not applicable to Lithium Ion batteries.
To counter your anecdote with my anecdote, I always charge my 6S to 100%, I let it drop to near 0% fairly frequently, and the battery performance is still at 100% after 6 months. The phone it replaced (Apple replaced it because of a GPS issue) was 1.5 years old, was treated the same way, and was still at 96%.
9 months ago
Future iPhones, such as the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, will also eventually receive performance management software until apple’s power management improves.
There, I fixed it for you. Remember, androids don’t experience this, so stop drinking apple’s coolaid of “its a limitation of the tech”
Battery degradation is chemistry. ('https://www.androidcentral.com/why-does-battery-life-get-worse-over-time') Happens with every battery-powered device.
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