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.

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.

iphonebatteryhealth
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.

batteryhealthtoggle
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.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

PJWilkin Avatar
86 months ago
Apple really needs to extend the discounted battery replacement programme
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Defthand Avatar
86 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.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wanted797 Avatar
86 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.
[doublepost=1543608546][/doublepost]
Does you iPhone have to be below a certain battery percentage to qualify for the battery replacement program?
No you are paying.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Defthand Avatar
86 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.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kazmac Avatar
86 months ago
If they could guarantee I’d have the phone back in two hours, I’d do it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Baumi Avatar
86 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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)