Apple Launches Replacement Program for Smart Battery Cases Designed for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR

Apple today launched a battery case replacement program ('https://support.apple.com/iphone-xs-xs-max-xr-smart-battery-case-replacement') for Smart Battery Cases designed for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR.

According to Apple, some Smart Battery Cases can experience charging issues, including cases that will not charge or charge intermittently when plugged into power, or cases that will not charge an iPhone or charge it intermittently.



Affected Smart Battery Cases were manufactured between January 2019 and October 2019. Apple says that this is not a safety issue and Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will replace eligible cases for free.

All Smart Battery Cases designed for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR manufactured between the above dates are eligible for replacement. Apple says that no other iPhone Smart Battery Cases are a part of the program, which means no iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max battery cases will be replaced.

Apple says that customers with an impacted Smart Battery Case can find an Apple Authorized Service Provider or make an appointment at an Apple retail location to have their case replaced. Smart Battery Cases will be examined prior to service to verify that they are eligible for the program.

Affected cases will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way and the program covers Smart Battery Cases for two years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Since the Smart Battery Cases launched in early 2019, there have been complaints over various failures and issues with charging. At one point in mid-2019, the Smart Battery Cases were unavailable for purchase and backordered for over a month ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/30/apple-smart-battery-cases-july/'), a stock issue that could have been related to ongoing charging problems.

Article Link: Apple Launches Replacement Program for Smart Battery Cases Designed for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/10/apple-battery-case-replacement-program/')

Another useless replacement program that is another slap in the face to the consumer. Just got off the phone with Apple. The defective case must be taken to an Apple Store. I bought mine online since the nearest store is 300 miles away. It would cost more to drive there than the case is worth. Guess I will have to to deal with another Apple fail.

My XS MAX case failed. I called support and it was such a terrible experience - I literally spent hours with them on the phone and they made me jump through so many hoops and have a call with their engineering team before they’d be willing to replace it. I didn’t have the time so I just gave up. I was extremely disappointed with the support experience.

Welcome news. I’ve been searching for months trying to find others with my issue. The case will not charge, SOMETIMES, and the phone charges first to 99% but the case doesn’t. In other situations, the case is listed as the product code in the Notification Center instead of “Smart Battery Case”. And as it’s in my pocket it will vibrate like you’re plugging it in over and over. Then weeks will go by where nothing appears wrong, then it happens again.

i can’t reliably reproduce the issue, hopefully they swap it out anyway. This is an XS Smart Battery case.

Well, I was using this case for about a month and then this happened to my battery...can't prove that they are related, but just sayin...

So it’ll be two trips to the Apple store. They don’t have parts in stock and won’t replace with a retail unit. Of course they didn’t tell me that when I made the appointment.
For recalls like this it’s be nice if apple made it easier to do.

My iPhone XS Max Smart Battery Case quit working in May last year. I contacted Apple and it took several phone calls to get someone to help. When I finally found someone that could help the case was backordered with a shipment date weeks out. I kept calling every few weeks but the shipment date kept getting pushed back. Eventually the senior advisor let me pick out anything in the Apple Store for under $300. I ended up getting a free HomePod and the case ended up shipping the next week. Good luck getting that type of support from any other company.