Apple Stores to Replace Batteries for $29 Instead of $79 in iPhone 6 & Later (Apologizes for throttling, but still denies planned obsolescence)
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Apple finally acknowledges and apologizes for software updates that slowed older phones to a crawl, claiming it was to increase the life of older batteries/conserve power to prevent random shutdowns. They deny doing it to force users to upgrade to/buy newer phones as claimed by a growing number of class action lawsuits across the country.
To compensate, they’re charging just $29 for brand new internal battery replacements on the iPhone 6 and models released aftwards, which should restore phone operation speeds to like new condition. They normally charge $79 for out-of-warranty battery replacements. iPhone 6 users can also purchase an iPhone Smart Battery Case for $99.
Find a store: https://www.apple.com/retail/ (“initial supplies of some replacement batteries may be limited”). Currently set to expire in “December 2018.”
They also promise that the next upgrade, in early 2018, will allow users to better see and understand the performance of their batteries, and wether it is impacting the phone’s performance.
Backstory: https://www.macworld.com/article/3245067/consumer-electronics/apple-iphone-battery-replacement-program.html.
December 28, 2017
A Message to Our Customers about iPhone Batteries and Performance
We’ve been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated that process. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize. There’s been a lot of misunderstanding about this issue, so we would like to clarify and let you know about some changes we’re making.
First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.
How batteries age
All rechargeable batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they chemically age and their ability to hold a charge diminishes. Time and the number of times a battery has been charged are not the only factors in this chemical aging process.
Device use also affects the performance of a battery over its lifespan. For example, leaving or charging a battery in a hot environment can cause a battery to age faster. These are characteristics of battery chemistry, common to lithium-ion batteries across the industry.
A chemically aged battery also becomes less capable of delivering peak energy loads, especially in a low state of charge, which may result in a device unexpectedly shutting itself down in some situations.
To help customers learn more about iPhone’s rechargeable battery and the factors affecting its performance, we’ve posted a new support article, iPhone Battery and Performance.
It should go without saying that we think sudden, unexpected shutdowns are unacceptable. We don’t want any of our users to lose a call, miss taking a picture or have any other part of their iPhone experience interrupted if we can avoid it.
Preventing unexpected shutdowns
About a year ago in iOS 10.2.1, we delivered a software update that improves power management during peak workloads to avoid unexpected shutdowns on iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. With the update, iOS dynamically manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown. While these changes may go unnoticed, in some cases users may experience longer launch times for apps and other reductions in performance.
Customer response to iOS 10.2.1 was positive, as it successfully reduced the occurrence of unexpected shutdowns. We recently extended the same support for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in iOS 11.2.
Of course, when a chemically aged battery is replaced with a new one, iPhone performance returns to normal when operated in standard conditions.
Recent user feedback
Over the course of this fall, we began to receive feedback from some users who were seeing slower performance in certain situations. Based on our experience, we initially thought this was due to a combination of two factors: a normal, temporary performance impact when upgrading the operating system as iPhone installs new software and updates apps, and minor bugs in the initial release which have since been fixed.
We now believe that another contributor to these user experiences is the continued chemical aging of the batteries in older iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s devices, many of which are still running on their original batteries.
Addressing customer concerns
We’ve always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible. We’re proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors’ devices.
To address our customers’ concerns, to recognize their loyalty and to regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple’s intentions, we’ve decided to take the following steps:
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Apple is reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement by $50 — from $79 to $29 — for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later whose battery needs to be replaced, available worldwide through December 2018. Details will be provided soon on apple.com.
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Early in 2018, we will issue an iOS software update with new features that give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone’s battery, so they can see for themselves if its condition is affecting performance.
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As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid unexpected shutdowns as batteries age.
At Apple, our customers’ trust means everything to us. We will never stop working to earn and maintain it. We are able to do the work we love only because of your faith and support — and we will never forget that or take it for granted.
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I have an iPhone 6 and brought it into local Apple store in November as battery seemed bad. They ran test and said they did not recommend replacing it as still within threshold of being “good”. I started having major battery issues in mid to late December so scheduled appointment for 01 Jan to get battery replaced at same local Apple store.
When I saw all these news articles I called Apple to see if I could get $29 battery they indicated that it was available immediately and not in late January as initially reported.
At the Apple store I actually got the same tech from back in November and he said that normally you’d have to order the battery and then come back to replace it once it comes in but since I came in November for battery issue they’ll go ahead and replace mine that day so I did not have to come back.
If you are going in for battery replacement, for the time being it may need 2 different appointments so keep that in mind.
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Thanks for the first hand account @robstrash. I think it’s totally bogus that they ever require two trips for a simple battery replacement… especially one that they way overcharge $79 for. However, given the mea culpa, you’d think they’d keep all stores well stocked with replacement batteries until the end of the year when the offer expires. Haven’t they put owners through enough without further frustrating them? At minimum, they should let you call ahead to order the replacement battery/make an appointment so only 1 trip is required. I also wonder what people who don’t live near an Apple store are expected to do (I hope they don’t have to pay to ship their phone and also be without their phone for who knows how long). This makes me appreciate being able to order a $7 dollar battery off Amazon and popping it into my mobile myself without voiding any warranties when my battery began failing last summer.
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@fivetalents said in Apple Stores to Replace Batteries for $29 Instead of $79 in iPhone 6 & Later (Apologizes for throttling, but still denies planned obsolescence):
Haven’t they put owners through enough without further frustrating them?
I mean to be fair the owners decided to get an Apple phone, so perhaps they like being frustrated?
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@dangeruss said in Apple Stores to Replace Batteries for $29 Instead of $79 in iPhone 6 & Later (Apologizes for throttling, but still denies planned obsolescence):
@fivetalents said in Apple Stores to Replace Batteries for $29 Instead of $79 in iPhone 6 & Later (Apologizes for throttling, but still denies planned obsolescence):
Haven’t they put owners through enough without further frustrating them?
I mean to be fair the owners decided to get an Apple phone, so perhaps they like being frustrated?
It’s a perfect sadomasochistic relationship.
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The deadline for this is quickly approaching. I’m bumping this now in case I forget to before December 28th.
