Users who are experiencing sluggish performance from their iPhones due to old batteries should have them replaced now than wait for 2019.
Starting 2019, iPhone users will have to shell out more money — ranging from $49 to $69 — to have their batteries replaced. Apple announced the increase in its official website, saying that batteries for more recent iPhones that are not covered by warranty will increase prices starting Jan. 1, 2019. Meaning, replacement batteries not covered by warranty for iPhones SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus will be $49 on Jan. 1, 2019.
iPhone X owners will have to spend more, as replacement battery not covered by warranty will be $69 at the strike of midnight of Jan. 1, 2019 from just $29 this year. Replacement batteries for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR will also be $69.
Batteries Covered By Warranty Remain Free
If the iPhone unit is still covered by the one-year warranty, the company will replace it for free if the issue wasn't caused by accidental damage. Battery replacements can be performed at an Apple Store or its authorized service locations. iPhone owners also have an option to mail their unit to one of the repair centers for battery replacement. Replacements can be carried out at an Apple Store or at one of its authorized service locations or can be mailed to one of its repair centers. Full details are available on Apple's support site.
Usually, Apple charged $79 for a replacement battery that's not covered by warranty. However, the company was forced to cut down its battery price after a controversy involving old iPhones was uncovered. In addition, Apple gave $50 credit to customers who paid $79 for an iPhone battery replacement within 2017.
It was earlier discovered that Apple was slowing down older iPhones with weaker batteries to keep the devices working. The controversy put Apple in a bind, with many iPhone users filed lawsuit against the tech company, accusing it of sabotaging their smartphones deliberately to generate new sales.
How To Determine If Battery Needs Replacement
Users can determine if their battery already needs replacement via Apple's Battery Health tool, which is included in iOS 11.3. As the name suggests, the tool informs users about the state of their battery, whether it's operating at peak performance or not.
Normally, lithium-ion batteries used by iPhones lose their ability to charge as time passes. Through the tool, Apple has the capacity to monitor the battery's capacity and if the phone can perform at full strength without random shutdowns. Usually, Apple recommends getting a battery replacement if its capacity drops below the ideal 80 percent.
