Apple starts offering its $29 battery replacements today, two days earlier than expected

by Alan Friedman / Dec 30, 2017, 12:25 PM

Apple starts offering its $29 battery replacements today, two days earlier than expected

A couple days ago, Apple apologized for throttling the CPU of certain iPhone models. Apple says that it did this so that the handsets' lack of prime battery power wouldn't shut them down when handling certain tasks. Along with the apology came a deal from the company. Since weak batteries are at the heart of the issue, Apple is allowing you to replace the cells on the iPhone 6 and up for $29. That is a $50 discount from the usual price of $79.

The deal was expected to start on January 1st 2018 and runs through the end of next year. An Apple spokesman said that it expected to need more time to set up the sale, but added that the company is ready to start offering $29 battery replacements starting today. He did caution that batteries for some models might be in limited supply at the moment.

While Apple rivals like Samsung, Motorola, LG and HTC have taken this opportunity to distance themselves from Apple's actions, it remains to be seen exactly what kind of consumer backlash Apple will face. Replacing the batteries on iPhone 6 and later models will allow the phones to continue to run at full strength without the possibility that they will shut down. So if you want to take Apple up on this offer, call your nearby Apple Store to schedule an appointment.

"We expected to need more time to be ready, but we are happy to offer our customers the lower pricing right away. Initial supplies of some replacement batteries may be limited."-Apple

If you're too far away from an Apple Store and don't want to mail your phone to the company, you might consider a DIY battery replacement from iFixit. As we told you the other day, these are available for the iPhone 4s and later, priced at $13.99 to $29.

source: TechCrunch

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48 Comments

2. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

Bravo Apple, as usual you always care about customers.....the others cannot follow.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 12:33 PM 2

4. Anonymous.

Posts: 423; Member since: Jun 15, 2016

Really? Re-read this : Apple says that it did this so that the handsets' lack of prime battery power wouldn't shut them down when handling certain tasks. Lack of prime power? WTF is this excuse? More like it's mean to make users of old iPhones have even poorer battery life, forcing them to upgrade. Easy to see through this shenanigan.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 12:42 PM 8

5. Anonymous.

Posts: 423; Member since: Jun 15, 2016

Not to mention sub-par performance due to CPU throttling.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 12:44 PM 4

9. Peacetoall unregistered

what if the cpu is itself the culprit and not the battery.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 12:57 PM 1

17. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

You are very smart hater....

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:25 PM 2

47. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

Think of the iPhone as a Duracell battery. When a battery powers a product, that products requires a certain amount of power to perform at it's best. As the battery dies or degrades until it power off. That wasn't the problem. Th2 problem was they used cheap batteries, and also didn't put a warning alert in the software to tell you th3 battery needs replacing, like laptops do. Then they out this code and didn't even put it in the iOS Changelog. Theybwerw using this to drive sales. Anyone who claims this was not intentional and believe Apple.lies that they wouldn't do this to push phone sales, needs their heads examined.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 6:38 PM 1

43. cmdacos

Posts: 4201; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

They care for their customers by screwing their customers? Makes sense in your RDF world...

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 5:46 PM 1

6. Derekjeter

Posts: 1488; Member since: Oct 27, 2011

I love my iPhone 7 Plus, and I will never stop using Apple, but even I see that they are just too f**king greedy. A cheap repelacement is not the answer. Why don’t they really show that they care by offering a great trade in program for people experiencing issues with old iPhones. At least give them an iPhone 8, cuz the X is just a piece of s**t device.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 12:51 PM 14

28. Jrod99

Posts: 729; Member since: Jan 15, 2016

And maybe a refund to anyone who just replaced their phone only because of slow performance. Offer something anyways. Free AirPods?

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:54 PM 0

54. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

Free AirPod? They can't even make enough for people buying them. They must be making 1000 a week vs an hour. I like free $4!÷, but I don't want free $**÷.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 7:08 PM 0

48. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

Wow, I'm so surprised at you...lol.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 6:39 PM 0

49. cncrim

Posts: 1588; Member since: Aug 15, 2011

Did you said Apple greed?

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 6:42 PM 0

12. Hollowmost

Posts: 421; Member since: Oct 10, 2017

Sorry iPologize ...

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:08 PM 3

16. vliang86

Posts: 337; Member since: Oct 05, 2015

I used Samsung S7 and S8 for a few months this year before switching back to iPhone (now iPhone X). What I noticed is that all of the Samsung Galaxy phones is fast at first but start lagging a lot after a few months of use. The battery is still new, but the software makes everything lag.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:23 PM 4

21. Peacetoall unregistered

strange I have been using iphone x for a few months this year before switching back to samsung s8 . what I noticed is that at first iphone x is fast but after some time it starts to throttle and I experience lot of frame drop and app crash. The battery is still new but it looks like apple was doing it intentionally. You see how that works

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:31 PM 6

24. vliang86

Posts: 337; Member since: Oct 05, 2015

Lol you sound like Techie who made up a lot of things to trash Apple in every Apple article. You also do the same to praise Samsung in every article. Btw, Im sure you just don’t want to admit this: Samsung phones start lagging after a few month of use (especially with a lot of apps) vs iPhone slowing down after a few years (eg iPhone 6).

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:44 PM 1

30. izim1

Posts: 1599; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

Lol because you're not making anything up to try and defend your beloved apple, right?....

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 2:00 PM 7

32. Peacetoall unregistered

dude Im serious my iphone X is throttling badly.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 2:29 PM 3

69. Cicero

Posts: 1129; Member since: Jan 22, 2014

You are inventing lies just to defend your greedy Apple was caught with hand in people's pocket. And what a good defend is ... attack. Your answer about Apple intentionally throttle the cpu after an year of use of new released iPhone? How it is looking now your mighty A11 cpu? Please!

posted on Dec 31, 2017, 3:00 AM 1

26. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

Keep lying hater......

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:51 PM 2

64. sissy246

Posts: 7111; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

How can you be using the iPhone 10 for a few months when it's only been out a few week. Apple just needs to replace the batteries for free.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 10:26 PM 0

50. cncrim

Posts: 1588; Member since: Aug 15, 2011

Really? I use both and IOS 11 is most buggy and most app crash in history of IOS. Regardless, with Samsung after it slow you can factory reset, with IOS they slow it down on purpose so upgrade is only option. 5 mins reset or $800/1000? By the way, I only have to reset it one every 2 years, so chime all you like.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 6:51 PM 0

51. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

I had the S6 edge, also access to S7 edge and I had access to S8 and S8+ and I have Note.8. None of them are laggy. Do they lag sometimes? All phones do at some point. Just like any PC np matter how powerful the hardware. Maybe you shouldn't I stall garbage on your phone.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 6:52 PM 0

25. muck1

Posts: 13; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

LMAO keep hating imoo isheep lmaoo

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:45 PM 3

29. darkkjedii

Posts: 31039; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Good move Apple, for an issue the could’ve been avoided. The discounted price is cool, but free would be better, since it was done without consumer consent.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 1:59 PM 1

56. Ralph.

Posts: 249; Member since: Dec 20, 2017

It was not cool, it was meant to be replaced by no cost, but for *free.*

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 8:02 PM 2

31. collin3000

Posts: 70; Member since: Apr 28, 2015

...So #1 it'll only let the phone run at full strength until the battery runs low again (unless they change their code) and #2 they're still making a profit off throttling customers. The batteries are what $1-5? labor ~$5-15. So ~$9-23 profit. Either they need to remove the throttling code from every phone purchased before it was public knowledge or provide free battery replacements forever. Otherwise, they fully deserve every single lawsuit.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 2:12 PM 1

33. mike2959

Posts: 694; Member since: Oct 08, 2011

The battery’s at ifixit are not new. They are reconditioned.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 2:56 PM 0

34. cncrim

Posts: 1588; Member since: Aug 15, 2011

Apple, How about give customers option to shut it off? Stop throttle the CPU, and sign the lastest stable firware. Other important one stop prompt update everyday. I can see your “Plan obsolescence” remove app from store, slow down the phone, remove something useful then courage sell more dongle...... come on, more and more evidences to that direction. Remember why iphone was awesome in first place? Because it pack all the common feature in one camera, GPS, media storage, internet etc..... lately it is going the opposite direction, more and more dongle, cables. Stop all this before greedy get crumble on it own weight good shake of share holder.

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 3:06 PM 4

37. cmdacos

Posts: 4201; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

For $29 more than expected...

posted on Dec 30, 2017, 3:14 PM 0

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