Is your iPhone 5 battery suddenly not holding a charge the way it used to? Apple might replace it for free

posted by Maxwell R.

Aug 22, 2014, 9:49 PM

Is your iPhone 5 battery suddenly not holding a charge the way it used to? Apple might replace it for free

Many iPhone 5 smartphones are approaching two year mark in terms of age. That is arguably three or more lifetimes in smartphone years. They are still perfectly viable devices, but electronics do endure a physical wear as well as a software burden over time too.

If your trusty iPhone 5 is working well, but the battery does not seem to be up to snuff, it appears Apple has discovered that a “small percentage” of iPhone 5 devices (not the 5s, or 5c) may “suddenly experience” a shorter battery life.

The iPhones in question were sold between September 2012 and January 2013, and Apple has identified the impacted group within a range of serial numbers. The company has set up a “serial number checker” where you can verify if your device is affected.

Apple has set up a battery replacement process in the US and China, and on August 29th, it will be available in other countries. If your device is eligible, you will be able to get it serviced at any authorized service provider, Apple store, or Apple tech support location. If there is any physical damage to your device (cracked screen for example), that will need to be fixed.

Check out the source link for all the details. If by chance you have a device that falls within the group, and already paid for a battery replacement, Apple will offer you a refund for the repair.

sources: Apple via Gizmodo

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39 Comments

31. darkoman4

Posts: 183; Member since: May 30, 2014

Just did my wife's and my daughter's. 1/2 hour and I was out of the Apple store. Their service is indeed second to none.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 4:39 PM 0

32. Ninetysix

Posts: 2967; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

15 min per phone is Awesome. Don't let John B hear that though.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:42 PM 0

34. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Apparently you still are not understanding me. This reactive repair is for limited serialized iPhones. If not for this action, how would you be able to inspect your battery on a regular basis in which engineers and techs like myself highly recommend? What bothers me the most is the fact of people still not understanding the cons are far more detrimental with sealed batteries than they are with removable. This leads to the next question of what harm is it to a consumer to have a removable battery? The marketing propoganda that sealed batteries offer slimmer and lighter phones has proven to be false. And you still haven't ascended to to the logic that these companies want to force you to bring in a phone for a battery replacement, which in contrast, should be easy to do by the consumer. So, I really don't care what phone you choose. But, I do care that the industry is trying to rake every single dollar from the consumer. John B.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 8:47 PM 0

37. iushnt

Posts: 3189; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Yes I got u. I can easily take out the battery to check if its swollen or not on my Samsung devices. However, I don't know if my dad's HTC one's battery is fine or not.

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 4:33 AM 0

38. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Yes, that is only one of the many reasons. Swelling is a common occurrence.you can't visually check it, far worse can happen to the device in which the battery resides. Imagine the issues that could be avoided of early battery failure could be detected. It has been this way since the beginning. The industry is grooming the consumers to buck up for new devices even for somthing as simple as failed batteries. This keeps the demand high as to avoid lowering handset costs as well as insurance costs. Purchasing handsets straight out is not the resolve for high costs as people want to believe due to escalating repairs to sealed phones. Special tools and labor add up. Since batteries are about 40% of handset malfunctions, we are all paying for it on a exponentially financial level. John B.

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 12:36 PM 0

25. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

When I discovered the battery on my S3 was swelling and not holding a charge, I was issued a free replacement battery and it took all about 30 seconds to replace and was on my way to the important scheduded appointment because it was removable. How long do these Apple customers have to wait? John B.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 11:13 AM 1

27. Ninetysix

Posts: 2967; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

About 30.2 seconds. Your favorite company wins John B.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 11:52 AM 0

28. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Laugh it up all you want. But, in the event the battery isn't replaced and someone needs to buck up for replacement handset out of warranty, what's the cost especially when nothing was wrong with the handset to begin with as the article states? I can explain it to you. But, I can't understand it for you. It really is simple logic. Batteries fail and you people would rather pay someone to replace it for you? Nonsense! Either a lot of you are wealthy, or have thick skulls. John B.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 2:09 PM 0

30. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Why does there have to be an "Or" option?

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 4:02 PM 0

33. Ninetysix

Posts: 2967; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

Oh AfterShock. Just let others buy their preferred smartphone brand and let them enjoy it. It'll save you a lot of headaches in the future.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 8:29 PM 0

36. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

I don't care what brand you purchase. I do care about consumer balance. We are losing that when we forfeit all the control into the store or manufacturer's hands. You might not think that this is a big deal. But, I can assure you that in sake of consumer interest, it is a huge deal. Two of my friends are Apple users that will not part with their choice. But, they do wish that the iphone would come with a removable battery. It only makes sense. Patronizing me doesn't do anything for your argument of why sealing batteries is a good idea. It only provides mental documentation that you are ignorant in what I'm trying to convey here. Whether it be Apple, Sony, Samsung etc, batteries are the weakest link in any device regardless of brand or price. John B.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 9:14 PM 0

39. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Gabba Gabba Hey.

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 8:43 PM 0

35. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Because, of all the people that disappoint me the most in trying to understand this, it is the tech geeks that seem to fail in the understanding of why leaving thirty year old technology easily accessible is of the utmost importance for consumer control. Many mainstream users are asking questions of why they can't get to the batteries. I actually had one person call me to ask me how to get the back cover off of his new HTC so he could check his battery. His face turned red when I told him it was sealed. He felt embarrassed that he never thought about it when he purchased it. The single most ignored and taken for granted component in a smartphone is the battery. Would you ignore the oil in your car? John B.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 8:58 PM 0

24. NateAdam8

Posts: 439; Member since: Feb 17, 2012

MIGHT!

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 10:53 AM 0

8. techloverNYC

Posts: 601; Member since: Nov 20, 2012

Best customer service out of all phone companys PERIOD. We can all hate on their products or pricing but when it comes to customer service they know their thing. As much as I love Andriod, it will never reach Apples' status if they don't have like a google store or something similar.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:52 PM 2

13. Python212

Posts: 363; Member since: Aug 13, 2014

Samsung doesn't represent the whole Android but I heard that they're gonna offer similar customer service soon via bestbuy stores. BTW, I'm from NYC, too. I live in Midtown West. Where you at in NYC?

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 11:09 PM 1

14. techloverNYC

Posts: 601; Member since: Nov 20, 2012

Always nice to meet a fellow New Yorker. I live in NYC, at the Lower East Side. That will be a very smart move by Samsung. In order for them to brand their galaxy line as premium or high class as apples, they need the personalized touch (customer service,post service,repair,etc). Creating mini service stores within bestbuy stores or radioshack will be a safe and smart move.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:31 AM 1

17. Python212

Posts: 363; Member since: Aug 13, 2014

That's cool I'm in LES right now LOL My buddy threw a huge loft party at his crib(Allen & Grand) and yet I'm on my phone surfing PA I'm a loser I guess lol Have a good night man

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:48 AM 0

19. JC557

Posts: 1927; Member since: Dec 07, 2011

Hey, I'm in Queens and I spent the night playing counter-strike... It sounds like Apple will be doing quite a service for those with the older phones. Luckily the 5th Avenue store is open 24/7 =P

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 2:44 AM 0

26. Python212

Posts: 363; Member since: Aug 13, 2014

Don't forget that we also got a 24/7 Bestbuy in Union Square :) NYC ROCKS!!!!

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 11:37 AM 0

4. syncronyze

Posts: 103; Member since: Apr 26, 2014

Too bad I just replaced my iPhone with a HTC One M8. :)

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:20 PM 7

5. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Brilliant. Quietly brilliant.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:21 PM 6

29. hurrycanger

Posts: 1777; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

I see what you did there, haha.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 2:53 PM 1

7. techloverNYC

Posts: 601; Member since: Nov 20, 2012

Props to u. Just got myself an M8 too. Only con I can think of is when not using case, it gets slippery at times.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:50 PM 1

10. Python212

Posts: 363; Member since: Aug 13, 2014

Do you like it better than your old iPhone? I have one too but I'm about to drop it for the Note 4 when it comes out later. I'm already bored with their design.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:57 PM 2

2. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

That is pretty considerate. Must be bad mojo if you don't get it fixed.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 9:56 PM 1

1. Python212

Posts: 363; Member since: Aug 13, 2014

Props to Apple!! They're doing the right thing

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 9:51 PM 3

3. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Apple is being forced to do this "right thing". Imagine what will happen to Apple if they charge their customers for problems like this? It will give Apple a bad image, and their customers will switch to other brand after that because the customers will think that all Apple wants is just the money.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:19 PM 2

6. AlikMalix unregistered

How many times did any android vendors went out of the way to repair a problem for you after way after warranty ran out? When is Samsung going to replace the burn-in screen problem that AMOLED screens are experiencing? Or battery issues that affected 30% of consumers. My buddy called the manufacturer he was told he's not under warranty any longer even though they said in news that they'd replace batteries. "Forced" my ass. It's beyond warranty for iphone 5 since it was released almost 2 years ago.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 10:43 PM 5

15. iushnt

Posts: 3189; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Seeing the price and premium placement of iphones, this should never have happened. People expect too much of iPhones and this is what they get? Faulty components? And yes, samsung replaced the faulty phones of verizon which had rom problems stopping the camera of s5 to work. And what about other iPhone 5 owners apart from China or USA? Everyone won't be knowing that they had an option to replace battery even in USA.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:36 AM 2

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