Table of contents:
- What happened to the batteries in older iPhones?
- How do I know if my iPhone is affected?
- How to order a battery change at Apple?
Apple closed the year 2017 with controversy. After the release of iOS 11, many users with older iPhones complained of a significant drop in performance. Social networks and forums were filled with users with the same problem. Although not all devices were affected, there were many who suffered from the problem, especially iPhone 6 users. Finally, with lawsuits involved, Apple apologized and acknowledged that it applied some limitations at the software level to avoid unexpected shutdowns. The problem was found to be in devices that had a worn-out battery. Therefore, on December 28, Apple decided to lower the price of changing batteries from 89 to 29 euros.
If you have an iPhone 6 or higher and have noticed a significant drop in performance, it is most likely due to a worn out battery. The solution is a battery change. So we thought that you would like to know how to request a battery change for your iPhone at Apple. We have several methods, depending on whether we have a store nearby or not.
What happened to the batteries in older iPhones?
But first, let's see what Apple says about this case. As we said, the Cupertino company published on December 28 a message addressed to its customers. In it, they first ensure that this action has not been carried out to shorten the useful life of a device. Second, they explain how batteries work and how the passage of time affects them:
All rechargeable batteries are consumables that lose effectiveness as their chemical components age and their ability to hold a charge decreases. The passage of time and the number of times a battery has been charged are not the only factors that determine this chemical aging process.
The way the device is used also affects the performance of the battery throughout its useful life. For example, if a battery is left or charged in a hot environment, deterioration can be accelerated. The chemical components have these characteristics and are the same in all lithium ion batteries used in the industry.
A chemically damaged battery also loses its ability to deliver power surges, especially if it is undercharged, which can cause the device to turn off suddenly under certain circumstances.
Naturally, the fact that devices turn off unexpectedly is unacceptable to us. We don't want any customer to miss a call, stop taking a photo, or have a bad experience with their iPhone if we can remedy it.
That said, the same statement also explains the actions that were carried out to avoid unwanted shutdowns. We have to go back to a year ago, when Apple released iOS 10.2.1:
A year ago, with iOS 10.2.1, we released a software update that improves power management during peak periods to prevent unexpected shutdown on iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. With this update, iOS dynamically manages the peak performance of some system components when necessary to prevent the device from shutting down. Although these changes may go unnoticed, in some cases apps may take longer to open and performance may decrease.
Our customers' response to iOS 10.2.1 was positive, as it reduced the incidence of unexpected shutdowns. We recently extended this technical enhancement to iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus with the release of iOS 11.2.
Obviously, if a chemically aged battery is replaced with a new one, the performance of the iPhone returns to what was expected when used under normal conditions.
After this explanation, the company acknowledges that last fall they began to receive negative comments from users. The general complaint was a performance drop in their terminals. In the end, they concluded that the problem was the continuous chemical aging of the batteries in iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s devices, many of which are powered by their original batteries.
Once the problem is recognized, Apple provides the solutions they have adopted. The first is to lower the price of replacement of the battery out of warranty by 60 euros, going from 89 to 29 euros. This applies to all iPhone 6 or later models. This price will be valid until December 2018.
The second will be an iOS update with new features. Specifically, it will make it easier to check the status of the battery of our iPhone. So we can see for ourselves if it is affecting performance.
How do I know if my iPhone is affected?
Until the commented update arrives, we do not have a "simple" method to know the status of the battery. However, the terminal can give us some clues. For example, we can enter Settings-Battery and check if we have any messages on this screen. If we see "The iPhone battery may need to be repaired" it means that we have exceeded 500 charge cycles. Or maybe we are about to. If so, we recommend changing the battery
Another option, if you have a Mac, is to use the coconut Battery application. It is a free application and allows us to know the number of battery cycles and its maximum capacity. And finally, the best way to check it is to use your mobile. If we notice that the performance is much lower than it was before, the battery is probably worn out.
Finally, you can take a performance test, as we explain here. If you detect that your iPhone needs a battery change, you should take advantage of the reduction that Apple has made.
How to order a battery change at Apple?
To request the replacement we have two methods. The first is to make an appointment with the Genius section of an official Apple Store. We can do it by entering the Apple support website with our ID.
Once here, we will have to select the problem we have. We will search the map for the Apple Store closest to us. By selecting it, we can see the availability of the Genius Bar of the store in question. We will select the appointment we want and it will be confirmed.
The second method is to request in-home repair. From the same web page we will have to select the option "Send for repair". Once selected, the service will show us a list of our devices and we will have to choose the one that corresponds. If it is not, we will have to put the serial number of the iPhone.
To make the shipment Apple gives us two options. The first is for it to be picked up by DHL and the second is to receive a box to send the device. The repair, according to the website itself, will take between 6 and 10 working days.
These are the two methods that Apple offers to repair the battery of our iPhone. The truth is that, if you have an iPhone 6 or higher with a lot of time, it may be a great opportunity to give it a new life. What do you think of the option that the apple company offers us?
