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Does my mobile phone warranty cover battery degradation or wear? Mobile batteries tend to wear out over time. They begin to degrade when they reach approximately 300 charge cycles, which is usually a year. This causes the battery performance to decrease and drain more quickly. Also, in some cases, it can also affect performance. If our mobile is less than two years old and we notice that the battery discharges faster, do we have the right to have it replaced under warranty?
We compare what the major mobile manufacturers say and whether or not wear and tear is covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Samsung
We start with Samsung, one of the most popular brands. Samsung has a very clear warranty policy on its website. Mention that their terminals have up to 2 years warranty. In the limitations, it warns that the guarantee does not apply when "there is breakage of any of the seals of the housing or battery cells, or obvious signs of tampering in them.
To confirm this, I have contacted Samsung customer service via chat about this clause. The expert who has attended me tells me that to confirm it, you have to take the terminal to technical service and have the type of damage examined. Because if the battery has a factory damage, it would be covered by the warranty, but not due to degradation due to use.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi makes it somewhat more difficult. In order to read the warranty conditions I had to ask in the support chat. After several minutes of waiting, a specialist mentions that it is the technical support who decides if this degradation is covered by the guarantee, but that "in principle it is covered". After asking for a page where I can read the Xiaomi warranty conditions, the specialist provides it to me and I can read the following.
Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the warranty lasts and is granted for two (2) years for the main unit, six (6) months for the battery and charger originally packaged with the product.
In addition, in the conditions of 'exceptions to the use of the guarantee', they mention that they do not cover accidental damage or caused by third-party components, but it does not say anything about wear and tear. Of course, with 6 months it is unlikely that we will notice a degradation of the battery, since something usually begins to be noticed later, and in this case the warranty of this component would have already ended.
Xiaomi also does not detail the price of battery replacement. We will have to take it to technical service and wait for them to give us a quote.
Manzana
Apple is another of the firms that make their warranty conditions clear. In your policy there are two sections: what the warranty covers and what it does not cover. It advises that the limited one-year warranty on its products does not apply to parts that degrade. Among them, the battery. Of course, except that the battery has a factory fault.
This warranty does not apply to the following: (a) consumable parts, such as batteries or protective coatings designed to wear out over time, except in the event of a defect in materials or workmanship
In this case, Apple does show battery repair prices, since its mobile phone catalog is somewhat more limited. From the iPhone X onwards, and with the exception of the iPhone SE 2020, the battery replacement is priced at 75 euros. From the iPhone 8 Plus and even the iPhone 5c, the price is 55 euros.
Huawei
Huawei also has easy access to its warranty policy. In addition, it is very clear: with information on the duration and what it covers on your different devices, such as mobile phones, watches, tablets, computers, etc.
Huawei mentions that the warranty for the battery incorporated in its mobiles lasts for 24 months (2 years). However, they don't mention if this only applies to factory damage or wear and tear. You have to go to the conditions, where they mention the following.
This Warranty does not cover any matter (including any type of damage and / or breakdown) derived and / or related and / or resulting from: natural wear and tear of the Product.
Therefore, and taking into account that battery degradation results in natural wear and tear, it is not covered by the warranty. Again, depending on the model, the replacement price is different.
LG
LG recently announced that many of its phones now have a 5-year warranty. That is, they apply 3 more years to the 2-year warranty that they already had previously. What does the manufacturer say in its warranty conditions? That factory damage is covered, but damage caused by normal wear and tear:
Your product warranty is subject to the following exclusions and limitations. Faults caused by normal wear and tear due to use (including batteries, camera lenses, screens, headphones or external hands-free).
They also mention the following:
In consumables, such as batteries, batteries, etc., the warranty period will depend on their useful life, determined by the charge / discharge cycles and mode of use, although as a reference it will be approximately 1 year.
