Apple Possibly Planning to Launch iPhone 6 Battery Exchange Program [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple may be preparing to launch an iPhone 6 battery exchange program for undisclosed reasons, according to Japanese website Mac Otakara.

It is unclear if the iPhone 6 program would be related to Apple's existing iPhone 6s battery replacement program. Apple launched that program in November after it determined that a "very small number of iPhone 6s devices may unexpectedly shut down" due to a manufacturing issue.

A number of iPhone 6s users said their devices typically shut down with around 30% battery life remaining. Apple noted the shutdowns are not a safety issue, but rather a feature designed to protect the iPhone's internal components from low voltage. However, affected batteries still need to be replaced.

Apple also has an iPhone 5 battery replacement program, which it launched in August 2014 after it determined that a "very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently," so an iPhone 6 program would not be unprecedented.

Mac Otakara accurately leaked several iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus features, including the removal of the headphone jack and a glossy black color, but some of its rumors, such as a new Jet White color for iPhone 7, have yet to materialize or proven incorrect. File this rumor in the "maybe" cabinet.

Update: Apple has reportedly told AppleInsider that "there are no plans" for an iPhone 6 battery exchange program.

"We constantly evaluate service statistics," one source inside Apple corporate said. "There are no plans or grounds for a wide iPhone 6 battery exchange program at this time."

Article Link: Apple Possibly Planning to Launch iPhone 6 Battery Exchange Program [Updated]

 

[Tiger8]

Weird, just this past weekend my iPhone 6 battery started misbehaving; Granted it's over 2 years old now, but I kept my 4s for even longer and it never had such issues (it obviously lost capacity but stayed consistent).

 

[PlainviewX]

In under a year my 6's battery was acting up. It would read 25% and then shut off randomly. I'd plug it in and it would jump to 30%+ charged immediately. Brought it in and they said there was no issue and they can't replace it because they saw no issue.

 

[newyorksole]

This wouldn't surprise me. I know a few people with iPhone 6's who say their phones are doing the unexpected shutdown at random percentages. And since there's only a replacement program for the 6S they don't qualify AND they're out of warranty.

 

[Nik]

Amazingly great products!
Unapologetically great batteries!

"There are no plans or grounds for a wide iPhone 6 battery exchange program at this time."

MacRumors, look at the details before you state, that Apple is not doing an exchange program at all. Do your work!

 

[TallManNY]

Every smartphone should have its battery replaced after two or so years. It would be nice if Apple let people know that this can be done and it isn't that expensive. Of course Apple might sell less new phones then.

 

[powaking]

In under a year my 6's battery was acting up. It would read 25% and then shut off randomly. I'd plug it in and it would jump to 30%+ charged immediately. Brought it in and they said there was no issue and they can't replace it because they saw no issue.

When I had my 6 this was also what I experienced. I would have about 50% then it would shut off. I tried to start it up but it would tell me to charge it as it was dead. If I waited a few minutes and try to do a force reboot it would boot up, show that I had more % battery than before but then turn back off after a minute or 2. Plug it in and it would drop 10% from earlier reporting then jump back up. Very strange. Apple said nothing wrong from their diagnostics.

 

[Twinsbb17]

This would be welcome news. I did, however, just upgrade my flailing 6 to a 7 two weeks ago. Oh well, that'll make reselling the 6 an even better proposition with the new battery.

 

[itsmilo]

Happens and been happening to at least 2 people in my family ever since the iPhone 5 days on no matter what iPhone Gen from there on out. Thankfully so far i have been lucky and no early shutdowns on iPhones. Hope i didnt just jinx myself lol

 

[Arkanok]

This is great news! For the past few months my launch iPhone 6 has been having some serious issues. Sometimes shutting off at 10 or 20%, and sometimes even at 50%. I've been contemplating an iPhone 7 purchase due to this problem but didn't really want to because I was trying to hold out until the next iPhone is released.

 

[Paul Dawkins]

I had a 6S Plus and after getting a 7 Plus I gave it to my family member and he now complains about it shutting down at around 30-40%. He said it might be cold, but I never had such problem even in very cold conditions.

 

[Frizers]

Great! Got mine launch day and its been bad in the past six months or so, switching off anywhere below 50% randomly and demanding to be plugged in (only to then switch back on with 50% battery a minute later) and simply lasting around 2hours usage and 3 hours of standby. Called apple and they said its health is 90% but I only get through half a day now, if that. I was told 99/100 times its due to software so told to restore the phone and delete apps like Facebook because running in the background kills battery life. I pointed out even if this is true, why should my phone switch off when below 50% health? Or drop by 20% in 5 minutes, and when i plug it in, claim to be back on 50% battery? And Apple deny there being any problem and that just using Facebook too much (no more than i did a year or two ago) yet it cannot last half a day :/

 

[keysofanxiety]

This wouldn't surprise me. I know a few people with iPhone 6's who say their phones are doing the unexpected shutdown at random percentages. And since there's only a replacement program for the 6S they don't qualify AND they're out of warranty.

Same happens with my 5S - dies around 40%. However the wear level is very high on it, which in turn could be compounded by the capacity falling naturally over time and more cycles hit the battery as a result.

That's part of the trouble with lithium technology. Due to how issues exhibit themselves when they naturally degrade, it's difficult to isolate if it's an actual hardware problem caused by a manufacturing defect, or if it's just failing of its own accord (as batteries do).

No other OEM cover batteries beyond 1-year anyway as they're deemed to be consumable items, even if there's an extended warranty on the machine. This applies to all phones and laptops AFAIK. The recent exception to this rule is Apple, when they changed the AppleCare agreement in mid 2015 to also cover batteries. Not sure if any other manufacturer does this too, so please give me a heads up if there's one I don't know about!

 

[kobyh15]

I got my iPhone 6 at launch and after over two years my battery started acting up this last month. It will fall over 10 to 15% in one minute. I've had to charge my phone three times a day for the last week.

 

[NachoGrande]

This is the best battery exchange program we've ever created.

 

[laz232]

This just happened to my SE last week. Turned itself off at 35%, then showed the "dead battery, connect iTunes" when I tried to turn it on. Upon power connection it booted at was immediately at 30%.

Battery is still at about 86% design capacity with 250 cycles.

Last night the discharge was highly non-linear though - the last 20% dropping very quickly. I'm sure the cell ESR is going up. I what annoys me most is if this it's an intermittent problem, unless there are enough complaints, Apple and its reseller rep here in my country will just ignore it, or claim that this is expected behaviour after 1 year of use.

 

[Paul Dawkins]

Same happens with my 5S - dies around 40%. However the wear level is very high on it, which in turn could be compounded by the capacity falling naturally over time and more cycles hit the battery as a result.

That's part of the trouble with lithium technology. Due to how issues exhibit themselves when they naturally degrade, it's difficult to isolate if it's an actual hardware problem caused by a manufacturing defect, or if it's just failing of its own accord (as batteries do).

No other OEM cover batteries beyond 1-year anyway as they're deemed to be consumable items, even if there's an extended warranty on the machine. This applies to all phones and laptops AFAIK. The recent exception to this rule is Apple, when they changed the AppleCare agreement in mid 2015 to also cover batteries. Not sure if any other manufacturer does this too, so please give me a heads up if there's one I don't know about!

But when a phone is 6 to 10 months old it's unlikely a natural way things are.

 

[keysofanxiety]

But when a phone is 6 to 10 months old it's unlikely a natural way things are.

Agreed. But an iPhone 6 isn't 6 to 10 months old. And if there were such issues within that time, it would have been covered under the 1-year warranty anyway, so it may be difficult to distinguish at this point what is caused by normal failure and what is a manufacturing defect.

 

[Paul Dawkins]

Agreed. But an iPhone 6 isn't 6 to 10 months old. And if there were such issues within that time, it would have been covered under the 1-year warranty anyway.

I still saw them on sale yesterday, so it just knowing it's iPhone 6 you can't automatically assume it's 2 years old. It is more likely that it's old and just suffering from normal battery wear, but for example my 6S Plus is just 11 moths old and started suffering from these random shut downs.

 

[nostresshere]

THIS IS NOT GREAT NEWS!

Read the story folks. There is talk about a program, but nothing has been announced. If it does get announced, it would then be great news. By the way, my IPhone 6 has had the crazy 30% and then die issue, randomly.

 

[tech3475]

Please do this, my iPhone battery should not be dying at some random integer as high as 40%.

The battery % is more like a random number generator at times.

Every smartphone should have its battery replaced after two or so years. It would be nice if Apple let people know that this can be done and it isn't that expensive. Of course Apple might sell less new phones then.

It's still £77 for an official replacement, not exactly pocket money, especially when you know there's something else at play like this.

 

[designaholic]

This wouldn't surprise me. I know a few people with iPhone 6's who say their phones are doing the unexpected shutdown at random percentages. And since there's only a replacement program for the 6S they don't qualify AND they're out of warranty.

I'm still rocking a 6 and this has happened to me a few times. Seems to have straightened itself out now though, getting normal battery percentages.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I still saw them on sale yesterday, so it just knowing it's iPhone 6 you can't automatically assume it's 2 years old.

Well as Apple no longer sell the iPhone 6, any 'new' iPhone 6 that you buy will be a refurb, used, or unsold stock.

If it's a refurb, you don't know if it's done by Apple, an AASP, or a third-party. In the event of the latter, that in itself can cause faults if the battery is unofficial or the phone was poorly serviced. And unsold/unopened stock would be very, very unlikely for an iPhone of that age.

 

[madgick]

In under a year my 6's battery was acting up. It would read 25% and then shut off randomly. I'd plug it in and it would jump to 30%+ charged immediately. Brought it in and they said there was no issue and they can't replace it because they saw no issue.

this is EXACTLY what mine has been doing, for quite some time now. and my gf's recently started doing the same too. In some cases its turned off at 80% and wont turn back on again until I get to a power source. I've taken to carrying a portable battery just to boot it back on and then i don't even need it because I have the 80% anyway

Would love to get these replaced on the program

EDIT - in response to the Update: "No plans or grounds" for the program... apart from this overwhelming response of people suffering the same battery issues. hmmm.

 

[randolorian]

My 2-year-old iPhone 6 still has a very strong battery, almost as good as day one. I've been very pleased with it.