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Apple Charging Increased $99 Fee for iPhone 14 Battery Replacements
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Well this batteries are made of lithium and the price of raw lithium is up 300% this year. Everything lithium related is getting a price increase. I paid $20 for a single Energizer 9v Lithium.
This is actually a huge deal, for a lot of reasons.
Let's consider that most people that get battery replacements are for phones that are multiple years old. For example, the iPhone 8 (which still has software support).
Currently, battery replacements for the iPhone 8 are $49. The value of the device is around $150 used. This means that, to replace the battery, you're paying 33% of the value of the device.
Let's consider the iPhone 14 Pro, in 2028. The value would be around the same as the iPhone 8 is now, but battery replacements will hold at $99. This means you'll be spending over 50% of the value of the phone to replace the battery.
Thus, many people will just get a new device. This brings many fundamental problems:
- Creates eWaste by additional upgrades
- Prompts users to get cheaper third-party batteries which can vary in quality and safety
- Prompts users to misleadingly get AppleCare+ to subsidize this cost, when battery replacements are typically necessary AFTER the coverage period of the insurance.
Financially sensitive move by Apple and ****** for the consumer.
Let's consider that most people that get battery replacements are for phones that are multiple years old. For example, the iPhone 8 (which still has software support).
Currently, battery replacements for the iPhone 8 are $49. The value of the device is around $150 used. This means that, to replace the battery, you're paying 33% of the value of the device.
Let's consider the iPhone 14 Pro, in 2028. The value would be around the same as the iPhone 8 is now, but battery replacements will hold at $99. This means you'll be spending over 50% of the value of the phone to replace the battery.
Thus, many people will just get a new device. This brings many fundamental problems:
- Creates eWaste by additional upgrades
- Prompts users to get cheaper third-party batteries which can vary in quality and safety
- Prompts users to misleadingly get AppleCare+ to subsidize this cost, when battery replacements are typically necessary AFTER the coverage period of the insurance.
Financially sensitive move by Apple and ****** for the consumer.
Most customers don't know and don't care that prices have increased in line with currency weakness across Europe, and rampant inflation that only now the ECB shows any interest in tackling. Almost nobody will be boycotting upgrades due to price. For Apple customers, pricing is largely irrelevant. Apple customers want the best-of-breed products that only Apple can create.
They still replace batteries in older devices to a point - something like an iPhone 3G is out of luck, but newer phones would be fine.
Tim Cook is angry because you didn't consider the new price to be Cheap. But still Apple loves you and as a reward will offer you iPhone XR for $2000 as a chance to prove your
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Yes, I have NEVER seen an iPhone with less than 80% battery capacity, and yet the phone will just shut off because battery voltage will drop since the battery is worn out. They compute an arbitrary number that's supposed to represent the remaining capacity in mAh, however the battery is already so worn that its discharge curve and ability to provide current is way less than the 80% figure.
Pricing is irrelevant? Do you think only the Kardashians of this world are buying Apple products?
That is definitely not a reason at least to me. The iPhone 15 and up are going to have the same costs. So unless you never plan on updating, the phone you have will be the last.
A huge majority of working people are not getting inflation matching pay rises but yet companies are constantly increasing their prices to combat inflation rises, companies who are able to absord costs increases into their profits but they wont, not even to help out customers during this unprecedented time of inflation rises and cost of living rises.
How many millions/billions of $$$ in profit does Apple make every month and yet they cannot be bothered to absorb cost increases so battery change price can stay at $69 even for a little while until everything gets back to normal.
How many millions/billions of $$$ in profit does Apple make every month and yet they cannot be bothered to absorb cost increases so battery change price can stay at $69 even for a little while until everything gets back to normal.
I think it is safe to say that $100 for a mobile phone battery replacement is a total rip off for the consumer and represents, more than anything, a failure in Apple design to allow the customer to change their battery without professional assistance.
My 12 Pro has been stuck at 83% battery health for probably a year now, and I've had the phone since Nov 2020
For those complaining that the price is a rip-off, how about you buy the equipment necessary to do the work and then charge customers $70 for the work. See how far you get into making any profit.
you just know that during one of their conferences someone brought up the idea of giving away the phones for free, and having everything be subscription-based, along with limiting how long the hardware "works" until it has to be repaired at a premium.
Ever heard of something called inflation? It’s not like anyone can buy things at the same price as 3-5 years ago. Including when Apple buys batteries.