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Apple Makes $29 Battery Replacements Available Immediately for iPhone 6 and Newer
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If Apple wanted happy customers, they wouldn't slow down our phones needlessly to begin with. Then when caught, offer discounted battery change and an apology. Doesn't make sense. They probably guessed not as much backlash and lawsuits, and Geekbench.
Also, if Apple wanted happy customers, they would issue security fixes separately for those who don't want useless enhancements which are made for newer phones but can slow down older phones. My Windows PC doesn't do this nonsense. My Windows 7 PC purchased almost 6 years ago performs just as new even after all the latest security updates provided by Microsoft. I am a happy Windows customer.
Amazing that you really believe that. Think it through...
I [used to] love Apple products, but you’re completely brainwashed with that view...
[doublepost=1514678898][/doublepost]If I bought an iPhone 7 Plus a month ago, would I need a new battery?
Apple today announced it is making its reduced $29 battery replacements available immediately for iPhone 6 and all newer models.
Apple previously said it would offer the cheaper battery replacements in late January, but it has removed that timeframe from its letter to customers, and has confirmed immediate availability in a statement to TechCrunch.Apple normally charges $79 for out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacements, but it reduced the price by $50 following a wave of controversy over its process of dynamically managing the peak performance of some older iPhone models with degraded batteries to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
Given a lack of nuance in some mainstream coverage, many headlines have fueled speculation that Apple artificially slows down older iPhones to drive customers to upgrade to newer models, but the actual issue was Apple's lack of transparency about the power management changes it made starting in iOS 10.2.1.
When it released iOS 10.2.1 in February, Apple only vaguely said it made "improvements" to reduce occurrences of unexpected shutdowns. It only chose to explain that the changes it made may result in temporary slowdowns on some older iPhone models with degraded batteries after controversy recently reignited.
The issue came into the spotlight in early December after a Reddit user claimed that his iPhone's performance significantly increased after replacing the device's battery. Soon after, analysis of iPhone 6s benchmarks visualized an apparent link between lower performance and degraded battery health.
Apple responded by noting the power management process is a "feature" rolled out to iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone SE, but since it didn't fully communicate this change, some iPhone users may not have realized all they needed was a new battery.
Apple said it will release an iOS update in early 2018 with new features that give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone's battery, so they can see for themselves if its condition is affecting performance. It's unclear if Apple will ever let customers opt out of the power management process.
Apple said the cheaper iPhone battery replacements will be available worldwide through December 2018. The $29 fee applies to the United States, with prices varying in other countries based on exchange rates.
To initiate the battery replacement process, we recommend contacting Apple Support by phone, online chat, email, or Twitter, or scheduling a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store with the Apple Support app. You can also inquire about a battery replacement with select Apple Authorized Service Providers.
Article Link: Apple Makes $29 Battery Replacements Available Immediately for iPhone 6 and Newer
I got my 6s battery replaced for free a year ago as it qualified under that small group bad batch recall. If yours qualifies, you should get for free without needing to pass a battery test. The $29 program is different and we don’t know for sure yet what is the criteria to qualify.
Edit: i would go back to Apple if I were you. if your battery does not qualify for the bad batch program from last year and yet is only lasting two hours and you were refused replacement, I would write an email to Tim Cook.
"Given a lack of nuance in some mainstream coverage" For Christ's sakes, call it what it is, for once!!
You're completely wrong. How do you think Apple became the most valuable company in the world? Because they make garbage and want unhappy customers? They are a consumer products company who HAS to make customers happy. You might think they aren’t doing a good job, but they are and will fix these temporary problems.
You're bashing Apple and praising Microsoft? I now see where your head is.
Well, hundreds of millions still buy iPhones. Lot of brainwashed folks in that case.
Always have to consider the alternative. My latest Android has this exact problem and constantly shut down under 50% battery. With zero support and no answers, I bought an iPhone X.
Too late for us. We've already upgraded 2 iPhone 6plus and an iPhone 6 early last month for an iPhone X, iPhone 8 plus and an iPhone 8. Had we known it was the battery issue, we would have replaced the batteries and would have waited at least another year to upgrade.
it would be nice but it's nearly a 5 year old phone that got replaced by the SE in '16.
Angela is SVP of Retail, reports directly to Tim. More on her found here, www.apple.com/leadership/angela-ahrendts/. As for her email, a quick google didn't reveal much but presuming she follows the FirstInitalLastName, it would be aahrendts@apple.com. Otherwise, you could send to Tim (tcook@apple.com) and ask him to forward to it, as we've seen him read/respond to customer emails before.
As for finding who your Store and Market Leader without having to share your personal information and which store you go to; the easiest would be to just call that physical apple store and when prompted say "ask to speak to a manager" until you get someone from the physical store (versus being rerouted to Apple Care). Once you get a person on the line just ask for the name of the store leader and/or for his/her (or the store) email address. Additionally, you can ask them who is the market leader for Toronto area. Another way is to just search LinkedIn (before/after) with those titles in the Toronto area to find their names that way.
Apple is now so large that they don't care whether customers are happy or not as long as they're customers. Common sense would say that an unhappy customer isn't going to remain a customer much longer but that's not how it works.You are right. Apple wants unhappy customers.You just proved it.
If history is any indication, only an inconsequential percentage of those complaining will actually go and buy a non-Apple alternative. Apple knows this.
LMAO. Now they’re available immediately.
Still not good enough, still going to lose each and every class action suit. Still going to lose billions upon billions. Cook still out as CEO.
The damage is done, Apple. It is the time for clarity, not MORE meaningless face-saving gimmicks such as these.
Puke.
Still not good enough, still going to lose each and every class action suit. Still going to lose billions upon billions. Cook still out as CEO.
The damage is done, Apple. It is the time for clarity, not MORE meaningless face-saving gimmicks such as these.
Puke.
'Temporary problems'. Oh brother.
Slowing down is a 'feature', nothing temporary about it.
Most of the bickering among ourselves on this issue still comes down to obfuscation on Apple's part. We have third-party software reporting one value of battery health, and Apple's own diagnostics reporting another. We have reports of throttling for batteries Apple declare as healthy. Apple knows fully well under what battery and CPU load conditions they turn on throttling, but haven't disclosed it. The only way to end the controversy, and our bickering, is for Apple to add two "reports" to iOS: (1) current battery health in terms of capacity and number of charge cycles, and (2) if throttling is currently turned on or not. It's the only way users will know exactly what Apple is doing to their phone at the time and why. All we can do for now is rely on third-party software ... and bicker.
For the long run, I speculate that the faster CPUs from the 6s onward are power hungry at their limits and work great for specs on a new battery, but exceed available power as the battery ages. The fact that they've implemented power management for the 7 already, with promises to do so for "some" future products would indicate that they don't see any near-term resolution to the long-term power needs for their CPU architectures.
Once this new iOS report indicates that throttling has been turned on due to battery degradation, Apple needs to replace the battery with no questions asked. If this occurs during the warranty period, that new battery needs to be free. Otherwise, Apple is free to charge what they will. I'm sure the $29 fee is just to settle existing problems or those that arise for the next year. Time will tell, though.
For the long run, I speculate that the faster CPUs from the 6s onward are power hungry at their limits and work great for specs on a new battery, but exceed available power as the battery ages. The fact that they've implemented power management for the 7 already, with promises to do so for "some" future products would indicate that they don't see any near-term resolution to the long-term power needs for their CPU architectures.
Once this new iOS report indicates that throttling has been turned on due to battery degradation, Apple needs to replace the battery with no questions asked. If this occurs during the warranty period, that new battery needs to be free. Otherwise, Apple is free to charge what they will. I'm sure the $29 fee is just to settle existing problems or those that arise for the next year. Time will tell, though.
Users neglected to change their batteries because they were unaware that it could help rejuvenate their phone; people had "old" phones that were just slow, so it's time to upgrade, instead of Apple is slowing down my phone because the battery is in bad shape, so maybe i should spend $79 to replace it instead of buying a $$$ new iphone -- is that not painfully clear at this point ??
You are right. Apple wants unhappy customers.
Apple wants money, after they get it, why do they care if customers are happy or not? So far, they knowingly slowed down people's phones without telling them what was going on. Why would a company who wants happy customers do that? Apple's actions did just prove it.
Maybe Steve Jobs wouldn't have done that, but now there is a different person running the company.
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I was also denied a refund on the replacement fee difference ($50), for an iphone 6, had mine replaced in June because it was shutting down unexpectedly daily
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My battery was recently tested by Apple and apparently is >90% health/capacity, and the phone is still being throttled based on Geekbench scores and CPU Dasher CPU speeds !! My guess is that they'll be using the same battery diagnostic to approve their new $29 battery replacements
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lol, if it’s actually that big of an issue, they can always tweak the software or replace batteries for $29. Gee, probably will do both.
Supporting their phones with older batteries is a good thing. Remember, these iPhone 6 are from 2014. My Android from 2014 is in the trash.
Preventing shutdowns IS a good thing. Perhaps they just need to dial in the software? Lithium batteries have problems as my android phone can attest. At least Apple is supporting the devices with issues.
And maybe they didn’t realize the effect the power management would have on all 500M smartphones. Looks now now they realize their mistake, are fixing it, and will learn from it. It’s not always a conspiracy.