Apple Now Lets You Check Your iPhone 6s Serial Number to See if You're Eligible for a New Battery

[ctdonath]

What was interesting is the Apple Store would only replace it if they had a loaner 6s in stock. Evidently, if the battery install goes bad, they break the device or something they can't replace in the store, they need to have a loaner on hand.

Exactly why. I had a screen replaced; they managed to break the home button (and maybe more) in the process, and gave me a replacement device.

 

[jackedint]

They need to do this for the original 6 too. Not just the S. I have two in the family, orignal 6, that exhibit the exact same behavior they are replacing these batteries for.

agreed... my iPhone 6 does very strange things with its battery

it will say its at 20 some % then just shut down
if i try to power it back up right away, it needs a plug in
sometimes if i wait 5-10 mins it will power back on (saying its at 20 to 1%)
sometimes i ill be at 50% then minutes later at 2 or 1%

iPhone 6
iOS 10.1.1

I have done a factory restart & restore from an iCloud backup
I have not done a factory restart & reload apps individually without an iCloud backup

of course my Apple Care+ just expired about a month ago... sigh

 

[fosking]

My iPhone 6 Plus has this issue. dying at 30% and losing battery life far too quickly.

 

[Cirlonde]

Same boat for me. I'm in the range but I've never had this issue. Seems like it would be worth it to get a fresh battery though, especially if you (or me) have plans to resell.

Yes, definite plans to resell sometime before the 2017 phone is out. That's another good point to consider.

I'm holding back here.....but why would you not take it to be replaced?

90% because I don't want to waste the time going up to the Apple Store (it's a bit of a drive for me) if they are able to determine that I don't have the shut down issue and so refuse to replace the battery. 10% because I feel guilty to take advantage of the offer when I'm not having the issue and the wording on the Apple site specifically says "if you've experienced this". I imagine that I will overcome the guilt and go see about getting it replaced...all they can do is say no!

 

[Scrib]

Did you get your actual phone back with a new battery, or a different replacement phone altogether?

I ask because myself and everyone I know who has ever gone to an Apple Store for a repair has paid a fixed fee with "repair" listed on the invoice, but really it was a complete swap for a new/refurb phone. For example I just needed a new power button replaced (it got mushy for a few months and then stopped working), but they charged me $199 and gave me a new/refurb phone.

This has made me assume that the Apple Stores aren't really set up for onsite repair.

Yep, it was my phone.

 

[cult hero]

and the wording on the Apple site specifically says "if you've experienced this".

Ahhh. So this isn't every single phone thing then. I really don't want to go through the hassle if there's no issue. Looks like I have three years from the original purchase date anyway. (I got my phone second hand but since it's a 6S I know what the min date is going to be anyway.)

 

[scott523]

Replaced my 6S (bought on day 1) last month and got my wish of a complete replacement with a battery capacity registering just above the required 80%. Entering the old serial # still shows I'm eligible for replacement despite having it replaced already.

 

[C DM]

Even if the serial numbers matched genius guys will still check battery diagnostic. If it passes they won't replace your battery whether it's affected serial or not. A waste of people's time IMO.

Does it say something to that effect in the details of this replacement program?

 

[ColdShadow]

mine is affected.
I contacted Apple before, as I noticed it shut down itself with 30% battery (in cold weather).
they advised me to wait until 5Th December because that's when they start the program.

 

[littyboy]

I'm not on the list, but I'm having the problem
Sorry Apple, 28% to 6% in 15 minutes even on full brightness is ********
And I was watching a video saved to my phone

That's not the problem, that's just you draining your battery.

 

[blacktape242]

You need to read it better. The battery replacement is FREE. Apple said if your phone has other issues, such as a cracked screen, that MUST be fixed first, THEN you have to pay for that particular repair. The battery replacement is still free.

I also have a Day 1 device and mine is eligible for replacement. Mine shuts down a lot if I get down to around 30% battery. Wife 6 Plus also has touch disease. Will have to make an appointment to get them both fixed. Disappointed in the lower quality control lately. The "it just works" seems to come with a lot of caveats in the last couple years. (My TB display stopped working a few months ago, and my iMac was having problems connecting to the internet that required a full restore).

I was referring to the 6 touch problem, not the battery.

 

[PaulRustad007]

So if I am reading this correctly: if I have a crack on the screen and the battery is covered under the program, they will refuse fixing mine because I have a crack? Odd way of not honoring a faulty defect. Odd.

 

[littyboy]

So if I am reading this correctly: if I have a crack on the screen and the battery is covered under the program, they will refuse fixing mine because I have a crack? Odd way of not honoring a faulty defect. Odd.

I think they do this to either (or both) reasons:
1. prevent fraud so customer can't claim that Apple broke it
2. Maybe cracked screen could affect the battery somehow

I would assume mostly #1

 

[snakes-]

i checked my number and i was in

i have care + can i change the complete phone?

 

[sbailey4]

agreed... my iPhone 6 does very strange things with its battery

it will say its at 20 some % then just shut down
if i try to power it back up right away, it needs a plug in
sometimes if i wait 5-10 mins it will power back on (saying its at 20 to 1%)
sometimes i ill be at 50% then minutes later at 2 or 1%

iPhone 6
iOS 10.1.1

I have done a factory restart & restore from an iCloud backup
I have not done a factory restart & reload apps individually without an iCloud backup
of course my Apple Care+ just expired about a month ago... sigh

Apparently there were some issue with a particular run on initial batteries from the 1st few months the iP6s was built. Thats why only certain s/n are eligible. Also there appears to be evidence that 10.1.1 is causing this behavior as well and not entirely due to a faulty battery. Lots on info out there regarding this and 10.1.1. I suspect an update (maybe even 10.2) will resolve whatever that issue is for other devices.

So if I am reading this correctly: if I have a crack on the screen and the battery is covered under the program, they will refuse fixing mine because I have a crack? Odd way of not honoring a faulty defect. Odd.

So it seems. Perhaps because if they disassemble it with a cracked screen it could come to pieces and they don't want to foot THAT bill. Just a guess.

 

[44267547]

They need to do this for the original 6 too. Not just the S. I have two in the family, orignal 6, that exhibit the exact same behavior they are replacing these batteries for.

Perhaps. But Your situation could be sporadic and wasn't reported as widespread compared to the 6s.

 

[Deuce on the Clock]

They need to do this for the original 6 too. Not just the S. I have two in the family, orignal 6, that exhibit the exact same behavior they are replacing these batteries for.

You are 100% correct. Mine suddenly started doing this same thing a few months back. I now use a Mophie case all the time or it dies within 10 minutes and battery life says its fine.

 

[Vader]

OMG I look mine up just for fun and it is one of the one's that need to be replaced!!

Same here. Mine has spontaneously rebooted a few times and turned off once, but that was when the battery was below 20%. Only started having issues after updating to iOS 10, so I figured that was the cause.

 

[Black Magic]

Hopefully they expand this to 6s Plus soon. Both My phone and my wife's phone are having these issues (at 10% for me, at 14% for her) but even though my serial number has a "QD" in it it apparently doesn't pass this screen (I'm guessing because of the "plus" factor.)

Both phones were day one deliveries, so early production models.

Sounds like buying devices day one may not be the smart thing to do anymore.
[doublepost=1480627812][/doublepost]

I bought my 6s back in early September 2016 and it's eligible for the program. I haven't had any issues but might as well get the battery replaced.

why deny yourself a perfectly working battery that extends the life on your phone? You are right to move forward on this.

 

[dojoman]

Does it say something to that effect in the details of this replacement program?

Depends on which "genius" bar guy/girl you get but if it passes battery dia. test they will say it's software problem, they won't replace your battery. You have to escalate it to Apple online support.

 

[Black Magic]

Depends on which "genius" bar guy/girl you get but if it passes battery dia. test they will say it's software problem, they won't replace your battery. You have to escalate it to Apple online support.

That is why you start off with Apple Online Support and then they will schedule you for repair at a local store. Saves you time and headache because the local store will read the notes from the online tech.

 

[jimbobb24]

I did not know this was a problem in general but my battery has been sucking so very glad to find I qualify for the program!

That should keep me good for another 1-2 years on the 6S
[doublepost=1480628440][/doublepost]

They had the battery in stock, so it was same day. I waited about an hour.

What was interesting is the Apple Store would only replace it if they had a loaner 6s in stock. Evidently, if the battery install goes bad, they break the device or something they can't replace in the store, they need to have a loaner on hand.

Did they give you your phone back or a new model you had to reinstall?

 

[tuna9720]

7-8 months ago I took my phone to Apple Store for the first time for this issue.. I spoke with a Genius! and he said battery is in Perfect condition based on his tool.. I left..

Issue was persistent and had to take it to Apple Store several other times... Same answer.. On the last one, phone's battery died at about %30 in front of the Genius!?!.. He witnessed the problem in person.. He kept saying the battery was operating as expected..

I wanted to speak to a Genius Manager! she said it is normal!! I was losing my mind how she was pretending that nothing was wrong with having your phone battery shuts off in the middle of the cycle.. She wanted me to pay for the battery replacement, in fact she wanted the customer to pay for their mistake..

Whether or not they are refunding the customers what they paid to replace the battery, APPLE needs to pay the customers who had to use it as is.. Because I was positive that there was an issue with the phone, and the Genius!! saw the issue in person and they pretended everything was normal!!!

And for that reason I chose not to pay.. And all of a sudden, Apple says I was CORRECT! and those Geniueses are NOT SO GENIUSES.. Then why did not they allow me to use my Warranty in the first place..

They have all the logs in their system that I took my phone to them several times and they chose not to cover the problem.. And I had to use my device with this issue almost a year now..

Well, phone doesn't have to explode in order to give every other customer an incentive or a compensation who had this issue.. And hey, this is an expensive toy, you can not be like "Oops I'm sorry!" and get out of the jail for free..

Long story short, I hate the Apple Customer service lately..

 

[Scrib]

I did not know this was a problem in general but my battery has been sucking so very glad to find I qualify for the program!

That should keep me good for another 1-2 years on the 6S
[doublepost=1480628440][/doublepost]
Did they give you your phone back or a new model you had to reinstall?

They gave me my phone back, as I left it. I did wipe it before taking it in, because, well, privacy...

 

[bunnicula]

Replaced my 6S (bought on day 1) last month and got my wish of a complete replacement with a battery capacity registering just above the required 80%. Entering the old serial # still shows I'm eligible for replacement despite having it replaced already.

My husband and daughter's phones are both qualified and I want FULL replacements. I do not want battery replacements because everyone I know that has had one done has been unhappy with the results.

I think I'm going to escalate this.