Apple Says These Five Changes Make iPhone 16 Models Easier to Repair

[sw1tcher]

The battery isn't the expensive bit. It's the:

1. Supply chain
2. Managing stock in stores
3. Distribution and maintenance of equipment required to change the battery.
4. Staff training
5. Staff salaries on site

It really annoys me that a friend of mine pays £1500 for their Mercedes to be serviced regularly at a dealer which seems to require absolutely no parts at all yet complains that apple are screwing them because their iPhone 12 finally needs a battery.

No, but Apple has one rate in the U.S. for battery replacement. Unfortunately the labor that is a component in that rate is based on the most expensive rates in the country. Apple is going to protect their bottom line. They are not a charity.

@cjsuk gave an excellent breakdown of the other cost considerations. And even that is at a very high level. There are floor space considerations, disposal/recycle costs, etc.

Only iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries prices were raised, not other iPhone batteries.

You're telling me

1. Supply chain costs
2. Costs to manage stock in stores
3. The cost of distribution and maintenance of equipment required to change the battery.
4. Cost of staff training
5. Staff salaries on site

are higher ONLY for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries and nothing else?

 

[JPack]

Only iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries prices were raised, not other iPhone batteries.

You're telling me

1. Supply chain costs
2. Costs to manage stock in stores
3. The cost of distribution and maintenance of equipment required to change the battery.
4. Cost of staff training
5. Staff salaries on site

are higher ONLY for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries and nothing else?

Sad that some people still don't believe the price hike is a cash grab from Pro/Max owners.

The 16 Plus has an even bigger battery than 16 Pro Max.

All models in the 16 series use the new battery design.

 

[cjsuk]

Only iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries prices were raised, not other iPhone batteries.

You're telling me

1. Supply chain costs
2. Costs to manage stock in stores
3. The cost of distribution and maintenance of equipment required to change the battery.
4. Cost of staff training
5. Staff salaries on site

are higher ONLY for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries and nothing else?

It's a rolling price increase. New products will have that pricing. Old ones will retain the old one as that was the expectation set at the time of the product being released.

 

[pappl]

Good news, so repairs will be cheaper at Apple?
Bad news, so repairs will not be cheaper at Apple for more profit?

Answer?

 

[AndiG]

Really cool and nice of Apple!

Apple is not nice - it was forced by the EU, once again 😂

 

[citysnaps]

Good news, so repairs will be cheaper at Apple?
Bad news, so repairs will not be cheaper at Apple for more profit?

Answer?

Purchase a competitor mobile phone and find happiness.

 

[Chuckeee]

Apple is not nice - it was forced by the EU, once again 😂

Not just the EU, several states in the US have passed their own “right to repair” laws. This a good thing Apple did, but they did it because they forced to.

 

[Chuckeee]

Good news, so repairs will be cheaper at Apple?
Bad news, so repairs will not be cheaper at Apple for more profit?

Answer?

Apple made repairs easier. Obviously that is not the same as making them cheaper. Although if this allows 3rd parties to make official repairs, repair prices MAY eventually decrease

 

[ls1dreams]

Higher battery cost replacement is such a slap in the face

 

[subjonas]

Pardon my skepticism, but there is no way Apple did this out of altruism. It either benefits them in some way or they were or will be forced to do this legally anyway.

That's not skepticism, that's cynicism. Skepticism asks for evidence before making up its mind, cynicism has already made up its mind before any evidence.

 

[dampfnudel]

And yet they charge more to replace the battery.

Tim’s Apple in action. When they use one hand to give you something, pay attention to where their other hand is because you’ll usually find it in your pocket.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

And yet they charge more to replace the battery.

Seems like they're accounting for more people going to independent shops for their repairs.

 

[ginkobiloba]

The battery isn't the expensive bit. It's the:

1. Supply chain
2. Managing stock in stores
3. Distribution and maintenance of equipment required to change the battery.
4. Staff training
5. Staff salaries on site

It really annoys me that a friend of mine pays £1500 for their Mercedes to be serviced regularly at a dealer which seems to require absolutely no parts at all yet complains that apple are screwing them because their iPhone 12 finally needs a battery.

Haha ! I have a friend that is similar. He had Jaguars and BMW’s , and yet he would still think hard and hesitate long for months about the 0.99 cents for an app he really wants. When he asks me for app recommendations, the first thing is “is it free ?”
It just boggles my mind. So irrational.

 

[svish]

Good to know about the changes. Easier repair is always good.

 

[Razorpit]

Only iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries prices were raised, not other iPhone batteries.

You're telling me

1. Supply chain costs
2. Costs to manage stock in stores
3. The cost of distribution and maintenance of equipment required to change the battery.
4. Cost of staff training
5. Staff salaries on site

are higher ONLY for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max batteries and nothing else?

Yup. New tooling, new training, additional warehousing/floors pace, increased transportation costs, increased salaries, etc. all quoted using 2025+ inflation. Don't be surprised if/when the older models become more expensive to replace. They can still do it for the original price because inflation was all baked in to the original quote. Apple's suppliers are forced to meet a specific price target. They aren't increasing their prices on the older batteries because they don't want to risk losing the other products they build.

 

[mpuk]

Let's wait for the independent assessments of Apple's manoeuvre here.
We'll hopefully hear from iFixit and Louis Rossmann. But if there's a video from Marques Brownlee, take it with a pinch of salt followed by a glug of Korporate Kool-Aid 😜

 

[Arsenikdote]

Pardon my skepticism, but there is no way Apple did this out of altruism. It either benefits them in some way or they were or will be forced to do this legally anyway.

I don't think there is any skepticism needed, or I am confused on what you would be skeptical about.

Apple is not a non-profit company. They of course are going to do what benefits them, they are a publicly traded company. If they want to keep their jobs they do things that make them money or are legally forced to do.

A very strange take to me. It seems similar to saying "People will get wet unless they use an umbrella or go indoors" .....just facts about how things work, but not sure the point of saying it.

 

[Fred Zed]

Apple made repairs easier. Obviously that is not the same as making them cheaper. Although if this allows 3rd parties to make official repairs, repair prices MAY eventually decrease

Indeed. It cost Apple to make the changes to repairs easier which in turn it passes down to the consumer.

 

[webkit]

But I understand that Apple charges for inflation. When inflation goes up by 1% it gives Timmy the chance to charge 10%

When Apple started offering iPhone battery replacement service, the cost to replace the much smaller battery was $79. Adjusting for inflation, that would be around $120 today. If Timmy Apple was charging based just on inflation, the price of an iPhone 16/16 Plus battery replacement would be higher than $99.

 

[Razorpit]

Batteries 🪫 got cheaper. Look at the cost of batteries for EV’s. But I understand that Apple charges for inflation. When inflation goes up by 1% it gives Timmy the chance to charge 10% 😎

If inflation only were 1%. 😖