Apple to Offer $29 iPhone Battery Replacements, More Battery Health Info in iOS

[JWreck]

I don’t believe Apple HAD to do this, but good on them for doing it anyway.

Also, if you’re one of the people complaining that your iPhone won’t let you select the features it modifies to save battery life, go buy another phone. I think it’s pretty ridiculous to expect Apple to include this selection - most of its customers wouldn’t have a clue and not to mention this is the product Apple made. They’re an individual company and can make their products do whatever they want. There was no false advertising. There was no deception. Power users will always want more information than they get, thinking they know better than the engineers that designed the product.

You don’t like it, you can speak with your wallet. By all means, suggest improvements, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

 

[radiology]

This is exactly what I said they should have done in the very beginning. I’m not claiming I’m smart. This is just common sense.

 

[itsmilo]

I don't know if this has been said yet, hope this also means I can change my 6S battery in Europe for lets say €29, lets wait and see.

Knowing Apple it will be 34 Euro and twentyseven Cent

 

[MH01]

Wrong. The cheapest option is to remove the gimpware from iOS 11.

They still have to pretend the gimp ware is needed. Removing it could back fire even more ....when suddenly lots of people’s devices speed up and people agree apple was making their device slower...

 

[scrapesleon]

Good too bad it start next year

 

[rGiskard]

They have now admitted, that the way they engineered their devices, they can only maintain that speed for a year.

My 6+ performed at full speed for three years before I updated to iOS 11. At that time battery health was at 86% as reported by coconutbattery. No stability issues, it ran as good as new.

 

[Stangy123]

They need to do 3 things to make this right:

1) Notify the user if the phone is being throttled (and which component). This could show up in the battery stats somewhere.

2) Show detailed battery stats. The same ones the apple testing application uses.

3) Ability to turn off all throttles.

Those of you who say this is no big deal are crazy, this is shady as hell. I realize batteries degrade but this would have been a simple fix. Just notify the user instead of throttling them. My Macbook does this already!

 

[ChinaRye]

Actually having a battery health monitoring feature in iOS is looooooong overdue.

 

[Jmausmuc]

What annoys me about this and other things like it is that it sets the precedent that an uninformed public can develop an "outcry" over anything get a result out of Apple. Real shame. The public didn't deserve this level of compromise from Apple. Intelligent CPU management of a device powered by lithium-ion battery is expected and appropriate, and really no one's business besides the engineers.

Get a grip.

My iPhone 6S was slowed to less than half it’s original speed after only 13 month of use. You have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[GlenStrange]

So saying this another way, to you it was a big deal for everyone?

Fine... For the hairsplitters out there, here is an update:

How great of you to decide what isn't a big deal for "others".

 

[Christian 5G]

I asked several of my friends that have iPhone 6s and most of them said that their phone does not shutdown.

I was wondering if this could be only affecting some users?

My phone restarts on almost daily basis over the past few months I have noticed while usually playing music.

 

[I7guy]

Having your iPhone slowed down by Apple and not being told about it or why is not a big deal?

Being tricked into believing that your iPhone is running slower than before because it's just old and you go out to buy a new iPhone for $600 or more vs spending $79 or less for a new battery is not a big deal?

SMH


It takes "courage" to pull off this type of deception and think it's okay.

I wasn’t tricked into thinking my phone was running slower than before. Who actually bought a new phone and was tricked. Those people should be compensated if in fact it can be proven for the real reason a new phone was purchased.

 

[brewcitywi]

First, awesome to Apple for addressing it quickly and with true value!

I have an iPhone 6 Plus, so, I too was upset that the upgrade to iOS made my phone super slow, so I can relate to anyone who is upset or suspects that it’s a purposeful way to motivate people to buy the newest iPhone.

However, I also have to mention that, before I upgraded, my iPhone 6 Plus would shut down randomly when battery life was anywhere under 30%, and not turn back on until charged. Then, suddenly turn back on with battery life over 40% after only 1-2 minutes of charging.

So, there is some evidence of a user who would literally get a black screen for no reason with battery life 30% or lower, and some credibility to the possibility that their upgrade truly tried to address an older battery.

Maybe they could make it a CHOICE in Settings, where you can choose to either turn on or turn off the “evening out” of battery life.

 

[Rocketman]

IMHO. Apple should release an app that does not require you to update your OS to get the battery health benefits. I can see the whining when non-adopters complain you have to break your 32 bit apps to see your battery issues.

Apple. Hello?

Which OS did iPhone 6 ship with that the $29 battery replacement offer applies to??

 

[gijoeinla]

Apple: "we're sorry we got caught"

We’re sorry trolling is addictive and infectious.

 

[Jmausmuc]

What??? What does android have to do with this?

For some people it’s not about the issue itself or the customer it’s only about Android vs. Apple. Pretty childish...

 

[Baymowe335]

All you pitchforkers should settle down now.

I don't even believe Apple needed to do this, but they decided it was the right thing to do to show customers they are actually NOT trying to screw with them.

Apple is a great company.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Amazing news and uncalled for. I imagine all the trolls will have to find something else to whine about. Apple has stepped up and addressed something that was not a big deal.
[doublepost=1514498245][/doublepost]

Android "Oh crap. Hope they don't find out how we make incompatible OS, Apps and everything else crappy"

LOL... This is after all the media attention and negative backlash from customers.

Apple would never acknowledge the problem if there is no media coverage and all these lawsuits.

This is just last minutes PR to minimize the impact. Apple is just as greedy as before.

 

[neliason]

Intelligent CPU management of a device powered by lithium-ion battery is expected and appropriate, and really no one's business besides the engineers.

The owner doesn’t have a right to know? He is the one who pays for the product.

 

[MagicBoy]

My 6+ performed at full speed for three years before I updated to iOS 11. At that time battery health was at 86% as reported by coconutbattery. No stability issues, it ran as good as new.

Co-incidence. The battery health dropped below the threshold around the same time as you updated iOS.

 

[thefredelement]

Apparently, their legal and public relations departments are even better.
Apple knew aging batteries compromised performance. Instead of informing phone owners of that and promoting battery replacements to restore performance, they disguised the battery’s significance by preserving its daily runtime, leaving owners to speculate that performance slowdowns were OS related. If owners suspected the battery was to blame, Apple refused to oblige owners unless the battery met Apple’s criteria for replacement.

Apple may not intentionally compromise a product’s performance or longevity, but they aren’t above exploiting a product’s inherent limitations and consumer naïvety.

These premises will be the basis for more lawsuits.

 

[apolloa]

DAAAMMMAAAAGGGEEEEE CCCOONNNTTRRROOLLLLL.....

What a load of toss, too late Apple, good luck with the regulators and those law suites through 2018.
And the lower replacement price is only valid for one year??! Oh how generous..

I bet anything that the majority who go to get a cheaper battery replacement are still told by Apple, we will not change your battery because it passed our tests..

And how can you trust their software telling you how your battery is performing? Considering it makes more money for Apple if you get a battery replaced by them. I bet if the iOS software says replace the battery they will.

 

[radiology]

Only solves part of the problem. For years Apple have sold phones to people who thought their old phone was dying and that they needed to get a new one, when really all they needed was a battery. I think they should address that issue.

I totally agree. I am not a big fan of class action lawsuits, but it is totally warranted in this case.

 

[MagicBoy]

IMHO. Apple should release an app that does not require you to update your OS to get the battery health benefits.

It's called settings and is on the home screen.

 

[thefredelement]

Co-incidence. The battery health dropped below the threshold around the same time as you updated iOS.

Or you updated to an OS that gimped your phone...