Apple's $29 Battery Replacement Program Could Lead to 16M Fewer iPhones Sold in 2018

[BladeRunner95]

This will probably make me hang onto my current phone for longer simply because with no ground breaking new features on the newer models the main reason to upgrade now is when the battery life gets really poor!

I do genuinely wish there was something worth upgrading to though. The X is a major disappoint and I have no desire for that, but I know Apple are still capable of coming up with something special, so fingers crossed they surprise everyone!

 

[jamezr]

No, you're intentionally misrepresenting what was said.

What the other OEM's did say: "we don't have throttling".
What the other OEM's didn't say: "we don't have shutdowns".

Lack of throttling does not prevent shutdowns due to voltage issues that are standard to lithium ion technology.

All of them.......have said they don't do what Apple has done

So why aren't iPhone 4S, 5, and 5S affected?

Why is Apple designing their phones so that even the slightest degradation in battery health requires throttling?
Why are phones throttles that have plenty of battery life in them at the time?

But you are missing the point......no one is disputing how throttling works.
What is at question is WHY did they NEED to throttle the iPhone in the first place? Because there was a defect in the way the battery and CPU voltage is managed at the hardware level. So to prevent phones from shutting down....they throttled them. This was done to prevent the defect from becoming public and forcing a recall to replace the batteries.
So instead they are offering to have the defective battery replaced at $29 for the consumer.

Batteries normally degrade...that is not the issue. But they should not force a phone to shutdown through normal use when there is plenty of battery life left. That is what was happening on the iPhone 6 and 6s and Plus models. So to get around the recall or mass replacement of the batteries......they throttled them.

 

[Ad13]

My sister in-law did.
Her 6 became unbearably slow with iOS 11 so she bought an 8.

Same here!

 

[MrX8503]

You didn't address either of my points.

If it was slow, they could have reverted back.

With iOS, if it's slow, the device is permanently done for.

True, they could revert back, but how many people know how to do that? With iOS, it's not permanent because you can get the battery replaced.

The point is, all devices slow down and people upgrade as a result. It's not unique to iOS.

 

[curtvaughan]

And how many Android users do you think with 3+ year old phones also upgraded? People act as if only Apple users upgrade their phones.

My sister's Android phone became dog slow in 1-2 years.

I have an LG V20 I bought 14 months ago which works just fine, and it's been through 2 Android updates - primarily for security patches. With reasonable care and use, I plan on keeping it at least 2 or 3 more years. Nice thing, if the battery fades I can just buy another for $20, open up the back, insert it, snap the back back on, and it runs like new - no tools, tiny screws, glue, or cables to disconnect/connect. I still love old fashioned user replaceable battery designs. Granted, it was a high end phone when released (ran around $650), so perhaps cheaper models would have more performance issues over time.

 

[Altis]

True, they could revert back, but how many people know how to do that? With iOS, it's not permanent because you can get the battery replaced.

The point is, all devices slow down and people upgrade as a result. It's not unique to iOS.

Unless the slowdowns are due to iOS, in which case changing the battery won't fix it -- just as it wouldn't with an Android device.

 

[doc james]

how do I know if I qualified for battery replacement?

You own an iPhone. Seriously - my understanding is it covers all of them. TBH, I imagine that if you stand in the Apple Store this week and demand a battery replacement they will do anything to get you out of there.

 

[Altis]

How do you know they're not? They use lithium ion batteries too, so all three scenarios that Apple has talked about would still apply. My own guess is that Apple is putting the focus on phone models that constitute the majority of their install base worldwide. 5s was only 12% of that in April of 2017. 6/6s combined was over 50%.

Or maybe those devices were designed to run properly down to much lower battery health levels. I still have all 3 of those devices and they all still work great so long as they aren't on an iOS that completely ruins them.

Or like someone else said, maybe those devices are so old that people already are/have upgraded, whereas people on a 6 and 6S have little reason to upgrade at all.

I guess who knows, what with Apple not just secretive but dishonestly so.

 

[MrX8503]

Unless the slowdowns are due to iOS, in which case changing the battery won't fix it -- just as it wouldn't with an Android device.

There's no data on those cases. iPhone 6 users have reported restored performance and that's a 3+ yr old phone.

 

[Altis]

There's no data on those cases. iPhone 6 users have reported restored performance and that's a 3+ yr old phone.

Yes, restoring CPU performance that Apple secretly took away will boost performance.

That doesn't negate that iOS [permanent] updates are often the death knoll for iPhones (and other iPads, watchOS for the Apple Watch, etc).

 

[JWiLL1988]

So what is your point GizmoDVD; you say that all should spend 300 to 1K every three years on a new phone? This is new in Apple history and not just iPhones...You could always count on any hardware you bought from Apple would last and perform for years and several years. Now Apple has been caught in a Corrupt obsolesces and it will be proved it is not just on iPhone!. So stop your snarky comments

You couldn’t sound any more foolish if you tried. If you expect three year old phones to run as fast as they did when you first bought them, you are sadly mistaken

 

[gnipgnop]

Or maybe those devices were designed to run properly down to much lower battery health levels. I still have all 3 of those devices and they all still work great so long as they aren't on an iOS that completely ruins them.

It's possible that the 5s and earlier lower the odds a bit during low charge or cold conditions due to less powerful processors, but the characteristic weak points of lithium ion batteries are not any different. I think Apple is leaving models earlier than the 6 out simply because it's not a sizable portion of the install base anymore. 5s is probably close to being omitted from support in newer versions of iOS. I own one myself and have viewed 2018 as a likely upgrade point.

 

[Altis]

It's possible that the 5s and earlier lower the odds a bit during low charge or cold conditions due to less powerful processors, but the characteristic weak points of lithium ion batteries are not any different. I think Apple is leaving models earlier than the 6 out simply because it's not a sizable portion of the install base anymore. 5s is probably close to being omitted from support in newer versions of iOS. I own one myself and have viewed 2018 as a likely upgrade point.

Nobody's arguing about lithium battery characteristics. You seem to be clinging to that because perhaps you think it's a reasonable counter-argument, but it isnt: nobody is debating the physical characteristics of batteries.

I don't know how many times this has to be repeated, but it isn't the problem.

Apple could very well have designed the iPhones to have sufficient power delivery to keep the CPU running as it was designed to into much lower battery health. This seems to be how they used to be, but they stopped.

In order to address this design failing, they secretly throttled people's CPUs. They didn't seem to even have told their own techs. The throttling begins well into the "Healthy" battery condition by Apple's own standards. By not telling anyone, people had to assume any slowdowns were due to software (ie. bogged down by iOS updates like they always have).

If your reply only talks about battery physics and none of the main concerns of the issue, I'll consider that a concession. We're in agreement on how batteries work so there's nothing more on that to discuss.

 

[Act3]

If you expect three year old phones to run as fast as they did when you first bought them, you are sadly mistaken

Why not? this is 2018 not the mid 2000's.. we are at the point with smartphones where they probably can and should.

 

[Altis]

You couldn’t sound any more foolish if you tried. If you expect three year old phones to run as fast as they did when you first bought them, you are sadly mistaken

My 4S runs as fast as it did originally and it's six years old.

My iPad 1st-gen also runs like new and it's seven.

The devices don't themselves become slower: they have to be slowed down by something (ie. software).

 

[JWiLL1988]

My 4S runs as fast as it did originally and it's six years old.

My iPad 1st-gen also runs like new and it's seven.

The devices don't themselves become slower: they have to be slowed down by something (ie. software).

As a rule of thumb, I don’t update my devices iOS after Apple has released a new phone. My device is no longer the focus for their engineers. I might not even update my X at all, given all the continued iOS 11 issues

 

[MrX8503]

Yes, restoring CPU performance that Apple secretly took away will boost performance.

That doesn't negate that iOS [permanent] updates are often the death knoll for iPhones (and other iPads, watchOS for the Apple Watch, etc).

Do you remember how long people used their iPad 2's for?

I still use the OG Apple Watch. How many Android users still use their OG Android Wear Watch? Google stopped updates to those at v1 of their OS!

My 4S runs as fast as it did originally and it's six years old.

My iPad 1st-gen also runs like new and it's seven.

The devices don't themselves become slower: they have to be slowed down by something (ie. software).

That's fine if you don't care about security at all.

 

[lazard]

You couldn’t sound any more foolish if you tried. If you expect three year old phones to run as fast as they did when you first bought them, you are sadly mistaken

And yet it did after my mom replaced the battery on her 6S. Must be voodoo magic.

 

[Altis]

Do you remember how long people used their iPad 2's for?

I still use the OG Apple Watch. How many Android users still use their OG Android Wear Watch? Google stopped updates to those at v1 of their OS!

There are many users on this very forum saying watchOS 4 ruined their Series 0 Apple Watch.

The iPad 2 got a longer life because Apple sold it forever. Doesn't mean iOS didn't eventually do it in.

My iPad 1st-gen never made it past iOS 5, which is just as well since it can't handle much else.

That's fine if you don't care about security at all.

I don't use them for anything that really needs the extra security, and I think the risks are vastly overstated.

It's too bad that we have to choose between security updates and performance loss. I guess we wouldn't want Apple to have to do any extra work.

 

[MachCrit]

That is what Apple gets for Deceiving Customers! Not just iPhones but all throttled devices to cover up for their Corrupt Battery Claims since Tim Cook became CEO. Apple is Corrupt and lying to the customers on battery performance for several years...and now they have been Caught...Steve Jobs would fire the entire executive team for poor quality of software, products and services years ago...Apple is on a severe decline; don't let the Stock analyst suggest otherwise...the Apple Community has had it!

Steve Jobs would have hatched the plan to slow down the phones himself! Good grief, the entire Apple line is designed with non-replaceable batteries now.

This might actually make people more likely to purchase iPhones. Consumers will believe that they can get new batteries installed economically.
[doublepost=1515095149][/doublepost]

Honestly, if that number is true, then I think we can safely call B.S. on Apple's claim that they weren't doing it to sell new phones.

Personally I think Apple and others should just make batteries removable again, it can be done and still be waterproof (plenty of digital cameras prove this).

Was this a problem if someone simply used an external battery case their iPhone? Did external power solve the problem, or what the cpu slow down still there?

 

[obezcinnet]

Eventually I got to a member of staff who told me I was too late and had missed my slot! I was livid.

did you expect them to magically know who you were while you were standing up there watching people? lol
I am copy-pasting from my last genius bar appointment confirmation email:

"Here are the details of your upcoming Genius Bar reservation.
Be sure to check in with a specialist when you arrive."

instructions for going to an appointment:
-book an appointment,
-go to the genius bar and check in with the person standing in front of the bar.

these instructions also apply to any appointment including your doctor, dentist etc. hope this helps.

 

[DevNull0]

My 4S runs as fast as it did originally and it's six years old.

My iPad 1st-gen also runs like new and it's seven.

The devices don't themselves become slower: they have to be slowed down by something (ie. software).

My iPhone 4s and iPad 4 are both still on iOS 6 and run like new as well.

That's why I always laugh when people here talk about how great it is that Apple "supports" their old hardware unlike Android which is "obsolete" as soon as you buy the device.

 

[pdoherty]

Apple plans to offer $29 battery replacements throughout the year, and according to internal documentation, all customers who ask for a battery replacement for an affected iPhone will receive one, regardless of battery health.

Article Link: Apple's $29 Battery Replacement Program Could Lead to 16M Fewer iPhones Sold in 2018

Oh, how magnanimous of them, considering in all cases the battery exchange is being paid for by the consumer.

B.S! People will continue to buy new phones. Realistically, how many people actually buy new phones because of their slower performance?

Uhm, almost all of them? (feels like a trick question)

How many would be springing $500-$1000 just for a slightly faster phone with a tiny bit better camera?

 

[thekeyring]

Honestly, if that number is true, then I think we can safely call B.S. on Apple's claim that they weren't doing it to sell new phones.

Personally I think Apple and others should just make batteries removable again, it can be done and still be waterproof (plenty of digital cameras prove this).

If they hadn't have slowed the phones down, the phones would be turning off instead. Surly Apple could have done nothing, and the result would be even more people wanting to upgrade / buy new batteries?

 

[Altis]

If they hadn't have slowed the phones down, the phones would be turning off instead. Surly Apple could have done nothing, and the result would be even more people wanting to upgrade / buy new batteries?

Then people would have know what was wrong with their devices: the battery.

Instead people has devices that got slow and had no other assumption than that iOS had bogged it down.