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iPhone X Cost to replace an iPhone X battery
- Thread starter JulesK
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I replaced my battery for $29 plus tax on the last launch day in September. No one said anything about the speakers, but wouldn't that be separate?
It was an extremely annoying conversation, but the upshot is that they will replace my iPhone X's battery for $29, but, of course, by the time the manager agreed to that, it was too late to do it while I waited, so I have to come back later. The Genius Bar person made it very clear that he felt that there was no need to replace the battery because it registered 94% heath (although it has 330 cycles), and claimed that the existing battery would be just as good as a new battery. He also said that because the $29 was a "promotion," any other repair/replacement that needed to happen at the same time (e.g., speakers) wasn't covered by the $29, so it would have been $79. He then pointed out that on January 1, the $79 cost (wrong, it's $69), would include the speaker repair cost, at which point I asked to talk the manager.
So the manager says that the cost would be $29, but the genius bar person was quick to point out that it was because the manager waived the cost of the speaker repair. The manager apparently wasn't reading from the same script, because he kept saying that it would be just $29, or $69 if I brought it in after Dec 31. He then amended that by saying that the speaker was being replaced under the 1 year warranty, so $29 before the first year was up (early December), $79 between then and Dec 31, and presumably $119 starting Jan 1.
To me, that's all BS and CYA. Apple would have been sued by now if they advertised a $29 battery repair, but told every iPhone X owner trying to take advantage that it's really $79 because you have to pay for the cost to replace the speakers.
I've had generally great experiences with the Genius Bar, so I'm going to chalk this up as an aberration.
So the manager says that the cost would be $29, but the genius bar person was quick to point out that it was because the manager waived the cost of the speaker repair. The manager apparently wasn't reading from the same script, because he kept saying that it would be just $29, or $69 if I brought it in after Dec 31. He then amended that by saying that the speaker was being replaced under the 1 year warranty, so $29 before the first year was up (early December), $79 between then and Dec 31, and presumably $119 starting Jan 1.
To me, that's all BS and CYA. Apple would have been sued by now if they advertised a $29 battery repair, but told every iPhone X owner trying to take advantage that it's really $79 because you have to pay for the cost to replace the speakers.
I've had generally great experiences with the Genius Bar, so I'm going to chalk this up as an aberration.
I've had 6 battery replacements (6 phones) done on iPhone X's for work. All were at 90% battery health. All replaced for $29 each. If they tell you otherwise they have no clue what they are talking about. The replacement price is $29 till Jan 1st, it does not have to be degraded to the point where it says your phone experience is "throttled". I can't speak for other replacement parts for the X, but the battery is a one time change at $29 till Jan 1st, 2019, period! I'd definitely talk with someone else there if I was given the run around.
Well, all my complaining to the store manager and then following up with Apple online support/chat must have had some effect, because while waiting for the battery to be changed this AM, the manager walked up to me, said hello and that he wanted to make sure that battery was taken care of. Apparently, he meant that there'd be no charge, because the store warrantied the battery and the speaker, so the battery replacement was free. Looking at the service order, the speaker replacement was $59, so it would have been $88 otherwise. Maybe Apple hasn't gotten the message out, or maybe not many folks have replaced their iPhone X batteries yet, but the entire initial discussion was so frustrating. For anyone considering this, it's likely your iPhone X won't make it out unscathed. There was a small nick at the very edge of the metal bezel, and about four very small "divots" on the back glass near the lightning port as a result of the swap. (My guess, from whatever tool was used to close the phone up again.) Although I'd be happier without these marks, I'm fine with them. The technician explained that the battery swap itself takes about 40 minutes, but then they have to run a bunch of tests, including water resistance, before releasing the phone. So total time was closer to 70 minutes.
Went to the Apple Store to have my 23th nov bought iPhone battery replacement. The Genius guy told me right away the battery change would be free even though the 91% battery was working just fine. I told him I would have agreed to pay. lol. When I came back to pick up the phone, the speaker and battery were both changed without more detail. Nice.
Edit : typo.
Edit : typo.
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This is very eco-friendly! A pile of parts being thrown away for no reason whatsoever other than Apple being unable to design the ONLY consumable part in the phone to be easily replaceable without breaking other stuff.
Ugh.
Ugh.
eco-friendliness aside, that's ridiculous that Apple would charge you $59 to replace a speaker on top of the $29 for the battery. If the design is such that the speaker has to be replaced during a battery swap, then the speaker should be included in the battery replacement fee.
It is part of the price we pay for cramming so much is such a small space.
Apple can charge however much it wants, for whatever it wants, but if the true price of the battery replacement for the iPhone X is $88 (or $128 after the $69 battery replacement price kicks in Jan 1), then Apple ought to be clear about this. Apple's webpage for battery replacement suggests the opposite, in that all pre-Xs Xs Max and XR phones are eligible for the $29 price through Dec 31, but it then kicks up to $49, except for the iPhone X (at $69). I'm willing to bet that the $69 price will include the speaker, and that's the reason for the price difference.
I'm OK with the X costing more to replace the battery because of an unfortunate design decision. But I absolutely disagree with saying that the battery replacement is $29, then busting out a $59 charge for replacing a speaker that has nothing to do with the battery, other than being in a bad location.
EDIT - I just read through the ifixit procedure for replacing the battery. Turns out that the speaker has an adhesive gasket that on it (presumably to help with water proofing) that has to be replaced. Apple probably doesn't want their repair guys to mess around with rubbing alcohol to clean the goop off. They probably send the speakers to a central location for refurbishment.
I wonder if the Xs and Xs Max have a different design that doesn't include an adhesive gasket, or at least an easier removal technique.
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The Xs and Xs Max are $79 to replace the batter, v. $69 for the X, so maybe a similar design.
What annoyed as much as the "upcharge" for the speaker was the attitude at the Genius Bar that I shouldn't replace the battery. That's not for them to decide if they advertise that price/service; I made very clear that I wanted to take advantage of the $29 price, and that I knew it was not under warranty. So long as there was no other issue requiring repair (and an increased cost), they should honor that. I don't mind being told that it wasn't really necessary (although, with 330 cycles, I disagreed with the employee's assertion that the old battery would be just as good as a new battery); I mind them persisting in trying to discourage me after I said I wanted the change the battery.
This have me a little worried now to get my battery replaced. I have a launch day X without any scuffs or marks, and I would like to keep it that way. One member suggested taking before photos of your X before having the battery replaced.
I've learned to let it go. I'm keeping this phone for another year, minimum (maybe 2, if next year's models are not compelling), and by then the price difference for selling them to Gazelle will be minimal between "perfect" and good. Virtually all of my old iPhones go to family members, and by the time they get through with them, the value is minimal. I take care of my devices (I clean out my case and the phone every two weeks, but the polished steel frame of the iPhone X collects scuffs and scratches like crazy inside the case), but I no longer care enough about how it looks inside the case to care about the small cosmetic blemishes from the battery change. It's not like Apple will give me a new phone because of them. I'd rather have received the free battery change, because by the middle of next year, the battery would have really started showing wear.