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Other If your iPhone had a user replaceable battery how often would you replace it?

If your iPhone had a user replaceable battery how often would you replace it?

  • 10 yrs or longer

    Votes: 3 4.9%

  • 9 yrs

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 8 yrs

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 7 yrs

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 6 yrs

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • 5 yrs

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • 4 yrs

    Votes: 4 6.6%

  • 3 yrs

    Votes: 14 23.0%

  • 2 yrs

    Votes: 25 41.0%

  • 1 yr

    Votes: 13 21.3%
  • Total voters
    61
A

Adarna

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Original poster
Jan 1, 2015
685
429
Typical upgrade cycle lengthened from 2 yrs to 3 yrs or longer. So how often do your replace your smartphone?

Assuming of course battery costs $69 or less.
 
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If the iPhone as user friendly battery replaceable, I would have kept using my phone until the phone actually dies. Granted that if apple does sell replaceable batteries on the shelf then I'd buy those instead of getting a new phone.
 
Shadowbech said:
If the iPhone as user friendly battery replaceable, I would have kept using my phone until the phone actually dies. Granted that if apple does sell replaceable batteries on the shelf then I'd buy those instead of getting a new phone.
Click to expand...
Even after iOS Security Updates end?
 
The last phone that had this for me was my Note 3. The OEM battery lost 50% capacity in less than six months. I rooted it so I ran special apps that showed capacity. But I remember having several batteries for it because they were so cheap and they all lost massive amounts of capacity in months. Something I did not miss when I went iPhone.
 
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I'd change it after 2 years. If apple could replace these batteries without forcing me into iOS updates, I would rejoice.
 
Adarna said:
Typical upgrade cycle lengthened from 2 yrs to 3 yrs or longer. So how often do your replace your smartphone?

Assuming of course battery costs $69 or less.
Click to expand...
Would these hypothetical batteries only be sold by Apple? Or would they be available at other places? I can buy Apple products at Walmart for instance.

Availability is going to influence my decision. There is only one Apple store near me. But Walmart, my T-Mobile carrier store and a Best Buy are much closer.
 
eyoungren said:
Would these hypothetical batteries only be sold by Apple? Or would they be available at other places? I can buy Apple products at Walmart for instance.

Availability is going to influence my decision. There is only one Apple store near me. But Walmart, my T-Mobile carrier store and a Best Buy are much closer.
Click to expand...
Good question. I'll get back to you.
 
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Adarna said:
Even after iOS Security Updates end?
Click to expand...
Speaking just for myself…my iPhone 6s+ was on iOS 9.0.1 from the time it was released to approximately the end of 2020.

There's really no updating when you want to keep your jailbreak.
 
BigMcGuire said:
The last phone that had this for me was my Note 3. The OEM battery lost 50% capacity in less than six months. I rooted it so I ran special apps that showed capacity. But I remember having several batteries for it because they were so cheap and they all lost massive amounts of capacity in months. Something I did not miss when I went iPhone.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Lol. That lovely fake leather looking back battery cover. 😂 I had one also.
 
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My main reason for upgrading is not the battery.
Mostly cameras, screen and processor (speed). I used to upgrade every year, now I upgrade every 2
 
18-24 months

The battery is only rated for 500 cycles. If you charge daily, that's 1.5-2 years.
 
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now i see it said:
Replacing a $800+ phone just because the $69 battery is weak is insane
Click to expand...

Agree.

Each person has a different usage/charging profile. Usually battery health is still good after 2-3 years. 4 years is an edge case.

I would say replace the battery after the first 3 years. It’s a no brainer update if you plan to use or hand over the phone to someone that will continue to use the phone
 
I’d likely never replace it. I can’t see the battery bent to be changed any sooner then 2 years. At that time I’d have already changed the phone
 
Even when we had smartphones with replaceable batteries I mostly upgraded every year. Sometimes twice within the same year but with the present landscape, as many others have suggested, battery is not really the real reason for upgrading my devices. I’d say every year or a couple of years would be standard for me. Basically, for me, non removable battery is a nonissue.
 
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I used my Galaxy S5 for 5 years. It had a user replaceable battery and I had a 5600 mAh battery in it. Only reason I stopped using it is because it got extremely slow around 2018-2019. I'd probably still be using that phone today if it didn't slow down so much!
 
I'd replace the battery whenever it needed it, whether that was 2 years, 3.25 years, 4.6125 years or whatever. No sense replacing a battery that doesn't need replacing.

As far as the phone itself, I usually keep mine at least 2 years. Kept the XS for 3 years. I'd keep it until there was an upgrade that I wanted badly enough to make me spend the money. No telling, it could be one year, it could be six years.
 
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I’m switching upgrading from 1 year - 18 months to every 2 years. Once my launch day 12 Pro Max hit 80%, I’m going to get a battery change with Apple, since I also have monthly AppleCare+.
 
How is it that so many feel that battery replacement at some pre-specified interval is actually appropriate?

The correct answer to the poll question above is - 'None of the Above' (given the choices provided)!!

Or better - 'When the Battery Actually Needs to be Replaced'.

iPhones have a battery health indicator. Replace the battery when the health is down to 70-80%, if at that point you are able to tell that there is degradation in how long the battery will hold a charge or perform properly.

Apple won't usually replace a battery if it is above 80% of maximum capacity (especially if under warranty, but also if the customer pays). They know what they're doing.

This could be at 2 years, or 3 years, or longer. Or perhaps shorter under some circumstances and for some users.
 
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