iFixit: Apple 'Locking' iPhone Batteries to Discourage Third-Party Replacements [Updated]

[pweicks]

All six of us in my family got our iPhone batteries replaced by Apple at the same time and our batteries felt like new for about two months after we got them and then they went to crap. My brother’s battery actually expanded within the first month and caused the screen on his iPhone 7 to pop out of the phone’s frame. “Yeah, that’s happens sometimes,” said the Apple Store tech... They were just as bad as the old batteries we had replaced after a couple months of use. In contrast, I got my iPhone 5 battery once replaced at a random hole in the wall battery store and that battery was solid until the day I sold it. I, for one, question the quality of the replacement batteries that Apple installs into their iPhones. Based on my own experience and that of my family members, it seems like the replacement batteries they use don’t match the quality of the ones that are originally installed.

 

[apolloa]

Ok this IS too flipping far.......

So you HAVE to have a simple battery change performed by Apple ONLY, and considering the scam they pulled with the batter throttling, where APPLE diagnostics software claimed your battery was ‘perfectly fine’ and they tried to sell you a new iPhone, until they got caught red handed.. I would trust this policy further then I could throw Tim Cook!!...

Cheeky *******s! Well I’m glad more and more anti trust complaints are being raised and investigated. And they should take head as the new Note 10 destroys the iPhone in all but software..

 

[FamVR]

Apple is charging $49-69 to replace any iPhone battery, that seems to be about the same price as 3rd partys, don't see why you would want to put a $20-30 3rd party battery in a $800+ iPhone. I feel as if most of the public don't know about Apple iPhone repair prices as the price now is just about the same if not cheaper to go with Apple, inb4 I'm called a Fanboy.

You’re not a fanboy. You are being realistic about the price. I fully agree. Heck. It’s even free of charge with AppleCare. But... the time that it takes to mail the iPhone, and the actual repair, for folks without an Apple store nearby, may be a problem. I mean. How long can you really miss your iPhone?

 

[Jim Lahey]

Lots of irrational frothing over a software message that essentially says that Apple will not estimate battery health when the installed battery is of unknown origin. As far as I can gather, there is no detriment to the device's function or performance as a direct result of this, so basically people are just getting offended because being offended is a sport in 2019.

 

[chucker23n1]

You are ignoring the word “dormant”.

Yes, because it's irrelevant speculation that doesn't belong in a news article.

The author can't decide if they want to report on actual news (Apple showing warnings that they won't make statistical estimations based on an unknown third party's component) or their personal opinion.

 

[truthertech]

Louis Rossman Already pointed this out. Apple is a Disgusting company when it comes to the right to repair. we dont own our products. as far as apple are concerned we lease them from them. and we have ZERO rights

Whoah, relax. Take a deep breath.

You're not reading this poorly written article very carefully. There's nothing to stop you from replacing the battery in your phone with a third party battery. Apple just doesn't have its software set up to determine the health of that unknown 3rd Party's battery made in some unknown factory with unknown components.

So, save a few bucks, and go ahead and dump whatever battery you find on the Internet in your phone- no one is stopping you. Just don't expect Apple to somehow have developed software to be able to determine the health of that battery.

 

[chucker23n1]

Wrong. It tells the user the battery needs service.

It actually doesn't, though. It says the battery can be serviced. It doesn't say it needs to be.

 

[tridley68]

Tisk Tisk Tisk i think i see a revolt coming.

 

[69Mustang]

BMWs have software locks on major components (engine computer, transmission and infotainment computers, for example). This is to prevent people using parts from stolen vehicles to repair other vehicles, which is a very real problem.

Infotainment theft was so common on BMWs that they not only separated the main computer into multiple components, but mounted them in multiple locations in the vehicle and buried the primary module under the console making it much harder to steal.

However, unlike Apple with their battery, the vehicle will not even start/drive/function. In Apples case it’s just a message.

With stolen iPhones being useless (Activation Lock) the only use for stolen devices are parts. This is likely nothing more than trying to prevent people using stolen parts to do repairs.


I sell a lot of used iPhones (when I upgrade). Buyers know about Activation Lock/Find my iPhone and check when buying to make sure it’s off. If it’s On and the seller can’t turn it off they know not to buy the phone as it’s useless. Buyers can now also check the battery. While the “right to repair” people see this as a negative, you can bet buyers of used iPhones will see it as a positive.

It’s pure arrogance on the part of repairers to think their right to replace batteries trumps a buyers right to know if the iPhone they’re buying has ever been opened up/repaired by an unauthorized facility.

BMW doesn't have any software locks on batteries... which is more closely related to the topic. You can go to any auto parts store and buy a battery and the car will still monitor it's heath and activity. Batteries, like tires, spark plugs/coil packs, and oil/filters, are wear items that are easily user replaceable. They don't require OEM/BMW authorized parts or service and they don't stop the car from monitoring associated processes.

Imagine a BMW customer buying a set of tires from a shop and the car throwing a code that said Tire's not BMW approved or installed by BMW approved technician. Car will no longer monitor TPM senor. Or customer buys replacement TPM sensors and the car coded: Non-BMW approved sensor detected car wil no longer monitor. People would rightfully raise all kinds of hell.

The battery on an iPhone is analogous to the battery, tires, or TMP sensor on a BMW. It is not analogous to an ECU.

 

[Macusercom]

The average user is dumb. That's just the reality, and this exists for that reason.

The message is meant primarily for people who buy their iPhones used, which may also come with a non-Apple aftermarket battery. There is simply no way to know or guarantee the quality of 3rd party batteries out there. If a user's 3rd party battery explodes, what is the user going to do? Blame and sue Apple, and Apple knows that.

This isn't a nefarious scheme by Apple. It's designed to protect them from liability, and protect you and your device from malfunctioning batteries.

Yeah, I wasn't saying this feature is intended to only discourage from using 3rd party batteries. They still allow it anyway. But I was just saying that Apple still tries to cut out 3rd party parts wherever they can and that I wish they would sell genuine parts directly to consumers. But this is not related to not showing battery data from 3rd party batteries which is what this article is about.
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No USB involved.
Battery is installed in MacBook and both Coconut and System Report get the battery info from the same source - I assume.

I meant if you use CoconutBattery to show the battery health of your iOS device

 

[ksgant]

In all the years of tech has that there ever been a thing ? My Sony Bravia is now 10 years old and my cMP almost as old....

Well, kind of. for instance most Android phones only provide OS updates for 3 years after initial release of their phone. Google used to only do it for 2 years for their Nexus phones, then upped it to 3 for their Pixel phones. I haven't checked, but does Samsung still update their phones from 3 years ago? Apple used to be an outlier as it supported it's phones for a lot longer with OS updates. But for iOS 13, the 6s and 6s Plus are the oldest phones getting the update...and they came out in 2015, only 3 years ago. The 5s got the latest iOS 12.4 at least, and the 5s came out in 2013, 6 years ago!

 

[Razeus]

It's as if Apple is just begging for an Anti-Trust lawsuit.

 

[chrixxa]

honestly speaking as a repair tech, this isn't new-this has been a thing for almost a year. it just depends on the quality/brand of the battery you are replacing the original with. the better batteries will not give this message, and it's not confined to the "X" models. IF this is a message that happens when using even an apple battery, it will simply just be a matter of time till 3rd party battery manufacturers figure out the trick and create a fix.

 

[ksgant]

Louis Rossman Already pointed this out. Apple is a Disgusting company when it comes to the right to repair. we dont own our products. as far as apple are concerned we lease them from them. and we have ZERO rights

Which company do you recommend then for your phones? What company is acceptable for you?

 

[thelittleone]

Protecting revenue is one thing, but this is going way too far. Hopefully the class action is successful or the anti competitive investigation bears fruit for us consumers. I have been a loyal Mac user for 15 years or so, but this kind of practice along with the ****** experience with my 15" MBP... I think I am ready to accept Windows back into my life.

 

[Substance90]

I've always replaced the batteries on my iPhones myself. Especially seeing how recent iOS versions literally brick your battery life, this new software locking is just the cherry on the top. Apple quickly becoming one of the most customer unfriendly company in the world. Sure as hell will be voting with my wallet.

 

[Jim Lahey]

In the end, Apple build the devices and all the software that runs on them. They are very well entitled - ethically and [I'm sure] legally - to use their own software to check the integrity of the hardware installed in their own device, especially when this feature would otherwise be estimating the health of an unknown and unverified hardware component.

Obviously those who have already worked up a sweat over this will not change course, but I think if we all stop and think rationally for a moment, most of us would realise that this really isn't a big deal. Everyone else has just been successfully trolled by a clickbait article

 

[decypher44]

That’s some serious BS right there. Shouldn’t be legal.

 

[Suttree]

If I use a third-party battery service, that is my civil right, stupid Apple. If the battery explodes, then you will replace it, stupid Apple. Simple.

I remember changing the battery on my mom’s iPhone 5C (remember that EPIC FAIL? LUL) and I guess apparently I did something “wrong.” Doesn’t matter. I took it to the Apple Store and I demanded they replace the phone and they said no. I was done with Apple at that moment. Screw Tim Cook and his endless greed.

 

[Appleman3546]

Either Apple is that greedy or Apple does not trust its customers even when it is done right.

 

[Guidonculous]

Can anyone name any situation where Apples first party diagnostic tools are designed to work with third party parts?

The batteries still work, yes? They still do exactly what they should. You still get all of your statistics about what you use when, and what portion of the battery power it used.

The only you don’t get is a little yes/no flag that will warn you that your battery may no longer be functioning as well as it could.

Apple may come back and “fix” this, but the way it works right now is very logical.

What if Apples first party diagnostic tool isn’t effective at testing third party batteries and gives false positives or negatives? Wouldn’t that actually be much, much worse, giving false information? How exactly can apple guarantee their diagnostic tool will work with any random battery?

If it gave out bad results, not only does that give the user incorrect information, it also invalidates any confidence the user would have in the diagnostic tool.

Apples entire MO is that they build solutions from the ground up that work relatively seemlessly together. They wouldn’t be able to provide the same experience if they weren’t as fastidious about every step of the process.

 

[cocky jeremy]

This article has a weird vibe.



Where does this "lock the software"?



It doesn't say that.



Well, yes. How is Apple supposed to say when a third-party-produced battery needs servicing?



It doesn't really do that, though. It merely says that it can't really present diagnostic information about the battery. That's all.

People like to whine and complain. Don't let logic get in the way of that!

 

[Uobio]

I’m getting tired already with all this “locking “ pos. What’ wrong with those people? Maybe they think they’re untouchable, anyway Apple turned into a greedy company that forgot about their clients rights. Whatever, as long as we buy their products no matter what, they’re not going to change. Imo

 

[QuarterSwede]

honestly speaking as a repair tech, this isn't new-this has been a thing for almost a year. it just depends on the quality/brand of the battery you are replacing the original with. the better batteries will not give this message, and it's not confined to the "X" models. IF this is a message that happens when using even an apple battery, it will simply just be a matter of time till 3rd party battery manufacturers figure out the trick and create a fix.

Thank you for adding your actual experience and not just speculating.

There’s way too many people on here getting worked up because this hit a bit close to home with right to repair being constantly eroded. The device does still function and with your insight apparently it even gives battery health info with certain batteries. It now seems it’s a cheap battery problem and not an Apple locking you out one because they didn’t repair it.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Yes. But it certainly could adversely affect resale value. Buyers may balk at this message.

I’m not going to get as outraged as others here. But clearly a really bad look for Apple. Especially a month before the 11 drops and many prospective buyers will need the cash from their current iPhone to finance the upgrade.

Buyer may or may not balk, but does the seller have the right to sell an iPhone with some cheap, crappy battery—or one from a possibly stolen iPhone—without the buyer knowing?

I don’t think it’s a bad look for Apple at all. If I were buying a used iPhone, I’d want to know if any of the parts weren’t original, not just the battery, including the display. I wouldn’t want to buy an iPhone with random replacement parts, but I guess that’s part of the gamble you take when buying used. (A lot like buying a used car for the most part.)