iPad Pro Replacing Battery on M1 Pro or buying M4 Pro?

[Ic3Ang3l]

I am using the M1 Pro since release now every day for multiple hours. Mostly for university stuff like taking notes. In the afternoon, the IPad gets used to watch videos and doing some art with procreate.

The problem is now, the M1 Pro won't take me through the day at university anymore. I normally need to charge it at least once in 6 hours. I was thinking about either getting the battery replaced or buying the new M4 pro. 120hz is a must for me. OLED is cool too, I have OLED on basically every other device I use nowadays.

The battery replacement would be 130€.
The M4 Pro and pencil pro would be around 700€ with student discount and trade in money from the M1 Pro.

What would you do?

 

[PlayUltimate]

Apple won't "just" allow you to replace the battery (primarily because it is really a device swap). Unless the maximum capacity of the battery is below 80%, you can't make the replacement. I recently brought my 2020 iPP into an Apple Store hoping to get a replacement and they said that it was at 82%; ergo, no go. Sadly, there is a small issue with the display and I cannot trade it in. (Plan: work the battery until it is below 80%, then get the swap then trade it in.)

 

[Misheemee]

Buy a battery pack, unless you want the upgrade

 

[Ic3Ang3l]

Apple won't "just" allow you to replace the battery (primarily because it is really a device swap). Unless the maximum capacity of the battery is below 80%, you can't make the replacement. I recently brought my 2020 iPP into an Apple Store hoping to get a replacement and they said that it was at 82%; ergo,

I heard that multiple times now. I called the support today and they said because the IPad is out of warranty they would change it even if it is over 80% but I would need to pay for it?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I've had Apple replace multiple iPhone battery's before they were under 80% when I paid to have it done. iPads and Apple Watches have always been different due to the fact you receive a refurbished device instead of replacing the battery. The iPad or Apple Watch must read under 80% capacity using Apples diagnostic equipment before they will replace the battery regardless if your willing to pay. The newest iPads (not sure exactly which models) have a battery that is serviceable and replacement can be done without replacing the device. I'm pretty sure the M1/M2 iPads get a replacement device so when you bring yours in they'll let you know if it qualifies for the service and what your options are

 

[PlayUltimate]

I heard that multiple times now. I called the support today and they said because the IPad is out of warranty they would change it even if it is over 80% but I would need to pay for it?

As I mentioned, my 2020 iPP is at 82%. I was fully expecting to pay for it but they would not do it regardless.

 

[GMShadow]

^ I tried to get an Air 2 battery changed a few years back and it came back at 81%, system said no.

 

[Ic3Ang3l]

I see. Then the support on the phone didn't knew that. What a shame. I think, I will buy a battery pack then and will drain it more. The M4 is nice, but I wont use that power. Even the M1 is still overpowered for normal IPad tasks imo. The OLED is nice, but yeah. Will wait for the M5 Pro then

 

[Zeus0886]

I think there is alot of false information going around in regards to batteries and Apple is benefiting from it. From my understanding if you are trying to get a free battery swapped under AppleCare the battery needs to be below 80 percent capacity. Ifs it an out of warranty repair you are supposed to just pay the fee for the replacement and doesn't matter if its below 80 percent. In regards to iPads they don't change batteries and they will give you a new iPad. I think that's the reason why it's harder for iPads because Apple just wants you to buy a new one so they make it difficult for you to get the replacement.

 

[Ic3Ang3l]

From my understanding if you are trying to get a free battery swapped under AppleCare the battery needs to be below 80 percent capacity. Ifs it an out of warranty repair you are supposed to just pay the fee for the replacement and doesn't matter if its below 80 percent

That is exactly what the support told me. Since the IPad is out of warranty, it can be replaced but I would need to pay for it which would cost 130€.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I am still using my M1 iPad Pro, I would replace the battery unless it has other issues.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The M4 is nice, but I wont use that power.

Will wait for the M5 Pro then

Kind of just contradicted yourself did you not?
Reading between the lines, it sounds like you want a new iPad, so… Get a new iPad. Assuming you can afford it. The trade-in deals are not going to get any better with the M5.
A battery pack is a fine enough temporary solution, but long-term, especially since it sounds like you want a new iPad, you are probably better off just getting the new iPad.

 

[Ic3Ang3l]

it sounds like you want a new iPad

Not really. Its more a tool for me than anything else. As long as it works, I will use the M1. But the battery pack thing, wont take me years from now on. So its realistic to get a new IPad by the end of the year. Replacing the battery then, doesnt make sense for me, especially if there are more than 3 gens difference...

 

[McNads]

I think there is alot of false information going around in regards to batteries and Apple is benefiting from it. From my understanding if you are trying to get a free battery swapped under AppleCare the battery needs to be below 80 percent capacity. Ifs it an out of warranty repair you are supposed to just pay the fee for the replacement and doesn't matter if its below 80 percent. In regards to iPads they don't change batteries and they will give you a new iPad. I think that's the reason why it's harder for iPads because Apple just wants you to buy a new one so they make it difficult for you to get the replacement.

iPhones can have their batteries replaced at any capacity provided you are willing to pay, but other devices need to have a failing or consumed battery for Apple to offer service.

 

[FeliApple]

Unless you are a ridiculously heavy user who puts in like 3 cycles a day, Apple’s diagnostics tool will not record a sub-80% battery health and henceforth will NOT replace your battery, even if you are willing to pay. An M1 iPad Pro shouldn’t have been obliterated so much by iOS updates that battery life isn’t enough though, so…


How are you using it? You said you needed it to get you through a note-taking day. Are you using it at full brightness? If you are, try to decrease it. Full brightness will kill any and every iOS device. With a more battery-acceptable brightness level, it should get you through a note-taking day.

Buy a new one by all means if you like, but try optimizing battery life a little first. There are no guarantees that a new iPad will get you through the day at full brightness while note-taking, anyway.

They replace the whole device so they won’t allow battery replacements willy-nilly, and frankly, the whole battery replacement obsession has to end, so I’d just implement that for every iOS device…

 

[Ic3Ang3l]

How are you using it?

Mainly note-taking in GoodNotes and writing on pdfs. Half brightness most of the time. Battery is currently sitting at 83%. I do this since I have the IPad. When it was new, there wasnt such problems. Even the IPad gen 10 from my colleagues are more powerful batterywise

 

[rui no onna]

I think there is alot of false information going around in regards to batteries and Apple is benefiting from it. From my understanding if you are trying to get a free battery swapped under AppleCare the battery needs to be below 80 percent capacity. Ifs it an out of warranty repair you are supposed to just pay the fee for the replacement and doesn't matter if its below 80 percent. In regards to iPads they don't change batteries and they will give you a new iPad. I think that's the reason why it's harder for iPads because Apple just wants you to buy a new one so they make it difficult for you to get the replacement.

That only applies to iPhones after #batterygate.

Before #batterygate, Apple wouldn’t replace iPhone batteries above 80% either even if you were willing to pay for it.

For iPads, battery health needs to be 80% or less to qualify for replacement, paid or not. Considering out of warranty replacement for the iPad Pros cost $500+, Apple likely wouldn’t want to replace them at $120 due to battery unless absolutely necessary.

 

[FeliApple]

Mainly note-taking in GoodNotes and writing on pdfs. Half brightness most of the time. Battery is currently sitting at 83%. I do this since I have the IPad. When it was new, there wasnt such problems. Even the IPad gen 10 from my colleagues are more powerful batterywise

Half-brightness note-taking and it can’t get you through a college day? Can you post a screenshot of the “last 24 hours screen”? I kind of feel like it should.

How many hours of screen-on time would you need?

 

[rui no onna]

Half-brightness note-taking and it can’t get you through a college day? Can you post a screenshot of the “last 24 hours screen”? I kind of feel like it should.

How many hours of screen-on time would you need?

On my M1 iPad Pro 12.9, I get 3 hours onscreen time at ~15% brightness with ~30% battery used (cellular, wifi and bluetooth enabled). Seems like it’s been this way for the past few years.

6 hours onscreen time at 50% brightness doesn’t surprise me.

 

[FeliApple]

On my M1 iPad Pro 12.9, I get 3 hours onscreen time at ~15% brightness with ~30% battery used (cellular, wifi and bluetooth enabled). Seems like it’s been this way for the past few years.

6 hours onscreen time at 50% brightness doesn’t surprise me.

Updated iOS? Maybe that’s the reason.

3 hours 100-70% with 15% brightness is ridiculously poor. My Air 5 with my usage after 3 hours and low brightness is at about 90% remaining, maybe even a little more.

iPadOS 18 THAT bad already? I assumed everyone who complained about newer iPads’ battery life was pretty much using them at high brightness all the time. My Air 5 on iPadOS 15 and my 11th-gen iPad on iPadOS 18 have insane battery life (with my light use). They’re at about 22-27 hours of SOT. About two to three times what I got with my 9.7-inch iPad Pro on iOS 12.

 

[rui no onna]

Updated iOS? Maybe that’s the reason.

3 hours 100-70% with 15% brightness is ridiculously poor. My Air 5 with my usage after 3 hours and low brightness is at about 90% remaining, maybe even a little more.

iPadOS 18 THAT bad already? I assumed everyone who complained about newer iPads’ battery life was pretty much using them at high brightness all the time. My Air 5 on iPadOS 15 and my 11th-gen iPad on iPadOS 18 have insane battery life (with my light use). They’re at about 22-27 hours of SOT. About two to three times what I got with my 9.7-inch iPad Pro on iOS 12.

It's running 18 now but it wasn't because of the update. The iPad was running 14.8.1 just a month ago and battery was already like that before update.

Back when it was new, I believe I was getting ~14 hours SOT with same usage.

 

[FeliApple]

It's running 18 now but it wasn't because of the update. The iPad was running 14.8.1 just a month ago and battery was already like that before update.

Back when it was new, I believe I was getting ~14 hours SOT with same usage.

That is very odd. I’ve never seen an original iOS version device plummet like that, and I’ve been using them for years.

Do you have the health and cycles number by any chance? I’m curious.

 

[Isamilis]

I am using the M1 Pro since release now every day for multiple hours. Mostly for university stuff like taking notes. In the afternoon, the IPad gets used to watch videos and doing some art with procreate.

The problem is now, the M1 Pro won't take me through the day at university anymore. I normally need to charge it at least once in 6 hours. I was thinking about either getting the battery replaced or buying the new M4 pro. 120hz is a must for me. OLED is cool too, I have OLED on basically every other device I use nowadays.

The battery replacement would be 130€.
The M4 Pro and pencil pro would be around 700€ with student discount and trade in money from the M1 Pro.

What would you do?

I would replace the battery, you have nothing to complain except the battery. Also, if you have apple pencil and magic keyboard, they won’t be compatible with iPad M4.

 

[rui no onna]

That is very odd. I’ve never seen an original iOS version device plummet like that, and I’ve been using them for years.

Do you have the health and cycles number by any chance? I’m curious.

238 cycles, 89% Battery Health

 

[snipr125]

On my M1 iPad Pro 12.9, I get 3 hours onscreen time at ~15% brightness with ~30% battery used (cellular, wifi and bluetooth enabled). Seems like it’s been this way for the past few years.

6 hours onscreen time at 50% brightness doesn’t surprise me.

Rui no onna, i remember you have PWM issues with OLED, but the 12.9 Mini LED iPP screens also have some PWM, do you get any issues at all like headaches? (Sorry off topic a bit).