How to Know When It’s Time to Replace Your iPhone’s Battery

Last December, Apple admitted to slowing down older iPhones to prevent unexpected shutdowns. iPhone users reacted in somewhat of an outrage. So to please the people, Apple started offering a price cut for out-of-warranty battery replacements. The deadline for discounted battery replacements is December 31 of this year, according to Apple’s website.

With battery replacement prices rising in just a few months, how do you know when it’s time to replace your iPhone battery?

In a perfect world, batteries would be built to last forever and they wouldn’t need to be charged because they’d never run out of juice. Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world, and unfortunately our batteries are in need of constant recharging. According to Apple, a rechargeable battery is built to “retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions.”

Some things that can tip you off to an aging battery include a longer amount of time for launching apps, lower-than-usual speaker volume and slow scrolling rates.

Some of these things may also happen if your battery charge is low or if you’re in cold temperatures. In the latter cases, slower iPhone speeds are temporary and should resolve themselves.

How Do You Know If Your Battery Is Still Functioning Properly?

If you’re running iOS 11.3 or later, you will find a handy feature called “Battery Health” under Settings > Battery.

This feature shows your battery’s heath and the maximum capacity of the battery compared to when it was new. In this same section, under “Peak Performance Capability” you will see a quick summary of how your battery is performing.

If your battery is healthy you will see a message stating your battery is operation at peak performance.

If your battery is not healthy and needs to be replaced you will find a message explaining your battery health has degraded, prompting you to replace it in order to restore to full performance.

So if you find your battery in healthy condition you are good to carry on with your life. But, if you see a message saying you need to replace it there are a couple of options.

What Do I Do If My Battery Needs to Be Replaced?

The first step is to schedule an appointment at your nearest Apple Store. Apple will attempt to replace your battery while you wait.

In some cases your battery fix may be too complex and it will need to be sent to an Apple Repair Center. This takes about 3-5 business days and then your phone will be ready to use again.

If you don’t have the time to visit an Apple Store — or there isn’t a store near you — another option is to ship your phone from your house to an Apple Repair Center. To do this, you can request a box from Apple, use the box to ship your phone off, the battery will be replaced and the phone will be returned to you in 3-5 business days.

How Much Does It Cost?

If have an iPhone 6 or newer — and it is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare — there is no charge for a battery replacement.

For iPhone 6 or newer devices that aren’t covered under Apple Care the price is currently $29 to replace a battery.

Again, that price is only available until December 31 and only available for qualified devices.

Afterward the price will raise to $79. So if you have an iPhone that needs a new battery make plans to replace it before the end of the year.

What Do I Do If My iPhone Says the Battery Is Working, But It’s Not?

If your iPhone says your battery is functioning properly, but you don’t believe it, you can still have Apple replace the battery for $29 until the end of the year. Just let them know you’d like a replacement and they should assist you. Again, it must be an iPhone 6 or newer.

How Can I Keep My Battery in Good Shape?

Keeping a battery in excellent health isn’t too hard. But there are some pretty common misconceptions from older batteries that no longer apply (such as fully draining your battery before charging). Here are a few tips and ticks that Apple recommends:

1. Store your phone at half power if it will be left unused for an extended period of time.
2. Stay up-to-date with the latest software.
3. Turn on auto-brightness so your phone isn’t working so hard to constantly power the display.
4. Use Wi-Fi. Connecting to a cellular network works the battery harder.
5. Enable Low-Power mode.
6. Remove cases when charging so the battery does not get too hot.
7. Stay up-to-date on your Battery Health in Settings.

Keeping your battery in good condition doesn’t have to be hard. Just stay informed of good battery practices and check your battery health as your phone ages. A healthy battery, is a happy battery.

Learn More: 10 Phones with the Longest Battery Life You Can Own Today