Reviews in August 2023 urged that the batteries within the iPhone 14 era had depleted quicker than anticipated, with individuals reporting decreased battery well being by as much as 10%.
Individuals wouldn’t even know that their batteries had depleted if Apple didn’t give them this info–which is one thing it was pressured to do a couple of years in the past after the ‘Batterygate’ scandal the place the corporate was discovered to be throttling iPhones whose batteries had been degrading. Apple maintained this was to cease iPhones instantly shutting down. For the reason that arrival of iOS 11.3 in early 2018 it’s been doable to go to Settings > Battery and faucet on Battery Well being to see how wholesome your battery is.
[If you were affected by Batterygate and made a claim in the class-action suit back in 2018 you may be getting around $65 from Apple!]
In newer instances Apple has made modifications to iOS to protect the battery for longer, together with Optimized Battery Charging, which prevents an iPhone from remaining plugged in for lengthy durations whereas absolutely charged. Optimized Battery Charging has been a default setting since iOS 13 arrived in 2019. You’ve got most likely observed if you happen to get up within the evening and take a look at the iPhone charging beside you that it’ll have stopped charging at 80% with a view to persevering with the cost simply earlier than you get up. That is designed to cease the battery from overheating and cut back the variety of instances your iPhone receives a full cost.
However why do iPhone batteries lose their means to cost over time? When ought to your iPhone battery get replaced? You may additionally wish to know the way a lot it prices to switch an iPhone battery and how one can inform if a battery in a used iPhone has been changed.
We’ll run by all the pieces you want to learn about iPhone batteries under.
Why do batteries deplete and degrade over time?
It’s a fact universally acknowledged that over time an iPhone battery will ultimately begin to lose its means to carry an honest cost, identical to the battery in any cellphone.
The science of this pertains to chemical reactions that occur contained in the lithium-Ion battery and degrade it. What it means is that in case your iPhone battery isn’t lasting so long as it as soon as did you aren’t alone: all batteries turn into much less environment friendly over time and sadly the battery to your iPhone isn’t any exception.
In a letter concerning Batterygate in December 2017, Apple defined that the “time and the variety of instances a battery has been charged usually are not the one elements on this chemical growing old course of. Machine use additionally impacts the efficiency of a battery over its lifespan. For instance, leaving or charging a battery in a scorching surroundings could cause a battery to age quicker.”
Because the battery will get older it could begin to require charging extra often, maintain cost much less nicely, and even begin to shut down your cellphone unexpectedly. You will have began to note this variation, however if you wish to see the proof it’s straightforward to examine your battery well being, as we are going to display under.
examine iPhone battery well being
In early 2018 Apple issued an iOS software program replace with new options that it stated “give customers extra visibility into the well being of their iPhone’s battery, to allow them to see for themselves if its situation is affecting efficiency”. It’s very easy to see this info:
- Open Settings.
- Faucet on Battery.
- Faucet on Battery Well being & Charging. (In older variations of iOS this was simply Battery Well being).
- Observe the proportion beside Most Capability.
- Additionally observe the message under Peak Efficiency Functionality. It might embody particulars of whether or not your iPhone has skilled any battery-related points.
Right here you’ll be able to see the utmost capability, which within the case of our year-old iPhone 14 is 95%.
In case you are questioning what iPhone capability is dangerous that might usually be something beneath 80%, however understandably individuals with iPhones beneath a 12 months previous would expect higher than 90%.

Foundry
How have you learnt when an iPhone battery ought to be changed
As soon as your iPhone’s battery passes the five hundred full fees level it’s most likely time for it to get replaced.
Sadly, iOS doesn’t point out what number of instances your present battery has been charged, nevertheless it does attempt to forestall too many full fees with the Optimized Battery Charging characteristic talked about above.
Nonetheless, as soon as your Battery Well being (which you’ll uncover by following the steps above) falls to 80% it’s time to get it changed. Actually, Apple will show the message: “Your battery’s well being is considerably degraded. An Apple Licensed Service Supplier can substitute the battery to revive full efficiency and capability.”
If the battery in your iPhone–or a used iPhone you might be contemplating shopping for–has depleted to 80% or decrease it is best to get it changed.
There are another indicators that your iPhone may require a brand new battery: dimmer backlight than regular; decrease speaker quantity; stuttering display screen when scrolling; frame-rate discount in some sport apps; and longer app-launch instances.
What might occur if you happen to don’t substitute the battery?
When you see a message that your battery well being is degraded, you’ll be able to proceed to make use of your cellphone, however you might expertise decreased cost capability and a few slight stability points whereas your battery is on a decrease cost.
In case your battery isn’t operating at good capability then you may additionally discover that Efficiency Administration is being utilized to cease surprising shutdowns from going down. You may even see a observe within the Peak Efficiency Functionality part of Battery Well being that states “This iPhone has skilled an surprising shutdown as a result of the battery was unable to ship the required peak energy.” To fight this, efficiency administration is utilized.
Efficiency Administration is a characteristic that’s solely utilized to older iPhone fashions (pre-iPhone 11). When you had been to play a graphically intensive sport, whereas the battery was under 20 p.c, the setting could possibly be triggered, for instance. You’ll be able to flip off this characteristic.
How a lot does it price to switch an iPhone battery?

Apple
After Apple was discovered to be intentionally slowing down iPhones to save lots of battery life again in 2017, the corporate provided to switch batteries for a decreased payment of $29. There was additionally a scheme by way of which iPhone 6s fashions might have their battery changed without spending a dime. Neither of these applications continues to be operating, however the price of changing an iPhone battery isn’t prohibitive.
Apple’s guarantee doesn’t cowl battery substitute if it is because of “regular use” however if you happen to’re coated by AppleCare+ then you’ll be able to have your battery changed at no extra price, assuming it solely holds 80% or much less of its authentic cost. You’ll be able to organize an iPhone battery service on Apple’s web site right here.
When you don’t have AppleCare+ getting a battery changed will price the next:
- iPhone 14: $99/£105
- iPhone 13, 12 & 11: $89/£89
- iPhone 8, 7 & all SE fashions: $69/£69
- iPhone 5 & 5S: $49
The place to get your iPhone battery changed
You could possibly select to have your iPhone battery changed by a 3rd occasion, which could avoid wasting cash, however you need to be cautious as a result of if non-Apple components are used you might find yourself with issues sooner or later (previously third-party components have stopped working after software program updates). Nonetheless, Apple’s stance on third-party battery replacements has softened over time and in August 2019 it stopped refusing to repair iPhones that had third-party batteries fitted.
There could also be good purpose for Apple to dissuade clients from third-party battery replacements although. These batteries could possibly be hazardous knock-offs, or the shoppers could possibly be ripped off by third-parties who match a substitute battery that’s the truth is a reconditioned older battery. With stories of cell phones bursting into flames there might actually be a difficulty right here that Apple is making an attempt to keep away from.
Having your battery seen to by an official service technician is one of the simplest ways to proceed, which can end in getting a brand new battery or having your present one fastened if there are any points.
Can I substitute the battery myself?
In case you are questioning if you happen to can substitute the iPhone battery your self, it’s doable though we’d counsel that you simply don’t strive. When you should we advise following an iFixIt information.
In June 2023 Apple modified its self-repair coverage, permitting clients to restore some Apple units utilizing Apple components – together with Apple batteries for the iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and iPhone 12. This implies anybody eager to restore these units can use the identical components, instruments, and manuals the Apple Retailer places and Licensed Service Suppliers use. You’ll be able to go to the Apple Self-Service Restore Retailer for extra info.

Apple
How lengthy does Apple take to switch an iPhone battery?
When you despatched an affected iPhone to Apple it ought to take roughly 6-8 days for the battery substitute to be taken care of. This time was decreased to as much as 5 days if you happen to take the cellphone to an Apple Licensed Service Supplier (AASP).
Apple additionally urged that same-day restore choices could be out there at Apple Retailer and AASPs, though it indicated that the iPhone should be required to be despatched away for restore.
inform if an iPhone battery has been changed
There are a couple of methods to inform if a used iPhone you might be shopping for has had its battery changed–and extra importantly to examine if it’s an Apple half and never a battery that could possibly be hazardous.
To seek out particulars of the battery comply with these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Common.
- About.
- Scroll down and search for a bit entitled: “Elements and repair historical past”.
In that part, you may even see particulars of the battery if it has been changed.
You shouldn’t be involved if there’s a Real Apple Half, however the warning: Unknown Half might imply that there’s a threat that one thing might occur to your iPhone.
maximise iPhone battery life
If you wish to be certain that your battery lasts so long as doable till you will have an opportunity to get it changed, then strive the next ideas:
- Flip off Location Companies.
- Disable Background App Refresh.
- Be certain Auto-Brightness is enabled.
- Use Airplane Mode whenever you don’t have to be related to the web.
We have now tons extra recommendations on saving battery life in your iPhone right here.
When you’re actually determined to get some extra mileage out of your iPhone, then maybe contemplate a battery case. These shield your cellphone like a daily case, however may recharge your cellphone whenever you want it. We have now a set of the greatest iPhone MagSafe battery pack instances right here.