Iphone battery FAQ

Q: Is the iPhone battery replaceable?

A: Yes. Apple has an official out-of-warranty battery replacement program for $79 + $6.95 shipping. Currently, the official battery replacement service for iPhone batteries requires sending the iPhone to Apple, as with iPod. Apple will provide a loaner AppleCare Service iPhone ("AppleCare Service Phone") while your iPhone is being repaired or serviced for a fee of $29. Such service will be possible via any any Apple Retail location, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or via an online service request process. Apple actually replaces your whole iPhone with an equivalent new model or factory-refurbished model in a brand new enclosure, with its own 90-day service warranty. Similar procedures will be developed for worldwide markets. There will likely be several other do-it-yourself or mail-in methods of replacing the battery when necessary, as with iPod. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

This service will likely also be available as an on-demand service via Apple Retail stores, as with iPod; you can walk out the same day with a replacement iPhone. The SIM card containing the phone number and identity is simply moved from your existing iPhone to the replacement iPhone, and one sync with iTunes gets all of your contacts, music, data, and anything else on the iPhone back to the way it was.

The iPhone Out-of-warranty Battery Replacement Program is only required for iPhones that are no longer covered by the warranty or AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone. Since iPhone was released on June 29, 2007, and has a one year warranty, June 29, 2008, is the earliest date this service would be needed.

Q: Is the iPhone battery user-replaceable?

A: iPhone is sealed and is not "user-servicable", making iPhone similar to iPod in this respect. Battery replacement is available through Apple, and third party and do-it-yourself battery replacements for iPhone are also available.

Q: What is the iPhone warranty? Does it cover the battery? Is there any way to extend it?

A1: The iPhone warranty is one year. It does cover the battery.

A2: You can extend the iPhone's warranty, including battery coverage, to two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone for $69.

Q: When does Apple consider the battery defective for purposes of warranty replacement?

A: Apple's Battery Replacement page says, "Your one-year warranty includes replacement coverage for a defective battery. You can extend your coverage to two years from the date of your iPhone purchase with the AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone, which is expected to be available in summer 2007. During the plan’s coverage period, Apple will replace the battery if it drops below 50% of its original capacity. If it is out of warranty, Apple offers a battery replacement for $79, plus $6.95 shipping, subject to local tax. Apple disposes of your battery in an environmentally friendly manner."

Q: When did Apple release the iPhone out-of-warranty battery replacement program?

A: The evening of June 29, 2007, the same day as the US launch of iPhone.

The iPhone Out-of-warranty Battery Replacement Program is only required for iPhones that are no longer covered by the warranty or AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone. Since iPhone was released on June 29, 2007, and has a one year warranty, June 29, 2008, is the earliest date this service would be needed.

Q: Can I receive a loaner iPhone if I need to send my iPhone in for battery replacement or other service?

A: Yes. Apple will provide a loaner AppleCare Service iPhone ("AppleCare Service Phone") while your iPhone is being repaired or serviced for a fee of $29. The loaner iPhone can simply be synced with iTunes in the same way as your own iPhone, and will work and act exactly like your own iPhone, with your own telephone number and all of your contacts, songs, photos, and other data, while your iPhone is being serviced. When you receive your replacement iPhone, you simply sync with iTunes again. Any changes in the meantime will be reflected when you synchronize. See Apple's iPhone Service FAQ for more information about the AppleCare Service Phone.

Q: What kind of battery does the iPhone use?

A: The iPhone uses a lithium ion battery, as do nearly all mobile phones and portable devices. On-line dissassembly sites revealed that iPhone uses a 3.7V 1400 mAh Lithium Ion Polymer battery, with manufacturer part number L1S1376APPC, and Apple service part number 616-0290. Another site revealed a similar 3.7V 1400 mAh Lithium Ion Polymer battery, but with manufacturer part number P11G59-01-S01 and Apple service part number 616-0291. The differences, if any, between these batteries are not known at this time.

Q: How long does the iPhone battery last?

A: The iPhone specifications state:

* Up to 8 hours talk time
* Up to 250 hours standby
* Up to 6 hours internet use
* Up to 7 hours video playback
* Up to 24 hours audio playback

A press release has some additional information and comparisons about iPhone battery.

Q: I heard the iPhone battery "only lasts 40 minutes." Is that true?

A: No. This rumor came from John Dvorak, who openly admits to trolling Apple users to get attention for his articles. He provided no proof, and cited an anonymous person at Cingular who claimed they were testing the phone. iPhone, like many other products in its class, other similar smartphones, and so on, uses a standard lithium ion battery. While manufacturers routinely state iPod battery life specifications under optimal conditions, reviews have found that actual battery performance under good conditions is not significantly different from what Apple has already stated in the specifications.

Q: I heard that the iPhone can only be charged 300 times and then the battery dies. Is that true?

A: No. Lithium-ion batteries are good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles. Some interpret this as meaning that if an iPhone is charged daily, it could need a new battery in as little as 300 days. That is incorrect. First, a partial charge does not represent a full charge/discharge cycle. For example, if an iPhone's battery level is at 75% and it is charged, that can be thought to account for a quarter of a single discharge cycle. Second, a lithium ion battery gradually degrades; it will not simply stop functioning after a certain number of cycles. Apple's official position is that the battery will retain 80% of its life after 300 to 400 cycles. After a certain point, some customers may begin to feel it is time to consider to change iPod battery. However, for many customers, that time will not come for at least two years or more, at which point many customers will already have purchased a new handset. For others, iPod replacement battery options are available.

Q: When will more detailed iPhone battery specifications and performance data become available?

A: Apple will likely not provide additional specifications or performance data beyond what has already been stated in the iPhone specifications. Research firms and third parties hoping to provide replacement batteries have already disassembled iPhone, determining the type of battery used.

iFixit has posted an illustrated disassembly guide for iPhone, which shows the battery and other internal components.

Q: Why didn't Apple make the iPhone battery easily user-accessible?

A: Neither Apple nor AT&T/Cingular have made any statements on this topic. However, it is again an engineering decision, as with the iPod. On the iPod, the decision wasn't made for "planned obsolescense", to force people into buying new iPods, or to make people buy "overpriced" batteries, as there are numerous ways to replace the battery from many sources, including Apple, for as little as $20. In the case of the iPod, it was an engineering decision, allowing them to make the device smaller, thinner, and lighter than competitive devices, and not covered with access doors, by eliminating traditional mechanisms and internal design required for "user-accessible" battery access.

In the case of iPhone, it has been done for the same reasons: iPhone is the thinnest and lightest phone anywhere near its class, while also being a much more powerful device, with more functionality and capability in the same size than other devices on the market. This would likely be seen as a very reasonable tradeoff for iPhone's target market. iPhone is also more likely to be docked and/or connected to a computer via USB or attached to a powered dock for music playback, and would thus also be charging while connected. This is also seen as another differentiation from how many other phones, even in the smartphone/PDA class, are used. One other difference with the mobile phone market, even with higher end phones, is that many customers obtain a new phone when the contract is renewed because of the carrier subsidy for a new phone or a desire for the latest device features, often before a new iPod battery is needed.

Q: Will higher capacity batteries be available for iPhone?

A: As with iPod, different options for batteries from third parties will likely become available. Apple is very likely already using the highest capacity batteries available in the size and form factor used in the iPhone. However, if improvements in battery manufacturing yield improvements that were not yet available in older iterations of iPhone, it is likely that third parties could offer higher capacity batteries for iPhone in the future. This was the same case with iPod. Also, external, slim batteries that cover most or all of the back of the phone will also likely become available. Such external batteries would add a small amount of overall thickness, but would conform to the iPhone style and shape while greatly increasing battery capacity. Similar batteries for other smartphone/PDA class devices increase overall battery capacity by twice or more. Some vendors already offer iPhone battery replacements.

Because iPhone also uses the same dock connector as iPod, the wide range of external battery packs, power adapters and ipod chargers (wall, vehicle, aircraft), and other power accessories for iPod are also already compatible with iPhone! Many new vehicles are also available with optional iPod dock connectors. These same connectors with work with, and charge, iPhone as well.