When to Replace Your iPhone Battery

Has your iPhone started running slowly or even shutting down soon after you charged it? If so, your iPhone battery may be to blame. 

Like other devices have, your iPhone battery is a lithium-ion one. This means that it will naturally degrade due to age and your use of your device. 

Over time and due to numerous charges, you’ll notice that you need to reach for the charger more often and sooner than usual. This can cause you inconvenience when you’re out and not near a charging device.

So, how do you know when to replace iPhone battery? Read on to learn how long your battery should last, how to find out if it needs to be replaced, and what your options are.

Know How Long an iPhone Battery Will Last

Apple officially states that you can usually fully charge your iPhone battery 500 times and still get 80 percent of the capacity. However, keep in mind your actual battery may degrade faster or slower.

Not only will you experience a shorter battery life at this point, but your device’s performance can also degrade. That happens since your battery can’t provide enough power to run iOS and apps smoothly.

Look for the Phone Battery Warning Signs

If you’re wondering how to tell if your iPhone battery is bad, you can look for some common behaviors. Some of these are more subtle while others are more obvious.

Shutdown Problems

Your iPhone might start shutting down on you randomly. This can happen even if the battery indicator shows you have some charge left. Usually, charging the phone right away will allow it to come back on.

Poor Performance

You might also generally notice that everything runs slowly or not as expected. Your favorite apps might take a long time to launch or may act buggier than usual. Your speakers might sound lower, your camera flash might not work, and your screen may look dimmer.

Overheating Issues

If your phone feels really hot, this can also indicate there’s something wrong with your battery. Of course, using your phone on a hot, sunny day can cause the problem. But if your phone feels hot in a cool climate, then that’s a warning sign to not ignore.

Expanded Battery

When it comes to more obvious signs of a bad battery, you might notice that your phone seems to have expanded, or the screen may look like it’s coming off. This happens due to a swollen battery and presents a safety hazard. You might mistake this as an issue with your phone’s adhesive at first, but you should be able to tell if the battery itself seems to have grown.

Required Charging

Having to plug your iPhone up to use it is another obvious sign it’s time to get a new battery. If your iPhone is a few years old, it’s likely that this problem has just happened due to regular usage and charging.

Bad Battery Alert

Depending on your version of iOS, Apple might also show an alert on your iPhone if the battery has an issue. If you use iOS 11.3 or later, you may see a notice if your phone shuts down randomly and the problem is due to a poor battery. 

Check Your iPhone’s Battery Condition

If you’ve recognized any of these signs, you can use the iPhone Battery Health tool that became available on iOS 11.3. Simply open your iPhone’s Settings app, scroll down to locate the “Battery” option, and select “Battery Health.”

Often, if your battery has a problem, the top of the screen will show an alert about the battery needing service. It will also recommend that you take the phone to an Apple Authorized Service Provider and will give you a way to see service options. 

Other times, you may see a notice about the battery health being unknown. This rarely happens but can occur due to a problem with the battery you have or how it was installed. 

When you see no such notices, it helps to look at the “Maximum Capacity” option to see how much charge your battery can hold. If it’s fallen below 80 percent, you may consider replacing it to avoid needing frequent recharges. 

You can also look at the “Peak Performance Capacity” option. This will let you know if your battery can still perform very well. If you see a notice that the battery can’t handle peak performance, this also indicates getting a new one can be a good idea.

Consider Your Battery Replacement Options

When it comes to getting a new iPhone battery, you can get one an original one through Apple or consider aftermarket options. There are pros and cons when it comes to pricing and risks with these options.

If you’re still within the one-year Apple warranty or have AppleCare+, check with Apple first since you may get a new battery under your warranty. If so, you can simply head to your local Apple Store or an authorized repair center.

When you’re out of warranty, Apple can give you a new battery for anywhere from $49 to $69. Choosing Apple is the safer option since you know a trained professional will do the process. But the downside is it can take a few days to get service.

If you need a new battery right away and don’t mind possibly paying a bit more, then check out local phone repair shops. This won’t get you a genuine Apple battery but rather a compatible alternative. However, be sure that they provide a warranty and have proper training.

You can also buy a battery and install it yourself cheaply. But this requires learning the process and can make you risk breaking your phone.

Now You Know When to Replace iPhone Battery

You now know what to look for when deciding when to replace iPhone battery. You’re also prepared to decide between getting an official battery through Apple, choosing a third-party service, or even attempting the battery replacement yourself.

If you notice problems with your phone’s performance or stability yet don’t see any issues in the Battery Health, it can still be worth taking your phone to get checked. You might have a less expensive issue to fix like needing to install a software update or free up some space on your device.

Be sure to check out our other blog posts about gadgets for tips and tricks.