The iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones in the world, with millions enjoying the simplicity and style of Apple’s flagship device. However, one of the biggest criticisms of the iPhone is its battery life, which is often worse than its Android counterparts and is known to seriously deteriorate with use.
With the iPhone being such a closed system, many users begin to think about replacing the battery themselves. With this guide, we’ll talk you through everything you need to know about replace your iPhone battery.
Looking after your iPhone battery
Before you start to think about replacing the battery, it’s best to change the way you use your phone in order to maximise battery life. There are a number of ways you can get more battery out of your iPhone and increase its overall life.
Low Power Mode is an essential tool if you want to increase the battery during use. With this mode turned on, your phone will use less power not just when you’re using it, but when you have it locked too. Low Power Mode will also prevent the phone from charging to capacity and continue charging when you have it plugged in. Keeping it charging when its fully topped up can harshly affect the phone’s overall battery life, but it’s something that users do frequently.
Another way you can save battery life is by turning off features when you’re not using them. Most people don’t need the Bluetooth function turned on all day, but they have it turned on most of the time. Mobile data is another feature you can turn off if you’re currently connected to WiFi.
In an upcoming iOS update, Apple is planning to add a feature that lets you look at your battery’s health, meaning you can easily see the condition it’s in and make changes to improve it.
Replacing your iPhone battery via Apple
If you’re at the point where you want to replace your iPhone battery, the easiest way to do so is by Apple itself. Taking your iPhone into your nearest Apple Store will allow you to get the battery replaced for a fee. They’ll take the phone and deliver it to you when they’re finished. How much this costs will depend on your make of iPhone, though no matter what model you have, it’ll be cheaper than buying a new one outright.
Using AppleCare
Apple offers its own brand of premium technical support called AppleCare. This service allows you to get your Apple devices (including the iPhone) fixed for a monthly or yearly fee. How much coverage you have will depend on your situation, but if you’re deep into Apple’s ecosystem, it's certainly going to save you money if one of your devices needs hardware support.
You can purchase AppleCare from the Apple website or in-store at an Apple Store.
Replacing your iPhone battery yourself
If you’re tech-savvy and feel like you want to save some money and replace the battery yourself, you might want to think twice. Apple makes any fixes extremely difficult, especially when it comes to opening the phone up yourself.
Apple doesn’t make it easy to open the back of the iPhone, meaning you’ll have to unscrew the entire device rather than just clipping off the back plate. The battery is also hidden behind important materials that you risk damaging if you try to remove it.
Apple also uses a lot of glue when constructing the iPhone, which you’ll have to get around if you want to change the battery. Doing so will make your iPhone no longer waterproof, meaning it’ll be vulnerable if you get it wet.
Taking apart your iPhone will also void the warranty, meaning you won’t be able to get it replaced if it outright breaks. Ultimately, these reasons make sorting the battery out yourself something that probably isn’t worth the risk unless you’re very technically skilled.
