Anndra Hoyle / CNET
I was thrilled when I found out iPhone 6 on eBay for just £ 75 (around $ 100 or AU $ 140). But that initial glow went away with a friction when I discovered that the battery had gone to a point where the software was stressing its performance. But instead of throwing away the phone and getting a buyer’s remorse, I decided to buy a new battery and devices from iFixit to try to recharge the battery.
After an hour of work, I removed the battery and the iPhone 6 ran perfectly again. I’m not giving a step-by-step guide here – head to iFixit and grab a hook if that’s what you’re after – but I want to share my experiences, including how easy it was to do, and I hope to answer. some questions you might have if you need a new battery too.
Please note that any maintenance you perform on your own devices is done entirely at your own risk.
1. Why do you need to replace the iPhone battery?
Batteries grow over time, and considering that the iPhone 6 was released six years ago, it was no surprise that the one I purchased was not running in real condition. Once, the phone was suddenly restarted while in use, and stopped a warning conversation that read, “This iPhone has shut down unexpectedly because the battery was unable to peak power necessary. Performance management has been put in place to help prevent this from happening again. ” Even the phone itself knew it had a bum battery.
In short, a phone’s performance can be trodden if it can no longer handle power demands. There is an option to detonate a thrush, but this will result in more frequent accidents. Neither setting is ideal, so the appearance of a new battery was an advanced way forward for me.
Unlocking my iPhone 6.
Anndra Hoyle / CNET
2. How much does a new iPhone battery cost?
The problem with my situation in particular is that I bought the phone for so little in the first place that I spent more money on the battery replacement service of some of these original savings. Apple’s official service costs £ 49 ($ 49), which is more than half the price of the iPhone 6 I bought. Being in the middle of a coronavirus lock also meant that getting to an Apple store was not an option, and sending it in by mail would bring the total cost to £ 56.44.
However, iFixit will be selling a new DIY package for £ 35 (including postage to my home in Scotland). It costs $ 30 in the US and with shipping costs amounting to $ 37.96. It’s not a big saving over Apple’s official update, but every little bit will help.
3. What comes in the iFixit battery repair package?
The iFixit kitchen comes with that third-party rechargeable battery no from Apple, as Apple does not sell its parts separately. It also has the tools needed to unlock the phone and remove the old battery. The only extra thing I needed was a hairdresser to heat up and remove the glue.
4. Does battery replacement guarantee your phone?
Unlocking an iPhone will void the warranty, but if your battery is at the point where it needs to be replaced, it’s weird that you’re already outside the 12-month warranty period.
It was hard to throw out the old battery, and I wasn’t always sure I was making it safe.
Anndra Hoyle / CNET
5. Is it safe to replace an iPhone battery yourself?
This one is not so easy to answer. The iFixit guide gives very detailed instructions on the steps involved, but there were a couple of points that made me anxious. One step involved heating the back of the phone with a hair dryer to release the glue holding the old battery in place.
In particular, he noted that the heat would be “a little too warm to rub comfortably,” which I found a little vague. Especially since that department also warned that “overheating the iPhone could ignite the battery.” But how hot is it too hot? What signs do I see if it gets too hot? I couldn’t find this information, so I wasn’t too sure how close to being too hot I was.
Shortly afterwards, while trying to remove the old battery, I accidentally fell into what looked like a black wrap around that battery. I was pretty sure the battery itself wasn’t painted – there was no smoke or hissing – but I would have felt much more comfortable if I had “emergency” instructions on hand to do what to do if I lit the battery.
6. Can I replace my iPhone’s battery myself?
Up to a point, yes, and I don’t usually find it “useful” in DIY terms. The iFixit instructions were easy to follow, and there were only seven internal scripts to remove them, which were easy to replace.
The iPhone 6, an old battery, was removed and all traces of the call were wiped.
Anndra Hoyle / CNET
What got me a little confused is that the iFixit instruction on its webpage ends up at the point where you remove the old battery. The only guideline in the decision was to follow the previous steps in steep order. Admittedly, that wasn’t particularly difficult to do, but I would have received more guidance at that point.
One issue that I ran into independently from iFixit, when I removed the screen, was that I broke the screen protector that was in place. I noticed the hairline cracks and was worried that I had damaged the display itself, but thankfully that wasn’t harmless.
With its new battery, this iPhone 6 should be running at its best again.
Anndra Hoyle / CNET
7. Is it worth replacing an iPhone battery?
It really depends on the age and value of your phone. If you, like me, bought a cheap used iPhone and just want to put it back so quickly, it’s a great way to breathe new life into your old tech without spending a fortune. Remember, though, that this wasn’t my main phone, and I didn’t buy it with my own money. For me, the risk was low and if I had done it wrong and damaged the phone, it would not have been a major problem. You have to consider whether you can manage without it, just in case the worst happens.
If you are using a newer device, such as an iPhone X. ($ 900 at Boost Mobile), for example, I might just take it to Apple. The savings you get from doing it yourself are not so great as to determine the potential cost of damaging a more valuable handset.