William Gallagher
The cost of replacing the battery in most of Apple's products will climb by between $20 and $50 starting on March 1, 2023.
When Apple introduced the iPhone 14 range in September 2022, it also raised the price of replacing the battery from $69 to $99. Now, it's keeping that $99 for the current models, but raising the price for all older ones.
The new increase does not affect users with AppleCare+, or ones whose iPhones are still under warranty. However, Apple's page for estimating the cost of battery replacement says all other prices are changing.
"The current out-of-warranty battery service fee will apply until the end of February 2023," says Apple. "Effective March 1, 2023, the out-of-warranty battery service fee will be increased by $20 for all iPhone models prior to iPhone 14."
For all supported iPhones with a home button, that means the cost will rise from $49 to $69. The oldest model Apple will replace a battery for is the iPhone 5.
From the iPhone X through to the iPhone 13 range, the cost rises from $69 to $89.
Price rise applies to Macs and iPads too
From the same date, Apple is increasing the cost of replacing a MacBook battery by even more. The MacBook Air cost rises by $30, while the MacBook Pro and MacBook fee rises $50.
- MacBook Air was $129, will be $159
- MacBook Pro was $199, will be $249
- MacBook (2016, 2017) was $199, will be $249
Replacing the battery in a regular iPad will remain at its current price — ranging from $99 to $199 depending on model.
The current 6th-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro will also remain at its present price of $179 for a battery replacement. Similarly, the cost for the current 4th generation 11-inch iPad Pro will stay at $149.
But Apple is adding $20 to all other models, raising the cost of the battery replacement from $99 to $119:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation or earlier)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation or earlier)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad mini (6th generation or earlier)
- iPad Air (5th generation or earlier)
It appears that prices are being increased worldwide, with similar rises in local currencies.
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Chip Loder
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
14 Comments
Still a very good deal.
I can't remember what the invoice said the last time I had an iPhone battery changed by Apple but they should break down the cost of the battery and the cost of replacement.
It's difficult to evaluate this price hike if they haven't revealed the price of the battery itself.
Either way, the EU agreed on a provisional text last month for the updated Battery Directive.
It will be interesting to see if the confusion surrounding 'removable' and 'replaceable' has been cleared up with regards to the device containing a portable battery and the device's lifespan.
Some early interpretations on previous drafts had assumed that if the battery was designed to last the entire lifespan of the product it would only need to be safely removeable. If the battery wasn't designed to cover the entire lifespan of the product, it would have to be both easily removeable and replaceable. That would mean absence of thermal energy, special screws etc to get to the battery.
The Battery Directive is closely tied to the right to repair legislation that is also coming down the pipe which aims to set minimum requirements at the design stage of products to make sure they are designed to last and that consumers are provided with far more information than they currently have access to.
In the case of batteries, they will contain a QR code to identify chemical composition, charge capacity etc.
Larger batteries will have a passport containing all relevant information.
Logically (as per WEEE) there will be no charge whatsoever to end users for recycling and safe disposal of batteries, the cost of which has been integrated into the purchase price of electrical and electronic equipment for years now.
Maybe by 2025/26 if everything gets approved.