iPhone Battery Replacement: 3 Ways to Replace Your Battery

Everyone wants more battery life. While the iPhone battery lifespan has improved a lot over the years (the latest model, the iPhone 11 Pro Max boasts a 3,969 mAh battery), it still trails behind the most popular Android phones. That being said, if you aren’t ready to upgrade your iPhone altogether, there are ways to replace your battery if your iPhone is no longer able to power through the day as it once did. 

Here are the 3 ways you can currently replace your iPhone battery:

1. Replace Your Battery Through Apple (Best Option)

Obviously the safest and most straightforward route would be to take your iPhone to the nearest Apple store or send it in for repair. Apple’s website has a dedicated page that explains their battery replacement options but basically it goes like this: if your iPhone is covered by warranty, they’ll replace it at no charge (check if you’re covered here). If your iPhone has any visible damage, like a cracked screen, you’ll need to fix that issue before they’ll issue you a replacement battery. 

If your phone is no longer covered by Apple’s warranty, you can get a replacement battery for $69 for newer iPhone models or $49 for older ones (fees as of March 2020).

Whether you’re mailing in your iPhone or bringing it to an Apple store, they anticipate the handling time to be 3-5 business days before you can receive your iPhone with its new battery.

2. Replace Your Battery Through a Third Party Vendor

Big box retailers like Best Buy offer iPhone battery replacement services that are price-matched with Apple but you also have the option of going to a cheaper – albeit more unreliable – corner store repair shop. The issue with going with your neighborhood phone repair shop is twofold: you’ll likely receive an inferior (and potentially un-safe) product, and you’ll be subject to the independent store’s warranty. So if their battery replacement destroys your phone, you’re on your own. 

Plus, if you go to a third party repair shop while you’re still under the AppleCare+ warranty, you’ll probably void Apple’s warranty.  

3. DIY Battery Replacement (Riskiest Option)

If you’re up for the challenge and prefer to go the DIY route, it’s definitely possible to replace your own iPhone battery. DIY hub iFixit even has a 44 (!) step-by-step guide to replacing your iPhone 11 battery, complete with pictures and all. DIY phone repairs, especially for iPhones, are not for the faint of heart. 

DIY battery replacement is a complex operation that requires a steady hand, the right tools, and anywhere from 1-3 hours of your time. Because the iPhone 11 battery alone costs $79.99, it’s hard to justify why anyone would take the DIY route when Apple charges less for both the battery AND the replacement service! 

Furthermore, replacing your own battery, like taking it to the repair shop, will put you at risk of voiding your AppleCare+ warranty and damaging your phone. 

It’s pretty clear which battery replacement option we think is the safest and most logical route but ultimately it’s up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with. We’ll leave you with one last piece of advice: before you even decide to replace your iPhone battery, please check out our blog posts on how to check your iPhone’s battery health (verify that it’s your battery that’s causing the performance problems to begin with!), read up on the common reasons why your iPhone won’t charge, and make sure you’re aware of the most common apps that drain your battery.