Apple will hike nearly every battery replacement cost in March
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.
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:
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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
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)
AppleInsider will be covering the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in person on January 2 through January 8 where we're expecting Wi-Fi 6e devices, HomeKit, Apple accessories, 8K monitors and more. Keep up with our coverage by downloading the AppleInsider app, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos throughout the event.
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Comments
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.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221205IPR60614/batteries-deal-on-new-eu-rules-for-design-production-and-waste-treatment. ;
Past history (WEEE, RoHS) shows that it is more likely that design decisions made to comply with EU legislation will be applied worldwide.
So, if we take AirPods as a possible example, the consumer would be informed of the lifespan of the product on the box, let's say two years. In that case, the battery would only have to be easily removable.
For something like AirPods Max which you would expect to last for way more than two years, the battery would have to be both easily removable and easily replaceable because you would not expect the stock battery to last as long as the product.
Remember, this is all guesswork on my part but it's interesting if it plays out in similar fashion because statutory warranties will not be reduced. If anything, they might be extended and that would leave manufacturers with a dilemma. Tell users up front that the product they are purchasing has a defined end of life (disposable) or change the design to make the batteries easily replaceable.
These are issues that form part of wider EU directives that are very broad in scope and at different places on the legislative path.
For example, in the case of software, it is extremely likely that manufacturers will have to declare up front how long devices will be supported (with the EU setting a minimum period) and updates will not be able to deliberately impede performance. Also, new functionality (as opposed to bug and security fixes) will be at user discretion and users will have the option to roll any new functionality back.
The DSA/DMA was a big step (by no means the first) but there is a lot more coming down the pipe as legislation tries to get to grips with digital lifestyles.