If you’ve just put your new iPhone 16 in your pocket, you probably don’t need to worry about the battery for a while. However, if you have an older iPhone or an older Android smartphone, you may notice that your battery is starting to show signs of aging and it’s time to replace it. Apple has its own DIY repair program, but if you don’t use it, you can easily replace your iPhone battery yourself at home. With affordable third-party components and a variety of tools available for purchase, you can open up your iPhone and replace an old, dead battery or replace a cracked screen. In many cases, this can be done at a lower cost than hiring a company.
I did just that and replaced the old battery in my tired iPhone 6, giving it a new lease of life. I was happy to find this phone on eBay in 2020 for just £75 (about $100 or AU$140). That’s a huge savings compared to the new iPhone 16 Pro, but the performance prevents a shutdown where the battery was so degraded that the software had to artificially throttle it. Instead of getting rid of my phone and buying buyer’s remorse, I decided to buy a replacement battery and tools from iFixit and try replacing the battery myself.
This article is part of CNET’s Focal Point iPhone 2023, a collection of news, tips, and advice about Apple’s most popular products.
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It took just over an hour, but I was able to safely replace the battery and get my iPhone 6 fully operational again. I’m not going to give you step-by-step instructions here — visit iFixit and get your kit — but I’ll explain my experience, including how easy the process was, and give you some answers. I hope you can get it. If you also need a new battery, we have put together some frequently asked questions.
If you have a newer model (iPhone 12 or newer), first check out Apple’s new repair options to see if you can replace the part directly from Apple.
Please note that any maintenance you perform on your device is entirely at your own risk.
1. Why do I need to replace my iPhone battery?
Batteries degrade over time. Considering the iPhone 6 was released 10 years ago, it’s no surprise that the battery I purchased wasn’t performing at its best. One time, while I was using it, my phone restarted unexpectedly and I got a message saying “This iPhone shut down unexpectedly because the battery was unable to provide the required peak power.” To prevent this from happening, check performance. “Management is being applied” warning flashed. Also. “The phone itself was also aware that the battery was draining.
This means that your phone’s performance may suffer if it can’t keep up with your power demands. There is also an option to turn off the throttle, but this causes crashes to occur more frequently. Neither situation is ideal. So replacing the battery seemed like a smart move since it wasn’t my main phone and I was willing to take the risk.
I opened my iPhone 6.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
2. How much does it cost to replace an iPhone battery?
The problem with my situation in particular is that the price I originally bought the phone for was so low that spending more money on a battery replacement service would wipe out some of my initial savings. did. Apple’s replacement service costs £49, more than half of what I paid for my iPhone 6. When I tried this, I was in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown, so I couldn’t go to the Apple Store to pick it up, and it cost me about £56 (about $75) total to send it by post. or AU$105).
However, iFixit sells DIY replacement packs for £35 (including shipping to your home in Scotland). The price in the US is $30, or about $38 including shipping. You won’t save much compared to Apple’s alternatives, but every little bit helps. It also means you still have the tools you need if you want to do this again in the future. The only thing you need to buy next time is a battery.
3. What does the iFixit Battery Repair Kit include?
iFixit’s kit includes a third-party replacement battery that is not manufactured by Apple. This is because Apple doesn’t sell parts separately for phones older than the iPhone 12. It also comes with all the tools you need to open your phone and remove the old battery. The only additional thing I needed was a hair dryer to heat it up and remove the glue.
4. Will replacing the battery void my phone’s warranty?
Opening your iPhone will void your warranty, but if your battery is old enough to need replacing, it may already be past your 12-month warranty.
Prying the old battery out was difficult and I wasn’t always sure if it was safe to do so.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
5. Is it safe to replace the iPhone battery myself?
This is not so easy to answer. iFixit’s guide explains the steps involved in great detail, but there were a few points that made me nervous. One step required heating the back of the phone with a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive holding the old battery in place.
Specifically, it said to heat it until it was “a little too warm to touch comfortably,” which I thought was a little vague. Especially since that section warned that “if your iPhone overheats, the battery may catch fire.” But how hot is too hot? What are the signs if it’s overheating? I couldn’t find this information, so I didn’t know how close to overheating it was.
Shortly after, while trying to pry open the old battery, I accidentally tore what looked like a black piece surrounding the battery. I was pretty sure there was no hole in the battery itself. There was no smoke or hissing sound. But I would have felt more at ease if I had “emergency” instructions on hand about what to do if the battery caught fire. .
6. Can I replace the iPhone battery myself?
I thought I could do it up to a certain point, but I’m not the best at DIY. iFixit’s instructions were easy to follow and there were only seven internal screws to remove, which were easy to replace.
iPhone 6, old battery removed and all traces of adhesive removed.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
One thing I found confusing was that the instructions on the iFixit website end at removing the old battery. In the end, the only instructions were to perform the previous steps in reverse order. Granted, it wasn’t particularly difficult, but I wish I had more guidance at that point.
One more problem arose in the process. When I removed the screen, the screen protection film that was attached to it cracked. I noticed a hairline crack and was worried that I had damaged the display itself, but luckily it was unharmed.
With a new battery, this iPhone 6 should be operating at optimal levels again.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
7. Is it worth replacing your iPhone battery?
It depends on the age and value of your phone. If, like me, you bought a cheap used iPhone and simply want to bring it back up to modern speeds, it could be a great way to breathe new life into old technology without spending a fortune. However, keep in mind that this won’t be my main phone, and I didn’t buy it with my own money. In my case, the risk was low. Even if I accidentally broke the phone, it wouldn’t have been a big problem. You should consider whether you really can manage without a phone call and weigh your tolerance for other risks.
For example, if you have a newer device like the iPhone 14 or 15, bring it directly to Apple. The savings you’ll get by doing it yourself aren’t great enough to justify the cost of potentially damaging your more valuable phone.
Watch this: Apple announces DIY repairs for iPhone and Mac
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