My iPhone 13 has a swollen battery and a small dent near the top corner. Will Apple repair just the battery, or could they require me to pay for damage to the enclosure as well? I can't afford the repair immediately—would it be safe to power the phone off and store it at home for a few weeks?
2 Answers
A swollen lithium-ion battery is a safety issue, not something to store for weeks if you can avoid it. Don’t charge or use the phone, and don’t put it in a fridge, cooler, or sealed box. If it can be moved without squeezing or bending it, keep it away from people, pets, flammable materials, and anything valuable while arranging service as soon as possible. Apple will inspect the dent and swelling; depending on whether the enclosure or other parts are damaged, they may charge for more than a battery replacement or offer a full-device replacement.
Take it to an authorized service location and ask them to inspect it. Be upfront about both the swelling and the dent, since the final price depends on whether the frame or other components were affected. Until then, keep it powered off and arrange service promptly rather than leaving it stored indoors for several weeks.
The dent is on the top corner of the phone. I put it in its original box and was considering waiting until the first week of September for the repair.