My iPhone's battery health has dropped below 80%, and it's still covered by warranty and AppleCare+. If I book a battery-service appointment at an Apple Store in Australia, will they replace the battery in my existing phone, or is it possible they'll give me a refurbished replacement instead? The phone is otherwise in perfect condition. I'm deciding whether to install a new screen protector before the appointment, since I don't want to waste it if the device gets swapped. I'll make sure everything is backed up either way.
2 Answers
If the battery is below 80% and the phone is covered by warranty or AppleCare+, the replacement should normally be covered. A complete replacement device isn’t usually the default unless the store finds additional damage or a problem that makes the battery repair impractical. Since your phone is otherwise fine, they’ll most likely service that same device.
They generally attempt to replace just the battery in your phone. However, repairs can occasionally uncover another problem or the phone may fail to start properly afterward, so make a full backup before handing it over. Whether the repair is done on-site depends on the store and the specific model.
That makes sense, thanks. I wasn’t sure whether Apple Stores still had technicians doing battery replacements directly, so I’ll back everything up first.
It is still covered, so there shouldn’t be a charge. I’ve had replacement phones for various problems in the past, but it sounds like a battery-only repair is more likely this time.