Apple will also replace iPhone battery if Genius Bar test finds no defects
According to the French website iGeneration, an internal memo from Apple Stores is circulating that Apple will also replace the battery of iPhones starting with the iPhone 6 if a Genius Bar test shows that the battery is still OK.
According to iGeneration, this new policy is effective from Tuesday and requires employees at the Apple Store to offer a replacement to all customers who report performance issues, regardless of the outcome of a test at the Genius Bar. MacRumors writes that Apple has confirmed when asked that this policy change is in effect and that the results of the test do not carry any weight.
In accordance with Apple’s current official policy, batteries on iPhones under warranty will only be replaced free of charge if the capacity has fallen below 80 percent. Under the new policy, batteries of iPhones that are no longer under warranty would be replaced for 29 euros, regardless of the percentage of the battery capacity.
Last week, Apple apologized to customers and indicated that it would make the replacement of batteries for iPhones cheaper. Outside the warranty, it will not cost $79 but $29. Apple did not provide any information at the time whether this new policy was also dependent on the results of a diagnostic test of the Genius Bar. That is a technical customer service point in Apple Stores.
To prevent an unexpected shutdown of the iPhone, Apple added a feature to iOS 10.2.1 a year ago, where the OS lowered the performance of the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and SE. Recently, that update was also brought to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Apple did not communicate this feature. When figures showed earlier this month that older iPhones worked slower, there was a stir, especially because with new batteries the performance was restored.
Two weeks ago, Apple confirmed that it had made a performance adjustment, without apologizing or announcing any measures at the time. Consumer organizations then called on Apple to replace all old batteries and customers sued the company.