If you’re looking to snag a battery for an older iPhone with a degraded battery, you may face a longer time than ever per new data shared by Barclays.
Average wait times for a new battery have jumped up to 2.7 to 4.5 weeks based on a series of Apple Store checks conducted by Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz. This figure is up from around 2.3 to 4.5 weeks earlier in the year.
When a replacement battery repair, stores typically have to order the part through Apple, which makes the processor more complicated than scheduling a Genius Bar appointment. Wait times for the replacement batteries can vary based on location and device model. Batteries for devices like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s are harder to come by than batteries for the iPhone 7, and for some devices, like the iPhone 6 Plus, battery wait times have ranged into months.
As of January, Apple stated that batteries for the iPhone 6 Plus, which is no longer being sold, are in short enough supply as to require a wait until March or April for the replacement battery.
Customers who are seeking Genius Bar appointments for battery replacements are also crowding out appointment slots for customers with other issues, which is a problem in areas with few Apple Stores.
Barclays’ data and findings have indicated that the demand for replacement batteries is strong and that Apple’s customers are opting to take advantage of Apple’s $29 battery replacements instead of purchasing a new iPhone.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has offered the following comment on the situation:
We did it because we thought it was the right thing to do for our customers. I don’t know what effect it will have for our investors. It was not in our thought process of deciding to do what we’ve done.
Apple has been offering $29 battery replacements for the iPhone 6 and newer since the beginning of the year. Apple implemented the program after facing backlash from power management features that were introduced in iOS 10.2.1.
The feature led to the potential for slower performance/speed throttling on slower iPhones in order to prevent unexpected shutdowns on the device. As such, the issue drew large amounts of press attention in late 2017, with Apple apologizing for its lack of transparency and implemented new policies.
In addition to offering reduced cost battery replacements through the end of 2018, Apple is also introducing a new Battery Health feature in iOS 11.3 that lets customers see more detailed information about the status of their iPhone’s battery.
Apple has stated that current and future versions of its iOS operating system will also offer the option to turn off the performance management all together.
Power management features impact the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus, and for any affected iPhone, a new battery effectively fixes the issue.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors and Business Insider