Apple lifts price of replacement iPhone batteries after launch of new models

Matthew Field
Updated
Apple released its new smartphones and is increasing battery repair costs - AP
Apple released its new smartphones and is increasing battery repair costs - AP

Apple plans to bump up the price of a replacement iPhone battery by up to £40 in 2019, in a move that could help drive fresh sales of its new smartphone models announced this week. 

The price jump comes after the technology giant temporarily cut the price of battery replacements last year after Apple admitted that it was deliberately slowing down old handsets that used ageing batteries. 

At the time, Apple said it was "throttling" older phones - or slowing them down - to avoid unexpected shutdowns caused when the processor tries to draw large amounts of power. 

However, consumers were outraged by Apple's failure to tell them about the slower performance, prompting Apple to trim the price of replacement batteries in response from £79 to £25.

Apple said it hoped the new lower price would "regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple’s intentions."

That discount, however, has now come to an end. Starting on 1 January 2019, Apple battery replacements on old models from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 8 Plus will cost £45. The iPhone X will see its battery price increase to £65, the same price as the new iPhone XS.

However, Apple's support website shows that it has cut the cost of repairing the screen slightly on some models.

Out-of-warranty screen repair will now cost £166.44 on the "Plus" variants of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, compared to £176.44 last year

The iPhone 8 plus on display at Apple Regent Street for the launch - Credit: Getty
Apple was accused of slowing the battery down on older iPhone models Credit: Getty

The price increase means any iPhone users who want to replace their phone's battery at the cheaper price will need to apply to do so before the deadline.

For some, it could be the reason they need to upgrade to the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR. 

At a launch event in Cupertino, California on Wednesday, Apple revealed the trio of new iPhones including its most expensive and powerful phone ever. 

The iPhone XS will come with an upgraded battery compared to the older models, offering 30 minutes more battery than the previous iPhone X. The iPhone XS Max will have an extra hour and a half of battery.