Click on your iPod above to see iPod battery replacement solutions for you.
iPod Battery and iPhone Battery FAQ
Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions about iPod and iPhone batteries
Hot news 04/10/08 - Third-party iPod battery replacement provider iPodJuice.com dominates the field as competitors fold.
02/06/08 - New MacBook Air battery replacement videos surface (good news: they're replaceable!)
07/24/07 - Apple has announced AppleCare
Protection Plan for iPhone for $69, which extends iPhone warranty coverage,including battery, to two years.
07/19/07 - iPodJuice.com has
announced the first third-party iPhone
battery replacement (press
release).
06/29/07 - Apple has announced an
out-of-warranty battery replacement service for iPhone.
iPhone battery questions will be answered here as information
becomes available.
See this table to determine which model of iPod you have.
iPod battery replacement kits are
available now at ipodjuice.com!
A: Yes. Apple has an official out-of-warranty
battery replacement program for $59
+ $6.95 shipping in
the United States (see also: Europe and Canada pricing).
The program requires that you send in your iPod (any model), and Apple will replace
the battery and return it to you for $59 plus shipping and handling. Technically,
Apple actually replaces your whole iPod with an equivalent new model or factory-refurbished
model in a brand new enclosure, with its own 90-day service warranty; if the
iPod was previously engraved by Apple, it will be engraved again. AppleCare
programs for iPod are also available in
some markets outside the US, and are expected soon in other markets. 3rd-party ipod battery companies provide better batteries and faster service than Apple.
The replacement program is now also available on-demand via Apple
Retail locations; simply bring your existing iPod and you can walk out with a replacement iPod. One sync with iTunes gets all of your music and video back onto the iPod. Any other data should be backed up before replacement.
The iPod Out-of-warranty Battery Replacement Program is only required for iPods that are no longer covered by the warranty or AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. 3rd-party ipod battery companies provide better batteries and faster service than Apple.
A1: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that
respect, it's not what would generally be referred to as "user-replaceable".
However, with the right set of tools and instructions from one of the following vendors, you can replace the battery yourself and avoid all the hassle by going through Apple:
A1: The iPod warranty is one year. It does cover the battery.
A2: You can extend the iPod's warranty, including battery coverage, to two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. Numerous retailers, such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., also have very inexpensive extended warranty coverage available for iPod. Often these plans simply replace the product with a comparable new unit.
A: No. The iPod is engineered to last; Apple is consistently ranked number one (1,2) in product quality and support by leading consumer groups, such as Consumer Reports. Apple also has out-of-warranty service and extended warranty options. Apple has officially stated that the iPod is designed to last "for
years".
A1: NO! The vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over five years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, based on age and usage style, will have more battery degradation than others. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles (more). For this reason, certain customers' usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.
A: Yes. Over time, the battery will not hold the same amount of charge as when it was new. This is natural, and is true of all lithium ion batteries. This slow degradation will not affect, or be noticed by, most users during the life of their iPod. However, based on usage, environmental factors, and many other variables, some heavy users may notice a greater degradation than others. It is important to understand that this is the exact same degradation that would occur with any lithium ion battery used in any laptop, cell phone, portable music player, etc., and is not unique to the iPod. For more information, see this page.
A1: See this detailed table for battery capacities and playing times for different iPod models.
A2: Apple's specifications specify a battery or iPod mini battery life of 10 hours for the 1st and 2nd generation iPod, 8 hours for the 3rd generation iPod battery and 1st generation iPod mini, 12 hours for the 4th generation iPod and iPod shuffle, 15 hours for iPod photo, 18 hours for the 2nd generation iPod mini, 14 hours for the iPod nano battery and 30GB iPod video, and 20 hours for the 60GB iPod video. Many factors can, of course, influence this. Under good conditions, you should indeed get around the specified hours of battery life on a new iPod. This amount varies with age, usage style, and other factors, such as music encoding format, backlight use, etc. To get the most out of your battery, follow these tips:
A battery which only lasts for half, or less, of the specified time may be considered to be defective under warranty terms. However, you can follow the steps in this document to test your battery life in a controlled way.
A: This refers to the "generation" of the iPod. For example, "1G" is "first generation".
Each generation represents a certain model of iPod, with a different set of
features, size, appearance, and so on. Each generation of iPod also has
different specifications.
A: According to the AppleCare
Protection Plan Terms and Conditions, the iPod battery is defective when "capacity
of the covered iPod battery to hold an electrical charge has depleted fifty
(50%) percent or more from its original specification, after being fully charged
and the covered iPod playing music with all settings reset."
Apple's Battery
Replacement page says, "Your one-year warranty includes replacement
coverage for a defective battery. You can extend your coverage to two years
from the date of your iPod purchase with the AppleCare
Protection Plan for iPod. During the
plan’s coverage period, Apple will replace the battery if it drops
below 50% of its original capacity. If it is out of warranty, Apple offers
a battery
replacement for $59, plus $6.95 shipping, subject to local tax. Apple
disposes of your battery in an environmentally friendly manner."
A: Visit Apple Support. A little
more than halfway down the page in the right column, you will see a section
entitled "About Your Support Coverage".
Enter the serial number of your iPod here. It will tell you whether your
iPod is under warranty, and will also tell you which specific model of iPod
you have.
A: The iPod uses the latest lithium ion battery technology from the leading battery manufacturers, such as Sony and Sanyo. See this table for more information on battery capacities on various iPod models.
A: Apple uses the best lithium ion battery technology available from leading battery manufacturers. This is the best, most cost effective battery technology available given the requirements of the device. The lithium ion batteries that Apple uses are no different than the lithium ion batteries used by any other manufacturer, on products from portable music players, to laptops, to wireless phones. The battery should last most normal users the life of the product (several years).
A2: One very important thing (covered in the above tips, but is important enough
to repeat) is to ensure you have the latest version of the iPod software, sometimes
called "firmware", on the iPod itself. The latest version of iPod software can
always be found here.
A3: Some users of early iPods whose batteries appeared to be severely degraded have been able to restore them by following these simple instructions.
A2: Lithium ion batteries are good for 300-500 charge/discharge cycles. A "charge/discharge" cycle generally consists of an iPod extended battery charging period, and an extended discharging period. A quick charge, listening for 30 minutes, and charging again, for example, does not constitute a full "charge/discharge cycle",
but could rather be considered a portion of one.
Also, many, many factors affect how much you get out of each charge, as well as how long the battery will last overall. The main factors include charging patterns, the routine amount of discharge (i.e., Do you use it until it dies? Use it for an hour or two and recharge?), temperature, storage, usage frequency, etc. Lithium ion batteries do not take kindly to frequent full or complete discharges. When possible, the optimal usage pattern - for any lithium ion battery - is a partial discharge, followed by recharging. A partial discharge can be anything less than a full discharge. However, an occasional full discharge is desirable
(e.g., once every 30 charges) to calibrate the battery. Lithium ion batteries
do not significantly degrade, or develop "memory", even if charged at irregular intervals; irregular charging is acceptable. An iPod can also safely be attached to external power for extended periods of time. (For extremely extended periods of time, such as months, the battery will essentially be the same as if it were in "storage";
lithium ion batteries do not store well for extended periods of time at full
charge. However, there is no way around this under these circumstances.) When
possible, always use the AC adapter (or vehicle adapter) for extended charging,
not a FireWire cable attached to a computer.
It is generally recommended to store lithium ion batteries at about 40% charge. However, the iPod draws power even when it is off, meaning that it will soon deplete any charge that it has. If you will be storing your iPod for an extended period of time (i.e., weeks to months), it is recommended to store the unit in a cool place; charge level is unimportant, as the charge will be completely depleted after several days. The most harmful combination for storage is full charge at high temperature (i.e., in a hot car).
For more information on rechargeable batteries in general, see:
A: No. The iPod stores all of its music on a hard disk. If the battery is drained completely, or even removed, all of the music on the iPod will remain intact. Additionally, you still have all of your music in the iTunes music library on your computer.
If you need a new battery and use Apple's replacement service, Apple will send you a new or refurbished iPod. Since the replacement iPod no longer has your music, you will simply need to resynchronize it with your iTunes library on your computer, which will only take a few minutes. All of your music should always be in your iTunes library on your computer, and your iTunes library should be backed up.
If you replace your battery yourself or use one of the non-Apple replacement services, all of the music will remain intact on the iPod.
A1: Yes. The iPod's circuitry will no longer charge the battery once it is determined to be full, even if the iPod is still attached to external power.
A2: This can also be a more complicated issue. Lithium ion batteries age faster when stored at full charge. If your usage of the iPod consists almost exclusively of use while plugged in for extended periods of time such as weeks or months, and very limited usage from the battery, the battery is essentially always in a charged state. A fully charged lithium ion battery ages at a faster rate than a lithium ion battery at the optimum storage capacity of approximately 40%. However, keeping an iPod battery near this optimum storage capacity can prove difficult to manage. A lithium ion battery also ages from use, as well as from storage, so the aging effects of constant use of the battery in order to keep the charge closer to 40%, versus constant use while attached to external power, come close to being even.
A: Because if they did either, the size of the batteries and/or the access panels and mechanisms required to access the battery would make the unit significantly larger than it is, likely by several millimeters in thickness at a minimum, and would also affect other dimensions, as well as weight. It was an engineering decision to use an integrated battery; if it were not integrated, the unit would not have the small, sleek form factor that makes it so attractive in the first place. Additionally, the iPod's battery is indeed replaceable, as has been discussed above.
A: Dell's DJ portable music player uses an integrated, non-user-replaceable lithium ion battery, just like the iPod. Many other music players, from vendors like Gateway, Samsung, iRiver, and Rio - all viewed as the competitive comparisons to iPod (local mirror) - also use integrated lithium ion batteries sealed inside the enclosure.
A: While often claimed, this is not true. Apple released the battery replacement program November 14, 2003. The domain ipodsdirtysecret.com was only registered on November 20, 2003, and started being heavily publicized on November 21, 2003. Additionally, Apple had been planning the AppleCare programs for months - these types of service programs don't just happen overnight - before Casey Neistat even had his first contact with Apple. The video campaign had nothing to do with Apple's rollout of the battery replacement program. The true value of this video is debatable.
A: No, there is nothing wrong with it. It is not fundamentally flawed in any way. Apple products have the lowest incidence of repairs, highest quality, and best support (1,2) among all manufacturers. An Apple industry news site, MacInTouch, recently conducted an iPod reliability survey, showing iPods in general to have a very low incidence of failures (the survey includes failures due to dropping, spills, abuse, and so on).
Lithium ion batteries have a finite lifetime, and Apple has in place a mechanism to replace them, if needed. The vast majority of iPod owners will never experience any issues with the battery during the lifetime of the product, even under heavy, frequent usage. There is a reason the iPod is the number one portable music player with over 92% of the hard drive-based music player market, and the most desirable. There are engineering tradeoffs for each design decision made; Apple is continuously working to make the iPod better. Other manufacturers of small, best-of-breed hard drive-based players also use integrated, lithium ion batteries in the same way.
A: Many problems can be solved by following troubleshooting steps (resources listed below), contacting Apple, or asking for help in an online forum. While Apple products statistically have the least problems, an iPod is like any electronic device, and as such, things can go wrong with it.
A: Apple offers a free recycling program for iPod. Customers can bring iPods
they no longer want to any Apple Retial Store in the US for free environmentally
friendly disposal, and will receive a 10 percent discount on the purchase of
a new iPod that day. iPods received for recycling in the US are processed domestically
and no hazardous material is shipped overseas. More details about Apple's worldwide
recycling programs are available at http://apple.com/environment/.
A: There are several ipod repair companies out there, and you will just have to contact one of them with the model iPod you have, as well as a brief description of the kind of problem you are having. More often than not these apple ipod repair companies can give you an idea of what the main issue probably is and an estimate of how much this might cost.
A: Yes. Apple has an official
out-of-warranty battery replacement program for $79 + $6.95 shipping. Currently,
the official
battery
replacement service for iPhone batteries requires sending the iPhone to Apple, as
with iPod. Apple will provide
a loaner AppleCare Service iPhone ("AppleCare Service Phone") while
your iPhone is being repaired or serviced for a fee of $29. Such service will
be possible via any any Apple
Retail location, an Apple
Authorized Service Provider, or via an online service request process.
Apple actually replaces your whole iPhone with an equivalent new model
or factory-refurbished model in a brand new enclosure, with its own 90-day
service warranty. Similar procedures will be developed for worldwide
markets. There will likely be several other do-it-yourself or mail-in
methods of replacing the battery when necessary, as with iPod. More information
will be posted as it becomes available.
This service will likely also be
available as an on-demand service via Apple
Retail stores, as with iPod;
you can walk out the same day with a replacement iPhone. The SIM card
containing the phone number and identity is simply moved from your existing
iPhone to the replacement iPhone, and one sync with iTunes gets all of your
contacts, music, data, and anything else on the iPhone back to the way it
was.
The iPhone Out-of-warranty
Battery Replacement Program is only required for iPhones that are no longer
covered by the warranty or AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone. Since iPhone
was released on June 29, 2007, and has a one year warranty, June
29, 2008, is the earliest date this service would be needed.
A: iPhone is sealed and is not "user-servicable", making
iPhone similar to iPod in this respect. Battery replacement is
available through Apple, and third party and do-it-yourself battery replacements
for iPhone are also available.
A:
Apple's Battery
Replacement page says, "Your one-year warranty includes replacement
coverage for a defective battery. You can extend your coverage to two years from
the date of your iPhone purchase with the AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone,
which is expected to be available in summer 2007. During the plan’s coverage
period, Apple will replace the battery if it drops below 50% of its original
capacity. If it is out of warranty, Apple offers a battery
replacement for $79, plus $6.95 shipping,
subject to local tax. Apple disposes of your battery in an environmentally friendly
manner."
A: The evening of June 29, 2007, the same day as the US launch of iPhone.
The iPhone Out-of-warranty Battery
Replacement Program is only required for iPhones that are no longer covered
by the warranty or AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone. Since iPhone was
released on June 29, 2007, and has a one year warranty, June 29, 2008, is
the earliest date this service would be needed.
A: Yes. Apple will provide
a loaner AppleCare Service iPhone ("AppleCare
Service Phone")
while your iPhone is being repaired or serviced for a fee
of $29. The loaner iPhone can simply be synced with iTunes
in the same way as your own iPhone, and will work and act
exactly like your own iPhone, with your own telephone number
and all of your contacts, songs, photos, and other data,
while your iPhone is being serviced. When you receive your
replacement iPhone, you simply sync with iTunes again.
Any changes in the meantime will be reflected when you
synchronize. See Apple's iPhone
Service FAQ for more information
about the AppleCare Service Phone.
A: The iPhone uses
a lithium ion battery, as do nearly all mobile phones and
portable devices. On-line dissassembly sites revealed
that iPhone uses a 3.7V 1400 mAh Lithium Ion Polymer battery,
with manufacturer part number L1S1376APPC, and Apple service
part number 616-0290. Another site revealed a similar 3.7V 1400 mAh Lithium
Ion Polymer battery, but with manufacturer part number
P11G59-01-S01 and Apple service part number 616-0291. The
differences, if any, between these batteries are not known
at this time.
A: No. This rumor came from John
Dvorak, who openly
admits to trolling Apple
users to get attention for his articles. He provided no proof, and cited an
anonymous person at Cingular who claimed they were testing the phone. iPhone,
like many other products in its class, other similar smartphones, and so on,
uses a standard lithium ion battery. While manufacturers routinely state iPod battery life specifications under optimal conditions, reviews have found that
actual battery performance under good conditions is not significantly different
from what Apple has already stated in the specifications.
A: No. Lithium-ion batteries are good for 300
to 500 charge/discharge cycles. Some interpret this as meaning that
if an iPhone is charged daily, it could need a new battery in as little as 300
days. That is incorrect. First, a partial charge does not represent a full charge/discharge
cycle. For example, if an iPhone's battery level is at 75% and it is charged,
that can be thought to account for a quarter of a single discharge cycle. Second,
a lithium ion battery gradually degrades; it will not simply stop functioning
after a certain number of cycles. Apple's official position is that the battery
will retain 80% of its life after 300 to 400 cycles. After a certain point, some
customers may begin to feel it is time to consider to change iPod battery. However,
for many customers, that time will not come for at least two years or more, at
which point many customers will already have purchased a new handset. For others,
iPod replacement battery options are available.
Q: When
will more detailed iPhone battery specifications and performance data become
available?
A: Apple will likely not provide additional specifications or performance data
beyond what has already been stated in the iPhone
specifications.
Research firms and third parties hoping to provide replacement batteries have
already disassembled iPhone, determining the type of battery used.
A: Neither Apple nor
AT&T/Cingular have made any statements on this topic. However, it is again
an engineering decision, as with the iPod. On the iPod, the decision
wasn't made for "planned
obsolescense", to force people into buying new iPods, or to make people
buy "overpriced"
batteries, as there are numerous ways to replace the battery from many sources,
including Apple, for as little as $20. In the case of the iPod, it was an engineering
decision, allowing them to make the device smaller, thinner, and lighter than
competitive devices, and not covered with access doors, by eliminating traditional
mechanisms and internal design required for "user-accessible" battery
access.
In the case of iPhone,
it has been done for the same reasons: iPhone is the thinnest and lightest
phone anywhere near its class, while also being a much more powerful device,
with more functionality and capability in the same size than other devices
on the market. This would likely be seen as a very reasonable tradeoff for
iPhone's target market. iPhone is also more likely to be docked and/or connected
to a computer via USB or attached to a powered dock for music playback, and
would thus also be charging while connected. This is also seen as another
differentiation from how many other phones, even in the smartphone/PDA class,
are used. One other difference
with the mobile phone market, even with higher end phones, is that many customers
obtain a new phone when the contract is renewed because of the carrier subsidy
for a new phone or a desire for the latest device features, often before
a new iPod battery is needed.
A: As with iPod, different options for batteries from third parties will likely
become available. Apple is very likely already using the highest capacity
batteries available in the size and form factor used in the iPhone. However,
if improvements in battery manufacturing yield improvements that were not
yet available in older iterations of iPhone, it is likely that third parties
could offer higher capacity batteries for iPhone in the future. This was
the same case with iPod. Also, external, slim batteries that cover most or
all of the back of the phone will also likely become available. Such external
batteries would add a small amount of overall thickness, but would conform
to the iPhone style and shape while greatly increasing battery capacity. Similar
batteries for other smartphone/PDA class devices increase overall battery
capacity by twice or more. Some vendors already offer iPhone
battery replacements.
Because iPhone also uses the same
dock connector as iPod, the wide range of external battery packs, power adapters
and ipod chargers (wall, vehicle, aircraft), and other power accessories for iPod
are also already compatible with iPhone! Many new vehicles are also available
with optional iPod dock connectors. These same connectors with work with,
and charge, iPhone as well.
Q: Can
i use my iPod external battery pack, power adapter, wall outlet iPod charger, or other power
accessory with iPhone?
A: Yes! iPhone also uses the same 30-pin dock connector as iPod, and the wide
range of external battery packs, power adapters, wall chargers, vehicle chargers,
aircraft chargers, USB and FIreWire charging cables, and many other Apple and
third party power
accessories for iPod are already compatible with iPhone!
Many new vehicles as
well as aftermarket automotive audio equipment are
also available with optional iPod dock connectors. These same connectors
with work with, and charge, iPhone as well, in addition to allowing music playback
and control functionality just as with iPod. Since iPhone is a wireless device,
it may cause interference with some iPod accessories; for this reason, look for
the "Works with iPhone" label when you buy new iPod or iPhone accessories.
Copyright 2007-2008 iPod Battery FAQ. All rights reserved. Apple and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Images are property of their respective owners.
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