iPhone 13 mini How to verify Apple REALLY gave me a new battery?

[DaveEcc]

I believe they won’t cover it above 80% as an AppleCare claim, but out of pocket they absolutely will.

Depends on the device. On devices where they can replace just the battery, sure. I would imagine you'd be fine with a phone. On devices where battery replacements mean replacing half the unit, no. They'll eat the cost only when the battery reaches 80%.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

The idea that a $3T company is going to screw someone out of a battery that costs them a few dollars is pretty hilarious. The idea that they'd tell their employees to do this is ludicrous. Just imagine the bad PR for Apple if one of their employees told the tech press and had the receipts.

 

[Howard2k]

Do you think Apple would risk their reputation over a battery service?

$90 is a lot of money!

 

[Howard2k]

In all seriousness, CoconutBattery might show?

 

[McNads]

If your battery is above 80% health Apple is unlikely to replace it even if you’re willing to pay for it.

They will replace it if you’re willing to pay for it.

 

[ThomasJL]

As much as I think Tim Cook is a horrible CEO who is a bastion of corporate greed, because my iPhone is helpful for my work and a few important daily tasks, I would only trust an Apple Store to do a battery replacement. That’s because the battery they use will be the same in quality as the original, and also because the technicians have specialized equipment specifically designed to disassemble and reassemble the phone that minimizes potential damage.

 

[macfacts]

They will replace it if you’re willing to pay for it.

There are many people that have wanted to pay for a new battery but we're denied because the battery health wasn't below 80%.

 

[ab22]

Is not the corporation, am weary of the "Genius" teen who sits in the window-less back room all day changing batteries and decides, rogue fashion, the existing battery is good enough, still >80% health, leaving it in and the dumb customer won't notice.

Barring hazards due to a damaged battery, the store likely retain used parts in a box the new ones came in, with your name on it, & will hold them until you pick up, cancel or abandon. I'd be surprised if they refuse to show you them; and might conceivably offer a glimpse of the diagnostics & service history (some parts are serialized) - if you show an interest.

You may also be able to use 'Repair Assistant' : https://support.apple.com/en-us/120579 but I don't know if that shows serials.

There's this too : https://support.apple.com/en-us/102658 but doesn't show for some

 

[Poppleropples]

This is parody, right?

 

[fatTribble]

As much as I think Tim Cook is a horrible CEO who is a bastion of corporate greed, because my iPhone is helpful for my work and a few important daily tasks, I would only trust an Apple Store to do a battery replacement. That’s because the battery they use will be the same in quality as the original, and also because the technicians have specialized equipment specifically designed to disassemble and reassemble the phone that minimizes potential damage.

Even a thread about battery replacement gets a random shot at Tim Cook. Well done. /s

 

[nathansz]

technicians have specialized equipment specifically designed to disassemble and reassemble the phone that minimizes potential damage.

Not really, but they will fix anything they break

That’s how I got a free new screen for my 12 mini

brought it in for a new battery and crumbling old screen broke apart when that tried to take it off

 

[nathansz]

How much is a movie ticket, they are willing to risk that much to spam their current user base with ads.

What ads? Where?

 

[Larsvonhier]

In all seriousness, CoconutBattery might show?

Short answer. Yes.

 

[aja_96]

They run another diagnostic upon giving the unit back to customer

 

[russell_314]

There are many people that have wanted to pay for a new battery but we're denied because the battery health wasn't below 80%.

They have to set a standard somewhere. You would have people coming in with 96% battery health wanting a new battery.

I suspect what they charge to replace it doesn’t make them a profit and it’s probably a loss. This is especially true if they have to replace the whole device.

 

[digimc]

Battery Gate this is not.

 

[byebyeapple]

How do you know they put in a new battery in the first place? Maybe your iPhone 13 came with an old battery out of the box? Why stop there? Maybe even your speaker or motherboard could have been recycled? There might be a chance, that Apple even modified your specific software to show rigged results in benchmarks and in reality they ripped you off with a three year old chipset. Better check those things quickly.

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

What movie is this? I haven't had any ads on my iPhone. And do you truly believe that Apple would act in such a way about battery replacement?

There are now ads in the Wallet app.

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

How much is a movie ticket, they are willing to risk that much to spam their current user base with ads.

Those who had Wallet notifications turned on got a Fandango ad for F1.
I saw it too, but only in my Wallet app.

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

$90 is a lot of money!

Not for Apple.

 

[SpotOnT]

There are many people that have wanted to pay for a new battery but we're denied because the battery health wasn't below 80%.

Most those people were denied from authorized repair shops, rather than by Apple directly. Apple is a horrible pain about giving parts out - even to authorized dealers.

You might get some hesitation from Apple (usually something about it being “not good for the environment”), but if you insist, they will do it. Never heard of someone getting denied from Apple directly with a bit of pushback.

 

[Saturn007]

OP, I sympathize with you. You're being wise, not paranoid.

Being careful doesn’t mean you're subscribing to conspiracy theories as several suggested. Of course, Apple's not going to deliberately put in old batteries, especially not as a matter of policy. But all sorts of things still can go wrong in any given Apple Store, with any given tech, with any given repair, on any given day.

“Trust, but verify” is a smart policy.​

Yet, apply it strategically. No need to take one's laptop into the AppleStore or be pushy demanding documentation, observation of replacement, or any on-site instant confirmation.

Just do a Coconut Battery check beforehand at home, taking a screenshot of the info about cycles and health — and, then, do it again when you return from the repair.

If there were to be an issue, which would be highly unusual and very unlikely, you have the needed evidence to return and request a fix. If it happens, you could also report the situation to the manager and to national Apple HQ.

In any case, to those who uncharitably and unfairly assailed the OP for being paranoid, do remember that

“Just because you're paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn't out to get you!” 😎​

 

[BugeyeSTI]

If your battery is above 80% health Apple is unlikely to replace it even if you’re willing to pay for it.

I've had several iPhone battery replacements with capacity over 80% and never had an issue getting it replaced at my cost. They informed me that it was above 80% and it wasn't necessary and I told them I understand and will pay to have it replaced. Around an hour later, I had a new battery and was on my way..

 

[Mrbobb]

I don't know. But what I can tell you is Apple changed the battery in my mom's iPhone and the battery life didn't get better. Thanks, software updates.

Uh-oh. Did you/she verified the numbers after taking back the phone?

 

[McNads]

There are many people that have wanted to pay for a new battery but we're denied because the battery health wasn't below 80%.

There’s no reason they should’ve been. SOP for an iPhone is to replace the battery at the out-of-warranty cost.

As such, they will replace it if you’re willing to pay.