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Should I replace my iPad Air 2 battery?
- Thread starter WinterWolf90
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Yep, that's just a product of battery degradation. I think replacing an iPad battery is pretty pricey, so it may not be worth it. Is it at the point where the reduced battery capacity is impacting the usability of the device for you?
If it's still meeting your needs I would just hang onto it. With many iPhone models a degraded battery can impact performance (throttling or risk of random shut-downs... pick one), but as far as I know it the only issue with a degraded battery on an iPad is that it won't last as long between charges. Once it reaches the point where it's a serious issue I would consider upgrading your iPad rather than replacing the battery.
Where did you try to get it done? This is on Apple's (Canadian) website, so it appears that it is a service that they offer and the Air 2 is not yet on the obsolete list so they should still have parts for it. Was there something else wrong with your iPad that they refused service?
No, nothing wrong with it. Based on what I read online, I assumed they would replace the battery. When I took it in store, they told me that they can only replace the entire iPad (for the battery replacement fee). Because I'm on iOS 12 and don't think I can transfer old apps to a new device, I declined.
Ah ok, that makes sense. Most places probably can't do iPad battery replacements in store so the whole unit swap is the only option for same day service.
That's how Apple does it with all iPads. You get a refurb unit unless you have an engraved back—in that case, they will replace the battery and you'll get yours back in 4–6 weeks. They state this on their support site.
This will wipe the data. Before an authorized Apple touches tech it, you will sign a waiver that you understand this and that your data is backed up. No exceptions to this policy that I know.
Hook your iPad up with a USB cable to a Mac or PC running iTunes and back it up. This will let you restore your content after the work is done. If you have any problem with this, place a support call so that an Apple tech will walk you through the process.
If you have an iCloud backup, only your apps and most of your settings are stored. Your content and downloads are not stored in iCloud—only on a computer if you backed it up as above.
My understanding is that apps no longer sync with iOS 12. I’m interested in preserving older versions of certain apps, some of which aren’t available in the App Store. The folks at the Apple Store told me that was no longer possible. So, at some point, I suppose I’ll attempt the battery replacement myself.
That is not correct—whatever you meant by that.
If an app is no longer supported by the developer, you will no longer be able to download it from the App Store and, if your only backup is iCloud, this may be an issue.
If you have your iPad backed up to a Mac or PC in iTunes as you should, you can restore an obsolete app along with everything else.
32 bit only apps are no longer supported as of iOS 11 — those are no longer available for download although newer versions may be. If installed, you can restore it if properly backed up but it will no longer work in iOS 11 or 12.
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That is no longer correct. iTunes stopped downloading the full iOS app since iTunes 12.7 during the iTunes/Mac backup. There is no actual iOS full app saved on the Mac for a obsolete iOS app restore.
And yet, I restored mine just last week.
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I noticed that no one answered your question. The 86% is design capacity, not actual charge which, in your case, is 100%. Both numbers are correct but they mean different things.
Apple will replace the battery under warranty or AppleCare when Design Capacity number reaches 80% making that a good benchmark.
Unlike the iPhone 5S-X, there's no discount for replacing it by Monday, Dec. 31. So, whether or not to replace it at 86% depends on if you are dissatisfied with the current length of time it holds the charge.
You do want to replace it once it gets below 80%. iPads are not immune to the expanding battery problem according to my friends and relatives in iOS support.
I know you are concerned about lost data but. if the battery expands, it's gone. Even though I was able to restore my older apps from an iTunes backup last week, the latest Support Bulletin indicates that these are no longer saved.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204136
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Do you have any specifics of how you "restored"?
I'll say again, since iTunes 12.7 it DOES NOT DOWNLOAD THE iOS APP TO THE MAC. It will save that you have the app installed and the settings, but when "restored" the full current available app is downloaded from the iOS App Store. The exception is if you are using or used an older iTunes for the backup.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nges-including-no-built-in-app-store.2066504/
https://lifehacker.com/what-to-do-now-that-you-can-t-sync-ios-apps-using-itune-1809941947
Which is not what I did.
Who cares what you say?
Certainly not I. You make a habit of disbelieving, not understanding and trolling. You like to criticize and never offer suggestions that help—for example, there are none in this thread.
Your usual erroneous, hand waving, vague comments when making a mistake with no facts to backup your post information.
My helpful suggestion in this thread was to correct your wrong information in order to prevent someone from thinking that current iTunes/Mac backup of the iPad will enable restoring of obsolete apps from the backup. I do not believe that wrong information is helpful. I will not accept incorrect instructions.
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Let's calm down and get along. You're both correct in the non-conflicting points you're trying to get across.
Coastal; you are correct in stating iTunes no longer downloads the full iOS app to the Mac. There are no full iOS apps saved on the Mac. This originally blew my mind when using Apple Configurator 2 after this change, but that's another story another time. I also don't know how that will impact my horribly outdated original iPad should I ever sync it again, but once more, another story.
ADDITIONALLY...
Mike; you are correct in stating that if an iOS device is synced and backed up to iTunes on a Mac or PC, the full encrypted backup will be a clone of the iOS device - with all apps included; obsolete, removed from the app store, etc. The backup which an iOS device will restore from via iTunes will result in the iOS device looking like, behaving like, and including everything from the backed-up-device. It's like a hard drive cloner - iTunes doesn't care what's in that backup, it's going to throw it back on the device you point it to, the end. I've done this, and you're spot on.
BACK TO THE OP'S QUESTION...
I would leave the iPad Air 2 battery alone. I came across this looking for assistance with a seemingly bricked Air 1 - and with a little sense of not-so-urgent based on age. New iPads are so inexpensive (down to $249 this past Black Friday for the comparable iPad 6th gen with pencil support) that it would be foolish to invest anything in prior generations of the base 9'7" iPad lineup; especially $129 for a battery. For twice that (still on Amazon; $279 as of this post) you could spend the money more wisely on a new iPad with a new battery and much better internals all wrapped with a warranty.
well, air2 has a great screen which new ipad dont have. i wouldnt replace the battery, if it is still 86% - that is not bad at all yet, unless there are other issues. air2 is the best ipad ever made, and now only the pro models have the same screen.
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