Other What's with Apple botching battery replacements and handing out new phones?

[204353]

As NT1440 mentioned, Apple techs are not allowed to proceed if the one of the battery pull tabs snaps. This is a safety precaution because prying the battery out introduces a risk of puncture. Safety of the technicians is more important than the price of replacing an iPhone.

From experience, one of the most common reasons for the tabs to snap is the black plastic wrapper on the bottom edge of the battery sticking to the pull tab on its way out. The wrapper protects the delicate battery cable and other external circuitry. That sticky wrapper often gets peeled slightly by the (white) adhesive tab as it passes over it. The underside of the black wrapper also has adhesive on it, so it gets super stuck to the white adhesive and often causes the latter to tear. Once that happens, it's often game over. It's a lottery as to whether or not this happens because you can't see it (it's on the underside of the battery) and it can happen regardless of how slowly and carefully you remove the white adhesive.

Especially given the huge number of these battery replacements Apple are having to do, it's really not surprising that these tabs break on a regular basis. Every time that happens, they replace the whole unit.

 

[sumsingwong]

Went to get mine replaced today on my iPhone 6s Plus. They messed up the camera and couldn’t fix it so they replaced the unit. Took less than 1.5 hours.

 

[Hieveryone]

I had something like that except the camera. Had some dust so they said they’d fix it. Ended up coming back way later and Just gave a new 1

 

[joeblow7777]

It is common place on forums and real life to complain rather than give compliments or talk about how things went right. Shouldn't be that way, but...................

I can’t imagine why anyone would complain about getting a new phone for free. I would be hoping they botch mine!

 

[cutienoua]

It is common place on forums and real life to complain rather than give compliments or talk about how things went right. Shouldn't be that way, but...................

ok so you tell me that 2 out 3 phone that had to be replaced in my case is complaining?!
how many batteries have you changed at apple stores?
7 and 7 plus replaced, somehow they got the SE right !

 

[C DM]

I can’t imagine why anyone would complain about getting a new phone for free. I would be hope they botch mine!

Technically speaking it's generally a refurbished unit rather than a new one. In many cases it's likely better than the one that is getting replaced, or at least no worse. Although in some cases there might be some issues with it that the original didn't have (which could be true even of a new unit too, realistically speaking).

 

[Momof2.1107]

I took my X in to have the battery replaced this past Friday, and was told it broken during the process so I was handed a replacement X. I was okay with that even though my previous X did not have any cosmetic damage. I didn’t have the patience to have another device mailed to the store or to me. I was on iOS 12.1.1 so no problems updating to iOS 12.1.2 and then the latest beat. I did have a hiccup where the replacement X wouldn’t charge past 80%, but now it charges to 100%.

 

[rasputin1969]

I mailed in my iPhone 7 for a battery replacement and it arrived back on Thursday with touch id broken. When I phoned I was asked at least three times whether touch id had been working before sending it in. They remotely ran some diagnostics that the phone passed, the same diagnostics they run prior to and before replacing the battery. They’re stumped and have passed it on to engineering so I won’t hear back for a week or so.

In short - awful customer service.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I mailed in my iPhone 7 for a battery replacement and it arrived back on Thursday with touch id broken. When I phoned I was asked at least three times whether touch id had been working before sending it in. They remotely ran some diagnostics that the phone passed, the same diagnostics they run prior to and before replacing the battery. They’re stumped and have passed it on to engineering so I won’t hear back for a week or so.

In short - awful customer service.

Sounds like you don’t have access to an Apple store...

 

[rasputin1969]

Sounds like you don’t have access to an Apple store...

In the UK it typically takes a week to get an Apple Store appointment at the weekend. It’s quicker to mail the phone in for a battery replacement. You don’t expect Apple to then break the phone.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

In the UK it typically takes a week to get an Apple Store appointment at the weekend. It’s quicker to mail the phone in for a battery replacement. You don’t expect Apple to then break the phone.

Appointments are blown off all the time, maybe you’d get lucky and slide into someone else’s spot that didn’t show.. Worth a shot, I’ve gotten lucky a few times that way..

 

[alpi123]

That's what they did to me. I waited a whole month just to get a ****** replacement when they could've just swapped the battery.

I'm saying ****** because my first 6s was using the TSMC processor whereas the replacement phone (refurbished) was a Samsung one and in the long run, my phone was slow and the battery was draining like crazy. Needless to say, I replaced it twice with iFixit but that didn't help.

 

[FeliApple]

I can’t imagine why anyone would complain about getting a new phone for free. I would be hoping they botch mine!

I did say why I wouldn't like it. A fringe case, you might argue, indeed. But, in my opinion, valid.
You might disagree, and that is absolutely fine.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I did say why I wouldn't like it. A fringe case, you might argue, indeed. But, in my opinion, valid.
You might disagree, and that is absolutely fine.

It’s a reason, but this really is not a fair world, right? Apple’s policy is the right solution in 99,99999% of the cases.

 

[Blue Hawk]

My dads iPhone 6s is only 1 years old. But the battery life was worse. Not even a day. Battery health said 98% (for sure, hahaha).

On the apple website I’ve chosen the battery replacement. A few days later I’ve wrote Apple why no one came to took the phone. They have said that there was an error in their systems (what??) and UPS didn’t get the order to take it. After the chat, 1 day later they took his phone.

Apple website says it’s „repaired“ and they sent it back. I hope everything is fine. I think they have changed the battery and sent the same phone back to us.

Nothing paid for that. It’s all about the warranty.

I think the „first“ batteries in the iPhones are crap. I’ve always had the problem, with every iPhone, that the battery sucked up after 1 or 2 years. Our old iPhone 5 still has a replaced battery and after 2 years it has 100% of battery health. On my old 6s Plus I’ve changed the battery myself last year and it’s still over 100.

 

[joeblow7777]

I did say why I wouldn't like it. A fringe case, you might argue, indeed. But, in my opinion, valid.
You might disagree, and that is absolutely fine.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I just meant in general. I understand your specific reason to want to avoid a replacement.

 

[FeliApple]

It’s a reason, but this really is not a fair world, right? Apple’s policy is the right solution in 99,99999% of the cases.

I agree.

 

[HEK]

What’s with people? Get inexpensive battery replacement and if something goes wrong get new phone.

If Apple invented water people would complain it’s wet. Geez

And others would complain it’s not wet enough.

 

[FeliApple]

What’s with people? Get inexpensive battery replacement and if something goes wrong get new phone.

If Apple invented water people would complain it’s wet. Geez

And others would complain it’s not wet enough.

Again, it isn't as straightforward.

 

[PieVsCake]

If your that concerned regardless of reasons and MUST stay on a certain version of iOS. I would just buy the tools and parts from iFixit and do it yourself. This allows you to take all the care you need and ensure no one updates your hardware.

Having come from a 6+ myself to an 8+ I enjoy my new phone as the "last of the home button" phones. I don't know what I'll do when this phone gives up the ghost... I don't like the current state of face ID and my phat fingers are swipe challenged. I just love the fingerprint sensor so unless apple is able to put a fingerprint sensor under the glass I may just end up going with another phone.

 

[HEK]

Again, it isn't as straightforward.

Sure it is. What more do people want, free house payment with every repair.

What other company was replacing battery for $29 and if something went wrong gave you new phone.

Just how privileged do people think they are. Go buy another make of phone if that’s not enough customer satisfaction.

Everyone has their own nitch requirements. Apple is under no obligation to meet each and every requirement. Remaining on iOS 9 is not Apple’s problem. If you want no updates to software go with Android.

Like everyone else, I go by my experience. Have been satisfied with Apple devices. No serious issues and software updates have always worked just fine. Not sure who you get info that software updates “usually” result in problems. Have not experienced that. And since well over 85% people update to latest I would say your opinion is based on very small minority.

I have never bought a product from any manufacturer that I loved each and every feature or placement of controls. When something bugs me enough I change what I buy. Easy peezy

 

[FeliApple]

Sure it is. What more do people want, free house payment with every repair.

What other company was replacing battery for $29 and if something went wrong gave you new phone.

Just how privileged do people think they are. Go buy another make of phone if that’s not enough customer satisfaction.

Everyone has their own nitch requirements. Apple is under no obligation to meet each and every requirement. Remaining on iOS 9 is not Apple’s problem. If you want no updates to software go with Android.

Like everyone else, I go by my experience. Have been satisfied with Apple devices. No serious issues and software updates have always worked just fine.

I have never bought a product from any manufacturer that I loved each and every feature or placement of controls. When something bugs me enough I change what I buy. Easy peezy

All I asked was why were replacements failing and stated the reasons why a phone exchange wouldn't be optimal.
I didn't even pretend Apple to "meet my niche requirements". I said that Apple would solve the issue in a way that isn't optimal.
My reasons not to update are absolutely valid, even if you don't share them. And that's ok, too. I go by my experiences, as well.
There was no reason to be snarky. I wasn't even criticising Apple. I was only asking why were the replacements failing.

 

[Wide opeN]

So is replacing the screen as involved as replacing the battery!?

I have a speck of dust in the Face ID area. I've tried to ignore it, but I wouldn't mind getting the screen repaired.

 

[Khaf]

I stopped by with my friend at the apple store today. He was there to replace his battery on his iPhone and I was looking at the XR. Why I’m talking about this here is because the person who was helping my friend and booking his replacement said “make sure you backup your device” and my friend said he had already, and casually asked how come anyway since it’s a battery replacement. The rep leaned in and said “to be honest we’ve had some issues come up during battery replacement and have had to replace the phone with a new one”. Not making this up. My friend was appreciative that he said that and gave him the heads up. Obviously this is anecdotal, and I don’t want to seem like I’m screaming “DOOM” but looking at this forum and some other forums seems like there have definitely been a decent amount of botched battery replacements.

Do y’all think it’s due to the timeframe the technicians have to work under, or more so that Apple makes it really hard to get into the devices so even their techs sometimes **** it up?

 

[C DM]

I stopped by with my friend at the apple store today. He was there to replace his battery on his iPhone and I was looking at the XR. Why I’m talking about this here is because the person who was helping my friend and booking his replacement said “make sure you backup your device” and my friend said he had already, and casually asked how come anyway since it’s a battery replacement. The rep leaned in and said “to be honest we’ve had some issues come up during battery replacement and have had to replace the phone with a new one”. Not making this up. My friend was appreciative that he said that and gave him the heads up. Obviously this is anecdotal, and I don’t want to seem like I’m screaming “DOOM” but looking at this forum and some other forums seems like there have definitely been a decent amount of botched battery replacements.

Do y’all think it’s due to the timeframe the technicians have to work under, or more so that Apple makes it really hard to get into the devices so even their techs sometimes **** it up?

These are small electronics and things can and do happen. There really isn't much of anything new or surprising about it.