An iPhone can be used for several years without much worry, provided it is treated with some care. But even with the best care, there is one part of an iPhone that will degrade over time — the battery. Fortunately, an iPhone battery can be replaced relatively quickly and inexpensively. In fact, an iPhone battery replacement only costs, on average, around $70. But not everyone will get the battery replaced. Some end up using the battery issue as an excuse to upgrade.
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Should I replace the battery in my iPhone, or upgrade?
Apple charges either $49, $69, or $99 to replace the battery, depending on the model. Even at the $99 price point — you’re looking at spending more money if you decide to upgrade. But if you’ve been using your iPhone for three or four, or even five years, you may just be ready to upgrade. So let’s be honest — plenty of people are going to think about upgrading instead of repairing, so we’re going to explore the upgrade options first.
Spending $400+ to buy an iPhone 13 may be a bit over budget compared to a $99 battery replacement cost — but if your current iPhone is already a few years old, the added cost will be offset because you are just as likely to also use this new iPhone for several years into the future.
Not sure which iPhone to buy? Check out Swappa’s iPhone Buyers Guide
iPhone battery replacement cost
One of the most common iPhone repairs is replacing the battery. And, as a result of being such a common repair — it can often be completed relatively quickly.
As you’ll notice in the table below, Apple charges either $49, $69, or $99 for a battery replacement. The $99 price point is for the current generation iPhone 14 family, the $69 price point is for most other ‘newer’ models, and the $49 price point is for ‘older’ models such as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. A local repair shop is generally going to be close in price, but there is a potential of paying more for some models.
The table below compares the battery replacement cost at local repair shops, versus the out-of-warranty cost from Apple, versus skipping the battery replacement and replacing the device itself.
| Battery Replacement Cost (Swappa Repair Network) | Battery Replacement Cost (Apple out-of-warranty) | iPhone Replacement Cost (Swappa Marketplace) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 14 | N/A | $99 | Starting around $648 |
| iPhone 14 Plus | N/A | $99 | Starting around $650 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | N/A | $99 | Starting around $869 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | N/A | $99 | Starting around $968 |
| iPhone SE 2022 (3rd gen) | N/A | $49 | Starting around $249 |
| iPhone 13 | N/A | $69 | Starting around $498 |
| iPhone 13 mini | N/A | $69 | Starting around $379 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | N/A | $69 | Starting around $651 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | N/A | $69 | Starting around $725 |
| iPhone 12 | $90 | $69 | Starting around $314 |
| iPhone 12 mini | $94 | $69 | Starting around $269 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | $93 | $69 | Starting around $436 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | $98 | $69 | Starting around $504 |
| iPhone SE 2020 (2nd gen) | $62 | $49 | Starting around $119 |
| iPhone 11 | $84 | $69 | Starting around $250 |
| iPhone 11 Pro | $105 | $69 | Starting around $349 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | $98 | $69 | Starting around $355 |
| iPhone XS | $72 | $69 | Starting around $198 |
| iPhone XS Max | $77 | $69 | Starting around $277 |
| iPhone Xr | $72 | $69 | Starting around $194 |
| iPhone X | $71 | $69 | Starting around $179 |
| iPhone 8 | $61 | $49 | Starting around $99 |
| iPhone 8 Plus | $61 | $49 | Starting around $159 |
While price is obviously important, you should also consider your time. Not everyone has an Apple Store close to where they live or work, so that may rule out the Apple Store as an option. To be fair, Apple does offer battery repair service by mail, but that adds an additional $6.95 to the cost and it also means you’ll be without your phone while it is being shipped and repaired, which is less than ideal. This is the point when people start thinking about doing the repair themselves or begin trying to find a local repair shop for same-day service.
Can I replace the battery in my iPhone?
The short and simple answer is NO, you should not try to replace the battery in your iPhone. The truth is, while we often want to think we are capable of handling certain tasks, there are some things better left to the professionals. Smartphone repair is one of those tasks, so let’s put aside the thoughts of trying to save money by swapping your iPhone’s battery all by yourself and focusing on more important things, such as finding a trusted local repair shop.
Apple Self-Service Repair
On the topic of the right to repair: In November 2021, Apple announced the “Self Service Repair” program and launched it in early 2022. This repair program provides kits that include genuine Apple parts along with the necessary tools and manuals to complete the repair. This option may be worth considering, but it means getting large and heavy items shipped to you by Apple, then doing the repair, and then shipping those large and heavy items back to Apple — which honestly, sounds less than ideal.
Where can I get my iPhone battery replaced locally?
Now that you’ve set aside the thoughts of trying to replace the battery yourself — the next step is finding a local repair shop you can trust. You may think the best starting point is using Google to “find a smartphone repair shop near me” but Swappa has a more straightforward approach: the Swappa Repair Network, which offers a quick and easy way to find a trusted repair shop in your local area.
Preparing to get your battery replaced
You should always back up the data on your iPhone, just in case of an emergency type of thing. But you should absolutely make sure that your iPhone is backed up before getting the battery replaced.
Back up your iPhone with iCloud
Apple offers options to backup with iCloud, or with a Mac or Windows computer. The simplest option is with iCloud because it can be done using only your iPhone. The first step is making sure your iPhone is connected to a WiFi network. The next steps are as follows:
- Navigate to Settings -> [Your Name]
- Tap iCloud
- Tap iCloud Backup
- Tap Back Up Now
Back up your iPhone with a Mac
- Open a Finder window
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable
- Follow the on-screen steps when asked for your device passcode to Trust This Computer
- Select your iPhone on your computer (in the Finder window)
- Select Encrypt local backup to ensure all data is backed up
- Click Back Up Now
- Verify the Last backup date and time to ensure the backup has been completed
Back up your iPhone with a PC
- Open (or install) iTunes on your PC
- Connect your iPhone to your PC with a USB cable
- Follow the on-screen steps when asked for your device passcode to Trust This Computer
- Select your iPhone in iTunes
- Select Encrypt local backup to ensure all data is backed up
- Click Back Up Now
- Verify the Last backup date and time to ensure the backup has been completed
