Apple replaces iPhone batteries at discount

Apple is reportedly swapping any iPhone battery at its discounted $29 replacement price regardless of the battery’s capacity, a more flexible stance than last week’s offer to change batteries on older phones.

This is the latest concession to consumers since the tech giant acknowledged two weeks ago that some iPhones will operate slower because of a software fix to protect aging batteries. Apple says iPhone batteries are meant to retain 80 percent of their capacity for up to 500 recharge cycles.

Apple’s initial olive branch to owners of iPhones with slowed responses was to say it would begin offering replacement batteries at a $50 discount to its usual $79 price later this month. Then, the company on Saturday said it would begin offering the discounted replacements immediately, noting that supply could be limited at the outset.

Typically, when customers brought their iPhones into an Apple Store citing some slow operation problems, an employee would run a diagnostic test on the phone. If the battery was operating at less than 80 percent of its original capacity and the phone was under warranty or covered by AppleCare-Plus, the battery would be replaced for free.

Apple did not say whether a diagnostic test on iPhone batteries would be required when it announced the discounted battery replacement plan. However, Apple is replacing batteries for eligible phones even if they pass a diagnostic test, according to MacRumors.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.