Apple is raising the price of battery replacements for its new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max phones to $119, up $20 from the current cost for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The cost to replace an out-of-warranty battery on an entry-level iPhone 16 model will remain $99, according to Apple's website.
The changes only apply to iPhone customers who are not members of the AppleCare Plus service repair program, which can provide up to three years of coverage on various fixes. Newly purchased Apple devices traditionally come with a one-year warranty.
The batteries in the latest iPhone 16 lineup are larger in size to optimize longer-lasting battery life, according to Apple.
The company has adjusted the price of its battery replacements over the years. In 2018, it famously dropped the cost from $79 to $29 following the controversy known as Batterygate, when the company intentionally slowed down older phones. It bumped the cost back up to $99 in 2022 and made other price changes across its lines, too. In January 2023, for example, batteries for the MacBook Air models increased $30 to $159.
The latest price increase comes as Apple faces intense pressure to convince people to buy new iPhones amid stagnant sales. The company is banking on interest around its Apple Intelligence features and advanced camera capabilities to entice users to upgrade at a time when they're holding onto devices for longer.
The new devices hit shelves on Friday. Check out all the best deals here.
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