Replacing your iPhone's battery significantly extends its lifespan. You save the cost of buying a new device and no longer have to charge your phone several times a day. Would you like to save money on the battery replacement too, by doing it yourself at home as a "DIY" job? Replacement batteries can be bought, and you'll find how-to guides on the internet. We've compared the options for you to see whether replacing the battery at home really pays off.
iPhone battery replacement - price at a repair shop vs at home
How much can you actually save by replacing the battery at home?
1. time
One factor is time. Users on the internet report that replacing the battery at home takes roughly 60-90 minutes, depending on skill and experience. That's comparable to travelling to a repair shop and waiting for the replacement. In the latter case, though, you can spend that hour reading a magazine, for example...
2. money
Let's look at a price comparison for the iPhone models whose owners ask for a battery replacement most often:
Price comparison: iPhone battery replacement at home vs at a repair shop
iPhone model | price of a replacement battery* (Kč) | price of replacement at a repair shop** (Kč) |
iPhone 6s | 339-490 | 590 |
iPhone SE | 309 | 690 |
iPhone 7 | 399-699 | 890 |
iPhone X | 599-799 | 1,290 |
*We took the prices of replacement batteries from a leading Czech online marketplace. The price range reflects battery capacity.
**We compare them with the price of a battery replacement at the appleguru.cz iPhone repair shop. See the complete price list for the replacement price for other models.
So by replacing the battery at home you can save roughly 100-500 Kč.
Now let's compare that saving with the risks that a home repair involves:
Replacing an iPhone battery at home - the risks
On the internet and on YouTube you'll find plenty of guides to replacing an iPhone battery at home. Getting hold of a replacement battery for older iPhone models is also fairly easy. What you often won't be told, though (or will only read in the small print of the enclosed instructions), are the risks of these replacements. The manufacturer itself (that is, Apple) warns about these risks too. So what are they?
- you lose your warranty - by opening an iPhone outside an authorised service centre, you lose the right to make a claim within the warranty period. So definitely don't do it during the two-year warranty period.
- risk of injury - a number of incidents have been recorded in which, after an amateur repair, an iPhone "exploded" in the user's hands. This can happen when the battery overheats or is damaged. The iPhone 7 and later contain a laser. If it is damaged, you may expose yourself to the risk of invisible infrared laser radiation.
- risk of heat damage - with most home battery replacement kits, one of the steps is heating with a hairdryer so that the battery, which is glued in place, can be released. This naturally ties in with the point above and exposes your device to a direct risk of overheating.
- risk of mechanical damage - users who have tried replacing the battery at home most often mention that they "managed" to scratch or even damage the phone's display, or to scratch the back cover. Because the mechanics are so delicate, other damage can occur that you won't even notice at first but that may affect how the device works.
- compromised splash and water resistance - iPhones are water resistant, but an amateur repair can cost you this property.
This is what an iPhone 6s looks like after an explosion
(Source: AppleInsider.com)
Conclusion
An iPhone isn't a cheap device, and unless you have real experience of repairing electronics, a home repair like this may not pay off. Advanced technology is sensitive to amateur intervention, and replacing an iPhone battery is fairly demanding. You may save a few hundred koruna, but you may also damage delicate components worth thousands or leave the device with ugly scratches.
For most iPhone owners, investing in a professional repair pays off.
When is it time to replace the battery? Read how to check the condition of your iPhone's battery.
Also remember that proper care extends your battery's lifespan.
Is it time to replace your iPhone's battery? Come and see us! We're specialists in Apple products.
✆ 607 855 558
✉ info@appleguru.cz
Seifertova 683/83, Prague 3 - Žižkov
