Just like any rechargeable device, the most replaceable part of your iPhone is its battery. Batteries are pretty much a concoction of chemicals that lose their potency with use, time, temperature, and other environmental and usage factors. And your iPhone’s battery isn’t any different.
There are some signs you can use to tell when your battery has reached the point of no return. Some of these signs are baked into iOS, whereas others could be more physical symptoms you’ll notice when you use the iPhone. Regardless, we’ve listed major pointers for when it’s time to get a new battery
1. Reduced Battery Life
It’s common to hear people say that their phone used to last the whole day, but now it barely makes it to lunchtime at work. And a lot of people might blame it on software rather than hardware. You may have even tried all theiPhone battery-saving tips, only to still experience a woefully subpar battery life.
Typically, this means that your battery has degraded to the point where it can no longer keep an optimum charge. iPhone batteries are lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and they generate energy through chemical reactions. With time and use, these chemical reactions lose their potency, and your phone will no longer be able to support peak performance.
While all iPhone batteries degrade with age, there aresteps you can take to maintain your iPhone’s battery healthso it lasts as long as possible.
2. Battery Health Is Less Than 80%
One of the many advantages of iOS over other mobile operating systems is the synergy between hardware and software. Because Apple makes its own hardware and software, it can tie the two together in a way Android or other operating systems can’t. This synergy extends to managing your iPhone’s battery health.
You can monitor your iPhone’s battery health through the Settings app to judge when it’s time for a new battery. Go toSettings > Battery > Battery Health & Chargingand note itsMaximum Capacity. If the number there reads below 80%, it might be time to change your battery.
In fact, you will see a notification at the top of the page warning you to take your phone to an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Also, if you havean AppleCare+ warranty, Apple will replace your iPhone battery only if its health is below 80%.
However, sometimes, you should take the figure there with a grain of salt. If the number is suspiciously low (or even high), it might be time tocalibrate your iPhone’s battery. Calibrating the battery is essentially resetting it so the percentages are more accurate.
3. Your iPhone Frequently Overheats
Although there could be otherreasons why your iPhone overheats, once you rule out everything processor or software-related, it only leaves the battery as the culprit.
When batteries age, the chemical components become less fluid, and that causes what we call a high internal resistance. It makes it more difficult for your iPhone to draw energy from the battery, and this high resistance (similar to friction) causes more heat than normal.
It’s not just aged batteries that can cause abnormal heat but damaged batteries, too. If you have a faulty battery damaged by water or a puncture wound, the chemical balance can get disrupted, which can lead to overheating or even health risks.
So, if you notice your iPhone getting extremely hot while doing the most mundane things, it might be time to get its battery checked.
4. Unexpected Shutdown and Performance Management Notification
Were you using your iPhone with the battery charged, then all of a sudden, it shut down? If this sounds familiar, it may be time to replace your iPhone’s battery.
This shutdown is usually accompanied by a notification that your phone no longer supports normal peak performance. If you go toSettings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging, you should see a message underneathPeak Performance Capabilityinforming you that your iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown and performance management has been applied.
An adjusted Peak Performance Capability means that your iPhone has limited its processor so that you don’t face unexpected shutdowns in the future.
Know When to Get a New Battery for Your iPhone
When it comes to your iPhone’s battery, we strongly recommend you do things properly and avoid counterfeit or substandard replacement batteries. Unlike other parts of your phone, batteries can be a safety hazard. And on top of that, a fake battery can damage other components when it leaks or swells.
Visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider, and if that’s unavailable where you live, ensure the technician sources an original battery.
