Apple Is Replacing Some Defective iPhone 5 Batteries

Does the battery life on your iPhone 5 suck? There’s a small chance that might be because Apple sold you a defective unit. Here’s how to find out.

Picture: Getty Images

Apple says that a small percentage of iPhone 5 models sold between September 2012 (when the phone launched) and January 2013 don’t charge properly. For those models, Apple will replace the battery free of charge. (That means you’ll need to back up your phone, wipe it and return it to Apple, but that might be worth it if you’re sick of constantly trying to find power for your device.)

To determine if your phone is eligible, type its serial number into Apple’s special site. Apple has a help page describing how to find the serial number. Note this only applies to the iPhone 5; it doesn’t affect the 5s or 5c.

In Australia, you can’t return your phone to an Apple Store or service centre until 29 August — but you can work out if you’re eligible straight away.

Apple is expected to announce a new iPhone 6 model on 10 September (Australian time), so if you’re contemplating an upgrade soon, you might not think the changeover is worth the bother. For everyone else, it makes sense to get better battery life if you’re eligible and having problems. And if your iPhone isn’t eligible, our guide to improving battery life and reducing annoyances in iOS 7 is still useful.

Apple [via MacRumors via Business Insider]


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