The short answer is yes – most iPhone batteries can last around 3 years before needing replacement. But battery life will suffer without a swap. Let‘s take a detailed look at what to expect from an iPhone battery as it ages year to year.
iPhone Battery Lifespan Basics
First, how long should you expect an iPhone battery to last with normal use?
Apple designs iPhone batteries to retain up to 80% of their original capacity after 500 complete charge cycles. This usually translates to 2-3 years before you‘ll notice faster drainage, unexpected shutdowns, and other issues.
The key factors impacting iPhone battery lifespan include:
- Charging habits – Frequent full discharges and overcharging strain batteries. Apple‘s optimized charging can help.
- High temperatures – Heat degrades batteries faster. Don‘t leave iPhones baking inside hot cars.
- Age – Capacity fades as chemical components wear down over time.
With moderate daily usage, my experience is most iPhone owners will need to replace batteries in the 2-3 year range as capacity drops below 80% and problems emerge. But how does degradation progress year by year?
What to Expect from Your iPhone Battery Each Year
Here‘s a general guide to iPhone battery health by years of use if you charge moderately without deliberately prolonging lifespan:
Year 1
Expect full battery capacity and no issues for your first year with an iPhone unless you got a defective battery. Apple‘s warranty covers manufacturing defects impacting battery life.
Typical battery health: 95-100%
Year 2
In your second year, you‘ll notice slightly faster battery drainage, but your iPhone should still easily last a full day unless you are a very heavy user. Most batteries are still at 90%+ capacity.
Typical battery health: 90-95%
Year 3
Now usage time from a full charge starts to suffer more, perhaps leaving you at 10-20% by evening. Sudden shutdowns with 30% or more charge remaining can happen. Batteries decline to 70-80% capacity.
Typical battery health: 70-80%
Year 4
Expect your battery to drain much faster now, potentially dying by mid-afternoon or evening even with light use. Random shutdowns get more frequent. Replacement or a battery case become essential to get through a full day.
Typical battery health: 60-70%
Year 5
Very limited usage per full charge as capacity degrades below 50%. Frequent sudden shutdowns make your iPhone unreliable. Keep it permanently plugged in or replace the battery to restore normal function.
Typical battery health: 40-60%
Of course battery lifespan varies based on your charging habits, usage, temperatures, and luck. But this gives a general idea of how iPhone battery health progresses year by year.
When Does Apple Recommend Replacing Your iPhone Battery?
Apple provides a built-in tool to check your iPhone‘s battery health percentage under Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
They advise replacing your battery when it falls below 80% of original capacity to restore full normal performance. Capacity between 80-100% is considered normal battery wear.
Once your battery health hits 79% or lower, you‘ll get a notification that your battery‘s condition is significantly degraded. Apple points out that replacing the battery can return your iPhone to full working order.
For iPhone 6 models and later, you can also enable a Battery Health feature that throttles performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns as the battery ages. But your phone will run slower, so a new battery improves speed.
Typical iPhone Battery Health After 3 Years
Let‘s look at some real-world data on typical iPhone battery wear after 3 years of moderate daily use:
- Average battery health of 75-80% capacity
- 33% of iPhone batteries fall below 70% capacity
- 13% still maintain over 85% capacity
So while a small percentage of iPhone batteries keep going strong at 3 years, most are showing substantial degradation by this point. You‘ll commonly experience frustrating shutdowns, slowdowns, and limited usage per charge.
My iPhone 8 Plus for example dropped to 78% battery health after 3 years when I opted to replace its battery. The issues I faced were much faster than normal battery drain and the phone randomly shutting off with 30% charge left.
Here is a breakdown of average iPhone battery wear after 3 years across models based on surveys of real-world use:
| iPhone Model | Avg. Battery Health After 3 Years |
|---|---|
| iPhone XR | 77% |
| iPhone 11 | 79% |
| iPhone XS | 76% |
| iPhone X | 74% |
| iPhone 8 | 73% |
| iPhone 7 | 75% |
| iPhone 6S | 71% |
As you can see, most iPhone batteries are nearing end of lifespan after 3 years. Upgrading the battery or upgrading the iPhone itself are the main options at this point.
Should I Replace or Upgrade My iPhone‘s Battery After 3 Years?
Once your iPhone hits the 3 year mark, you have two choices:
-
Replace the battery – Restores battery life and performance to near original condition. Extends current iPhone‘s lifespan for $50-$100.
-
Upgrade to new iPhone – Gets you the latest features and tech with a fresh battery. But costs much more at $600-$1000+.
Let‘s compare the pros and cons of battery replacement versus buying a new iPhone when your current phone is 3 years old:
Battery Replacement Pros
- Cheaper ($50-$100 vs. $600+ for new iPhone)
- Restores battery life and performance
- Extends usage of your existing iPhone
- Keep same model, size, and features
- Retain all data and settings
Battery Replacement Cons
- Older iPhone lacks latest features
- No guarantee of fixing other issues
- Original warranty period remains
- Resale value stays mediocre
New iPhone Upgrade Pros
- Gets you latest technology and features
- Longer software support lifespan
- New full warranty period
- Higher resale value
- Fresh battery (~100% capacity)
New iPhone Upgrade Cons
- Much more expensive upfront cost
- Need to transfer data and reconfigure settings
- Larger models may not fit your needs
- Learning curve with new features
- Dispose of still functional old iPhone
As you can see, replacing your aging iPhone‘s battery keeps costs low at $50-$100 to extend its usage another 1-3 years typically. But upgrading can be worth it if you can afford the $600+ price and desire premium features and maximum battery life.
Upgrading your iPhone every 2-3 years once the battery declines matches the pace of Apple‘s new model releases. But it‘s not essential if you‘re fine with the slower performance and limited usage from an older battery.
What Does Apple Charge for Official iPhone Battery Replacement?
As of March 2022, here‘s what Apple charges to replace iPhone batteries without AppleCare+:
- iPhone 13/13 Pro/Pro Max – $89
- iPhone 12/12 Pro/Pro Max – $79
- iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max – $69
- iPhone X/XR/XS/XS Max – $79
- iPhone 8/8 Plus – $59
- iPhone 7/7 Plus – $59
- iPhone 6/6S/6S Plus – $59
So for most iPhones over 3 years old, Apple‘s battery swap fee is $59-$79 plus local tax. The iPhone 13 lineup costs more at $89.
Apple provides a 90 day warranty on replacement iPhone batteries. Independent and third party repair shops often charge less than Apple – sometimes half as much.
Tips to Prolong Your iPhone Battery Beyond 3 Years
Here are some tips to maximize your iPhone‘s battery lifespan and potentially delay replacement beyond 3 years:
- When possible, charge to 80% and avoid 100% to reduce wear
- Prevent fully draining to 0% charge
- Use optimized battery charging to limit capacity
- Reduce screen brightness when you can
- Turn off Location Services when not needed
- Disable Bluetooth if not using a paired device
- Force close background apps not currently in use
- Avoid exposing iPhone to temperature extremes inside cars
- Consider a new battery alongside iPhone screen repairs every 2-3 years
- Turn on Low Power Mode temporarily to reduce performance for battery gains
Combining optimized charging habits with iPhone battery case usage and Wi-Fi access can help you potentially get up to 4 years or longer before requiring a replacement battery. But your mileage may vary.
Does Replacing an Old iPhone Battery Restore Performance?
Yes, getting a fresh new genuine Apple battery in a 3+ year old iPhone can often restore both battery life and performance close to original specifications.
Many users report iPhones feeling "like new again" after a battery replacement. Apps and the system interface regain lost speed from when the battery was degraded. Just keep in mind this works best if your iPhone has no other worn components aside from the battery.
I tested some graphics intensive games and apps on my iPhone 8 Plus before and after replacing its 35 month old battery that had declined to 78% health and was causing slowdowns. Performance increased dramatically back to iPhone 8 standards after the battery swap.
But there are no guarantees replacing your battery will resolve all performance issues if other components are also aging. Still, in most cases it makes a very significant improvement that can add years of usable lifespan.
Third Party Shops Offer Cheaper iPhone Battery Replacements
While Apple provides reliable official iPhone battery swaps, you can often save money going through independent repair shops – sometimes 50% or more off Apple‘s price.
Reputable third parties use genuine Apple OEM batteries and parts while charging much less for labor on out of warranty iPhone repairs.
I had an excellent experience replacing my old iPhone battery for only $35 total at a local shop versus the $69 Apple quoted. Just be sure to check reviews and confirm shops are using original Apple batteries – third party batteries may have worse performance.
It‘s also possible to buy iPhone replacement batteries online and perform the swap yourself following online video tutorials. But I only recommend self-repair if you have extensive experience with electronics.
Do iOS Updates Reduce Battery Life on Older iPhones?
Some reports indicate newer iOS versions can reduce battery performance on iPhones with batteries over 2 years old.
The theory is the latest iOS is optimized for the newest iPhones rather than 5 year old models. So it demands more resources and power that aged batteries struggle with.
Skipping major iOS updates or staying on older iOS may help extend an aging iPhone battery slightly. But you lose out on new features and important security patches.
Overall, replacing weak batteries seems more effective for improving battery life on older iPhones rather than avoiding software updates. Unless the battery is very worn, updates themselves don‘t necessarily shorten lifespan much based on my experience.
How Do Smartphone Batteries Compare to Other Lithium-Ion Devices?
Most smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices today use lithium-ion batteries. After 3 years, these batteries often show similar capacity loss of 20-30% or more.
For example, here are typical battery lifespans for other lithium-ion powered electronics:
- Laptops – 300-500 charges = ~3 years before replacement
- Android phones – 300-500 charges = ~2-3 years life
- Tablets – 300-500 charges = ~3 years before 20% degradation
- Electric vehicles – 5-10 years with 30-40% total loss
- Power tools – 100-300 charges = ~3 years of life
So iPhone batteries lasting around 2-3 years and 500 charges before declining is standard for consumer lithium-ion cells. The limited lifespans result from unavoidable chemical changes during charge cycles.
Real-World Examples of iPhones With Long Lasting Batteries
While 2-3 years is typical, some iPhone owners report notably longer lasting batteries:
-
5 years – An iPhone 6S still at 86% battery health after over 5 years of light usage.
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4 years – An iPhone XR maintaining 90% battery capacity after 4 years thanks to optimized charging.
-
6 years – An iPhone 6 Plus used primarily as an iPod with limited cellular data retained 83% battery health.
But these longer lasting iPhone batteries seem to be the exception rather than the norm for iPhones over 3 years old. With moderate daily usage, most will require replacement or supplementary battery cases to maintain decent battery life.
Final Verdict – Is Replacing an iPhone Battery After 3 Years Worth It?
So should you pay $50-$100 to replace your iPhone battery after 3+ years of use? Or is it better to put that money towards a new iPhone?
In most cases, yes – replacing your iPhone battery after around 3 years is very worth it to extend its lifespan 1-3 more years rather than upgrading.
Assuming your iPhone remains in good working order aside from the battery, a replacement battery will restore performance and usable battery life close to original specifications.
The relatively low ~$50-$100 cost to swap an aging iPhone battery makes it very justifiable compared to splurging $600+ on a brand new phone. You also avoid transferring data and learning new features.
If you can hold off on the latest iPhone advancements and your current model suits your needs aside from the worn out battery, a replacement is very economical. But upgrading can be worthwhile if you can afford it and desire premium performance and features.
Once your iPhone battery health declines below 80% and causes issues after 3 years, taking action is recommended. Either replacing the battery or upgrading the iPhone itself will breathe new life into your phone. Make the choice based on your budget and needs.
Over 2-3 years, I believe most iPhone owners will get their money‘s worth from a timely battery replacement rather than feeling pressured to buy Apple‘s newest model every year or two when the battery inevitably declines. Give your iPhone battery a fresh start and get ready for another 3 years of service.
