Apple Increases iPhone 16 Pro Battery Replacement Costs by 20%, iPhone 16 Pre-order Trends Analysis Shared

Highlights

• Apple has increased the out-of-warranty battery replacement cost for iPhone 16 Pro models.
• Now costs $119 (INR 11,800), up from $99 (INR 9,800) for the iPhone 15 series.
• The higher cost is attributed to the new metal shell used in the iPhone 16 Pro batteries.
• Pre-Order Trends: Lower demand for iPhone 16 Pro models, and higher-than-expected pre-orders for iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.

 iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models’ out-of-warranty battery replacement will now cost $119 (Approx INR 11,800). (Image credit – Apple)

MacRumors was probably the first one to hint at a possible battery replacement cost hike for new iPhones. We have now received an official confirmation that Apple will indeed charge more than it has ever before to replace the battery of newly launched iPhone 16 Pro models.

This is obviously with respect to the out-of-warranty iPhone 16 batteries only.

iPhone 16 Hiked Battery Replacement Cost

Apple has updated its iPhone Repair & Service page and out of the many things to take note of, increased battery replacement cost is getting the most attention.

The newly launched iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will now cost you $119 (INR 11,800) for out-of-warranty battery replacement.

To compare, this is an increase of almost $20 (approx INR 1700) from the current repair fee the brand charges for replacing out-of-warranty batteries of the iPhone 15 lineup. iPhone 15 series battery replacements cost $99 (INR 9,800).

However, it is interesting to note that the battery replacements on iPhone 16 will still have the lower $99 (Approx INR 8300) repair fee.

For iPhones that are under AppleCare+, all replacements will be free of charge.

Reasons For Increase in Battery Replacement Cost

As per a recent 9to5 report, the primary reason behind increased repair costs for iPhone 16 Pro modes could be the metal shell used on the batteries.

It was previously rumoured that Apple is using metal shells on the batteries of the new iPhone 16 Pro models.

The metal casing is supposed to improve in thermal performance of the phone. As per certain media reports, Apple has used the new battery manufacturing model only on the Pro models.

Battery Replacement Cost for Previous iPhones

The last time Apple increased the battery replacement cost for its phones was with the launch of the iPhone 14 series. The brand had made a jump in costs from $69 (INR 5800) to $99 (Approx INR 8300).

Soon after that cost jump, Apple went ahead and increased the battery replacement of previous iPhone models from $69 (INR 5800) to $89 (INR 7500).

Here’s how much it will take to get a battery replacement for the previous iPhone after the recent cost hike –

• iPhone 16 Pro: $119 (INR 11,800)
• iPhone 16: $99 (INR 9,800)
• iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro: $99 (INR 9,800)
• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro: $99 (INR 9,800)
• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro: $89 (INR 8,800)
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro: $89 (INR 8,800)
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro: $89 (INR 8,800)
• iPhone X, XS, and XR: $89 (INR 8,800)
• iPhone SE, iPhone 8, and older: $69 (INR 6,800)

India customers can check specific iPhone battery replacement costs here –  https://support.apple.com/en-in/iphone/repair/battery-replacement

Less Demand for iPhone 16 Pro, 48% Jump in iPhone 16 Plus Pre-Orders

In other news, we have iPhone 16 series pre-order analysis results shared by Analyst Ming Chi-Kuo over the weekend. Kuo’s analysis only cements the previous prediction by many experts regarding the dwindling demand for new iPhones.

According to Kuo, Apple this year is facing less demand for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, something already predicted.

However, what many experts might have missed is iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are performing better than expected on the pre-order window. Apple is seeing more sales compared to last year’s iPhone base models.

Kuo’s analysis was based on ship times on Apple’s website and a “supply chain survey.”

Here are the key findings of Kuo’s analysis –

• iPhone 16 Pro Max demand is down by 16% from last year.
• iPhone 16 Pro demand is down by 27% from last year.
• iPhone 16 Plus demand is up by 48% from last year.
• iPhone 16 demand is up by 10% from last year.
• The iPhone 16 series sold around 37 million units altogether.
• This number for whole iPhone 16 Series unit sales is down by 12.7% from the iPhone 15 lineup on the first weekend.

It appears more people are interested in getting their hands on a regular iPhone than the pros models.

As for the supply side, Kuo highlighted that 6 million units of iPhone 16 Pro Max were produced before launch. This is up by 106% from the number of units Apple produced for the precious iPhone 15 Pro Max mode. The increased supply of units is due to higher yields on the tetraprism camera (5x telephoto).

Kuo suggested that Apple could move in a more aggressive manner for its 2025 strategies if dwindling demands for iPhone 16 continue.

FAQs

How much does it cost to replace the battery in the iPhone 16 Pro models?

The out-of-warranty battery replacement cost for the iPhone 16 Pro models is $119.

 Why has Apple increased the battery replacement cost for the iPhone 16 Pro models?

The increase is due to the new metal shell used in the batteries, which improves thermal performance.

How do the pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series compare to last year’s models?

Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are higher than expected, with a 48% increase for the iPhone 16 Plus, while demand for the Pro models has decreased.

Will Apple Intelligence release might boost iPhone 16 demand?

Kuo predicted that one of the reasons for the lower demand for the new iPhones is the lack of Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 16’s biggest selling point will only arrive with iOS 18.1 in October and is not available at launch.
In China, Apple faces competition from local players like Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
The company might see a increase in the demand for the iPhone 16 following the release of Apple Intelligence.

What are the highlights Kuo’s analysis of iPhone 16 series pre-orders show?

iPhone 16 Pro Max sales down 16% compared to last year.
iPhone 16 Pro sales down 27% compared to last year.
iPhone 16 Plus up 48% compared to last year.
iPhone 16 up 10% compared to last year.

Read More:  iPhone 16 Pre-Order Begins: iPhone 16 Pro Max and Black Titanium Models in High Demand

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