TORONTO – iPhone users are notorious for complaining about battery life. Turns out some iPhone 5 users have good reason to complain.
Apple has launched a battery replacement program after revealing that a “small percentage” of iPhone 5 devices “may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently.” The good news; If your phone is affected, Apple will replace the battery for free.
Affected phones were sold between September 2012 and January 2013. The iPhone 5 was released in September 2012, so you’re likely eligible if you were the first in line for the device. It’s unclear how many devices are affected by the recall.
Users can check their eligibility on the Apple website by entering their phone’s serial number. You can find your serial number by tapping “Settings,” then “General,” then “About.”
This isn’t the first time Apple has issued a hardware recall.
In October Apple started a similar battery replacement program after thousands of iPhone 5S devices shipped with defective batteries. In 2006 the company recalled 1.8 million battery packs for its iBook and PowerBook laptops because some were prone to overheating.
Battery replacements for Canadian customers begin on August 29 and can be done at an Apple retail store, through Apple technical support or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
But Apple says the device must be in “working condition” to be eligible for a battery replacement. This means if you have a damaged or cracked screen you may have to pay to get that fixed before receiving a battery replacement.
“If your iPhone 5 has any damage such as a cracked screen which impairs the replacement of the battery, that issue will need to be resolved prior to the battery replacement. In some cases, there may be a cost associated with the repair,” reads Apple’s website.
Customers who previously paid for a battery replacement through Apple and are eligible for the program may be eligible for a refund.
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