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Apple Is Locking iPhone Batteries to Discourage Repair

posted by janrinok on Thursday August 08 2019, @12:35PM   Printer-friendly
from the can't-stand-competition dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/apple-is-locking-batteries-to-iphones-now

By activating a dormant software lock on their newest iPhones, Apple is effectively announcing a drastic new policy: only Apple batteries can go in iPhones, and only they can install them.

If you replace the battery in the newest iPhones, a message indicating you need to service your battery appears in Settings > Battery, next to Battery Health. The "Service" message is normally an indication that the battery is degraded and needs to be replaced. The message still shows up when you put in a brand new battery, however. Here's the bigger problem: our lab tests confirmed that even when you swap in a genuine Apple battery, the phone will still display the "Service" message.

It's not a bug; it's a feature Apple wants. Unless an Apple Genius or an Apple Authorized Service Provider authenticates a battery to the phone, that phone will never show its battery health and always report a vague, ominous problem.

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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @12:41PM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @12:41PM (#877417)

    You deserve it.

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +5  
       Flamebait=1, Insightful=6, Total=7
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  
    Total Score:   5  

  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:07PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:07PM (#877465)

    I have an A/C motor capacitor that I can charge with the spark plug wire of my car (~30kv) that will fix any iPhone from ever displaying that battery message.

  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:23PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:23PM (#877502)

    What lame displays of envy when it comes to phones with a 500$ difference between average and top of the line models, 1000$ for computers, yet they probably drive cars with price difference in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.

    And this fool gets a +5 insightful.

    • (Score: 5, Touché) by Acabatag on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:29PM

      by Acabatag (2885) on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:29PM (#877508)

      Envy? Really? You've got to be kidding.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:54PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:54PM (#877520)

      Envy??? Of an Apple fanboy? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @10:16PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @10:16PM (#877648)

        Apple victims are almost beyond pity. How can anyone be fine with this ongoing nonsense - ports, batteries, etc. Any other brand would have crashed by now. Apple products are indeed 'lovely golden handcuffs'...

  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:29PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @03:29PM (#877507)

    Indeed. Apple is a budget brand for people that LARP being rich. Go get a custom made suit for 40K if you're actually rich.

  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @04:18PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @04:18PM (#877531)

    [goto: before politics]
    normal batteries don't have this function naturally built-in just because they're batteries.
    rather you PAID MEOR to apple to implement a tiny extra piece of silicon that allows this behavior.
    stop whining, you get what you paid for ...

    note: should be disclosed by apple on spec sheet.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @05:47PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 08 2019, @05:47PM (#877579)

    Yes. I've run out of compassion and patience for people who willingly fund the enemies of free humanity. Evil corporations, IRS, etc.