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Rumor Smash: Actually, the iPhone Battery WON'T Die After 400 Charges

gizmodo.com — Some good news for the iPhone's battery. Everyone originally reported that the iPhone battery loses capacity after 300-400 charges, needing to be replaced. People were mad. Turns out, that's *****. Apple tells us that the battery life "is designed to retain 80% of its original capacity after 400 full charge and discharge cycles."

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BLAM8 1 year 144 days ago, made popular 1 year 144 days ago

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Who Dugg It?

Ireland, on 10/11/2007, -0/+39"it's clear that the battery should be very much alive after 400 cycles, and we were wrong. I'm sorry."
You see Engadget, this is how you admit to making a mistake. Props to Gizmodo for admitting this.
- dtd00d, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8Microsoft, Sony, Engadget...
  If Bush joins in will the world explode?
  - fuzzmeister, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5Yes, because Bush would nuke the world before admitting a mistake.
    - mdhauke, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Is there ever a topic of conversation where you don't try to interject GWB and the GWOT? You must be a joy at dinner parties.
- twangbender, on 10/11/2007, -4/+6too bad this information is coming from apple
  - fuzzmeister, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7Compare their stated battery lives for their products to the actual ones, they are usually extremely accurate. So, I am inclined to trust Apple on matters like this.
- enchantedsky, on 10/11/2007, -5/+0First of all, it doesn't matter what Apple says. Lithium-Ion characteristics and technology doesn't magically change just because it's in an Apple product...........the Apple fanboyism on Gizmodo and with everyone agreeing with this article is so apparent.
  
  Lithium-Ion batteries have a on the shelf life of 8 years...........then Lithium starts to break down naturally. You can't change SCIENCE, this happens inevitably.
  
  When you actively use a Lithium-Ion battery, the 8 year life gets reduced to 3-4 years before the batteries chemicals start to break down, leading to lower capacities. Again, this is SCIENCE at work here..........just because a Lithium-Ion battery is in an Apple product doesn't change this characteristic about rechargeable batteries. Around 4 years, your iPhone will cease to take a charge, and if it does, it will give you
- superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6Apple has been accurate with battery lifetimes before, moreso than many other companies anyway. My own personal expereince with th e1st gen iPod is that the battery is still working, and holds a nine hour charge (I think it used to hold ten when it was brand new).
liuping, on 10/11/2007, -3/+16It's about time someone pointed this out. Doubt you'll see this in the mainstream press though...
- rebrad, on 10/11/2007, -5/+5I think this remains to be seen and time will tell. Apple isn't known for being forthright with their problems as evidenced many times by their closing topics that they don't want to be seen. After all you wouldn't expect their PR people to say that their products are cheap junk would you? As with all Apple products, you need to purchase the highest level of Apple Care that is provided or risk being SOL.
jtb4, on 10/11/2007, -4/+7You'll never see this in mainstream news
davin510, on 10/11/2007, -11/+6I think most people are mad that once they do have to replace the battery, it's gonna cost $85 + three days (unless you wanna pay $10/day for a loaner phone). That's about 3-4x more expensive than replacing a blackberry, motorola, or nokia battery.
- Ryokurin, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6More like 2-3x. Some cellphone batteries are 50-60 dollars depending where you get them. Good examples are the Blackberry Pearl, Rizrs and so forth.
  
  Still, Its not that big of a problem. people willing to pay this much for a phone will probably want something new in three years anyways.
- gabogab, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Well, that said, you will be able to get this service for a lot less in other retailers. This has always been the case. If your Apple product is out of warranty, do not take it to Apple, it will be too expensive that way. I am guessing the replacement service will be at least half of what Apple charges. That is the case with the ipod replacement battery right now.
maninblac1, on 10/11/2007, -11/+6300-400 cycles to lose 80%, quick math
to get to 25% of total battery life at that rate, takes 1500-2000 cycles.
Or roughly 5 years if you discharged it once a day, everyday, which is bull. Battery won't last more than 3 years.
- Ireland, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Sadly batteries just don't work like that. You'll find it would go from 50% to 25% in a shorter time than it went from $75 to 50%. Still, the battery should be good for long enough though anyway.
totorototoro, on 10/11/2007, -2/+91) "Blog" Journalists never bother checking the "facts"..even doing basic research is just so "old school journalism :p
2) The reality is Apple should be offering a 2 year warranty for the iPhone, battery and all..given that we had to get a 2 year contract for it.
3) Come on Gizmodo, do some ***** fact checking yourself next time instead of regurgitating stuff you haven't checked.
- anonym41414, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I don't get the warranty-contract argument at all. It's not like you're just screwed if your iPhone dies on day 366. You can either pay to replace it with another iPhone, or you can get a different phone. AT&T doesn't care.
  
  If you specifically want a two-year warranty, you can buy AppleCare. It's your choice.
  - totorototoro, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Apple specifically requires a 2 year contract for this iPhone purchase (not counting those credit tricks to go pre-paid). If they think its good enough to sign us up for 2 years, they should stand behind the product for 2 years.
    
    ts a simple argument-not sure why you don't "get it". Feel free to "disagree" with me of course :p.
- gabogab, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I bought a Blackberry and it didn't work after a year and a half. The battery charged great, but the thing would not work. I had to choose between buying a new phone or paying a ridiculous amount of money for repair. I chose the new phone, and it was not a Blackberry. I guess this is what happens with all cell phones, not just with the iPhone.
- superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Apple has already said you'll be able to buy Applecare for the iPhone later this year (you don't really need it until the year warranty is up, right)? That would mean THREE YEARS of warrantly coverage. Since the cost of Applecare will probably be a little less than a new battery anyway...
dmbchris, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4From my experience, what apple is saying isn't too far off from typical performance of a good LiPol battery. Of course, 3-400 cycles comes without a description of usage conditions. While the drain rate doesn't matter very much, temperature and charge level are huge factors. Let it get hot or leave it for a long time at a high or low state and you may find yourself with a deader battery. Take good care of it- read some articles on LiPol batteries for tips- and it can last longer.
knelto, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2Reagan Smash!
10pins, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4shew! now i can finally sleep at night...
synth3tik, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Apple has stated on their website that after 400 cycles the battery would read at 80%. We knew this.
Hedgecore, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3"Everyone originally reported that the iPhone battery loses capacity after 300-400 charges"
... but it retains 80% of it's charging capacity. Exqueeze me, but isn't that LOSING CAPACITY?
neocognitism, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1This report doesn't mean what people think it means.

Battery capacity diminishes more exponentially than linearly. This means that the battery doesn't slowly experience 5% Loss/Year as it would seem, but rather by the time it has lost the first 20% after four years, it will only take about another year before the battery is a brick.
Azio, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8Yes, because when Apple says anything about the lifespan of its batteries they are telling nothing but God's honest truth
- kelly, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Yes, because when some random digg poster says anything about the lifespan of Apple's batteries they are telling nothing but God's honest truth
enchantedsky, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5(Repost from above if you didn't read it as yet)

First of all, it doesn't matter what Apple says. Lithium-Ion characteristics and technology doesn't magically change just because it's in an Apple product...........the Apple fanboyism on Gizmodo and with everyone agreeing with this article is so apparent.

Lithium-Ion batteries have a on the shelf life of 8 years...........then Lithium starts to break down naturally. You can't change SCIENCE, this happens inevitably.

When you actively use a Lithium-Ion battery, the 8 year life gets reduced to 3-4 years before the batteries chemicals start to break down, leading to lower capacities. Again, this is SCIENCE at work here..........just because a Lithium-Ion battery is in an Apple product doesn't change this characteristic about rechargeable batteries. Around 4 years, your iPhone will cease to take a charge, and if it does, it will give you only 30 minutes of service, before it conks out.
- superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I'l take a four year abttery lifespan for a smaller sealed device anyday, thanks!
  
  Were the original iPod batteries LIon? My 1st gen is still working, holds 90% of the original charge, and I'm pretty sure it's been much longer than four years since I bought it.
- johnpaul191, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1i feel like most people replace cell phones in about 4 years (or less) anyway. personally i replace my cell phone when it stops working right and/or the battery can't hold a decent charge. i don't think i have ever kept any phone for 4 years between those two factors.
- chrissun, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0The geek in me has to mention the following:
  A huge part of the limitations of current LiOn technologies lie in the in-pack battery charging regulators... Maxim and National are the only players in this incredibly technically challenging space.. and to be honest, they have come up short. Maybe Apple will do what it always does and pay an analog circuit company way to little money to spend tons of resources on improving upon the status quo in this space.. we can only hope?
  
  Enchantedsky, thank you for calling people out on the stupidity of this rumor.. so i didnt have to
flag654, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1iCrap.......zzzzzzzzzzzz
deadbeatpoet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I work for The Store.
This is what I digg for.
randyrandall, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Well, duh, it's the same for all Lithium Ion batteries. It's not just gonna one day refuse to charge and last 5 minutes now, is it? It's a gradual decrease.
- megerisi, on 11/13/2008, -0/+0Ya, but changing the battery on the other phones doesn't entail sending it back to Apple and paying massive amount to replace it! You just go into a store and replace it yourself!
LeeSoong, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1iPhone 2.0 should use LiSO2 rechargeable batteries -
a lot more power, longer life, more charge, cheaper, lighter in weight, just plain better!
crossers, on 07/14/2008, -0/+0yes of course we have problems with charging, so we need more charge battery!
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Rumor Smash: Actually, the iPhone Battery WON'T Die After 400 Charges

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