Apple Offers Tool To Check For Faulty iPhone 6S Batteries

Apple is offering a free battery checking tool after a number of iPhone 6S users complained their devices switch off unexpectedly, even when they still have battery life left.

Two weeks after it first launched the iPhone 6S battery repair service to combat the problem, Apple updated the webpage this week to include a tool that allows iPhone users to check whether their device is affected by the problem.

That is not the only problem affecting iPhones of late. Last month Apple users began complaining that the latest version of iOS 10 is wreaking their iPhone battery life.

Free Replacement

Apple has long had issues the iPhone 6, ever since the handsets were launched last year. The iPhone 6 Plus for example suffered from the so-called ‘bendgate’ issue where the phablet was found to lack the rigidity of other smartphones,

Apple also last month began offering a service to fix iPhone 6 Plus models blighted by ‘touch disease’, a flaw which makes the touchscreens of the smartphone become more unresponsive over time.

But battery issues with this handset have also been ongoing for a while, not helped by the fact that the device contains a remarkably small battery.

But when users began first complaining that the iPhone 6S would randomly shut down, Apple admitted some handsets manufactured between September and October of 2015 have a faulty battery, which can cause the iPhone 6S to unexpectedly shut down.

It updated its iPhone 6S battery repair web page this week to include option to enter a serial number to determine whether an iPhone 6S is eligible for a free battery replacement.

If the device qualifies by falling within those manufacturing dates, the user will be able to receive a new battery from Apple at no charge, providing they exhibit the unexpected shutdown issue.

“Apple has determined that a very small number of iPhone 6S devices may unexpectedly shut down,” said the iPad maker. “This is not a safety issue and only affects devices within a limited serial number range that were manufactured between September and October 2015.”

“Your iPhone will be examined prior to any service to verify that it is eligible for this program and in working order,” said Apple.

It said users who had already replaced their batteries at their own expense can also contact Apple about getting a refund.

Design Fault?

As mentioned previously, battery problems have plagued the iPhone 6S for a while now.

In September 2015 industry experts iFixit tore down the handset and found its battery life was seriously lacking compared to its rivals. The analysis found that the iPhone 6S is powered by a significantly smaller battery than many other premium phones, with only a 1715mAh unit inside.

To put that into context, Samsung’s Galaxy S6 featured a 2,550mAh battery, and the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium had a 2,900mAh battery, all of which shows how small the iPhone 6S battery really is.

Meanwhile other research said that the battery life of the iPhone 6S or 6S Plus depended on which company built its components. It came after a number of reports found that versions of the device that contained a Samsung-made version of its A9 processor could offer up to two hours more than those powered by the version made by TSMC.

Apple’s design chief Jony Ive has previously said there are valid reasons for not including larger battery in the iPhone, insisting that usability comes ahead of stamina.

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