Well, the iPhone’s been out for a month and there’s already a class-action suit in the works. Illinois iPhone owner Jose Trujillo is suing both Apple and AT&Tstating that, among other things, the battery “can only be charged approximately 300 times before it will be in need of replacement, necessitating a new battery annually for owners of the iPhone.”
Trujillo claims that Apple kept it a big ‘ole secret that batteries eventually run out and must be replaced. His claim that iPhone users will have to replace their batteries annually is dubious at best and just plain wrong at worst. Not to mention his claim that the iPhone’s battery replacement was “undisclosed to the public” when Apple’s website clearly states that:
A properly maintained iPhone battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 400 full charge and discharge cycles. You may choose to replace your battery when it no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs.
Well, keeping an 80% charge after 400 charge cycles doesn’t sound like the battery needs to be replaced to me. Some blogs and articles even place battery replacement at 2 years or more after purchasing the iPhone. Either way, it’s not possible for Trujillo to have fully charged his iPhone over 300 times in the month he has owned it.
Another point the lawsuit makes is that the iPhone’s battery is soldered in and cannot be replaced by the consumer. Well, this is true and a lot has been made of this design decision. A soldered battery allows the iPhone to be slimmer and more streamlined, but requires the phone to be sent in to Apple to get the battery replaced.
Apple has actually been called to task by New York’s Consumer Protection Boardfor its not-so-customer-friendly customer service. Among the complaints is (surprise) Apple’s battery replacement plan. After the year warranty has run out, replacement batteries go for $79 plus a $6.95 shipping fee. The whole thing takes three days and wipes the memory of the device. If you can’t bear to be without an iPhone for that long you can get a loaner iPhone for $29.
NY’s Consumer Protection Board makes many good points about Apple’s iPhone return policies, battery replacement, and other terms and conditions. Trujillo does not. Which just proves that a nice letter can get more support than a lawsuit.