Latest blogs for ZDNet - Friday, May 10, 2019 at 7:46 AM
Buying a replacement iPhone battery? Be careful you don't get ripped off
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I received an interesting message from a reader a few days ago that got me
thinking.
"Hey, I had my iPhone's battery replaced a few weeks ago by a repair shop (not
Apple). The guy was eager to show me that the battery was new and hadn't been
used by showing me that it had only 2 recharge cycles on it (he said it was a
factory charge). But I'm now feeling that my 'new' battery is worse than the
old one. Is it my iPhone or was I ripped off?"
Sorry to tell you, but you probably have been ripped off, and you were likely
sold an old battery.
Must read: The stupid reason Apple is using to try to stop you from fixing your
own
iPhone<https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-stupid-reason-apple-is-using-to-try-to-stop-you-from-fixing-your-own-iphone/>
While many iPhone repair shops are honest and legitimate, some are not. And the
problem is that tools exist to dupe people into thinking that old, worn out
batteries are new and fresh out of the factory (because externally, an old
battery doesn't look different to a new one).
iPhone battery draining fast after
installing...<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/iphone-battery-draining-fast-after-installing-ios-12-2-here-how-to-diagnose-the-problem-and-get-more-battery-life/>
SEE FULL
GALLERY<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/iphone-battery-draining-fast-after-installing-ios-12-2-here-how-to-diagnose-the-problem-and-get-more-battery-life/>
[https://zdnet2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2019/02/18/786d471a-fefd-4434-93cb-43c7553fee5d/thumbnail/170x128/36b5a612ba02e768370e6a91f2e29146/img-0951.jpg]
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For example, eBay is awash with iPhone battery
testers<https://www.ebay.com/itm/Newest-Apple-iPhone-Battery-Tester-Checker-For-iPhone-6-7-8-X-a-Key-Clear-Cycle/253801673314>
that allow the recharge cycle count to be cleared or set to a low level (and
tools that can read the recharge cycles, such as Coconut
Battery<https://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/>, cannot tell that this
figure has been reset). Other than duping people, I'm having a hard time coming
up with a legitimate use for this feature, especially since you have to
physically remove the battery from the iPhone to do it.
No, the primary use for this is to reset the charge cycle count on old
batteries so they can be sold on as new.
It's a scam that feeds itself, which makes it profitable.
SEE: Get more done with your iPhone: Tips and tricks for power
users<https://www.techrepublic.com/resource-library/whitepapers/get-more-done-with-your-iphone-tips-and-tricks-for-power-users/>
(free PDF)
You get an old battery, reset the charge cycle count on it, sell it to someone
else, take their battery, reset the charge cycle count on that, sell that…
rinse and repeat.
It's just one of the ways that the unscrupulous take advantage of people.
So, with that in mind, be careful out there. If in any doubt, get Apple to do
the job for you, or buy a battery from a reputable supplier – such as
iFixit<https://www.ifixit.com/Store> – and do the job yourself.
How to get the best possible life --
and...<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/how-to-get-the-best-possible-life-and-safety-from-your-battery/>
SEE FULL
GALLERY<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/how-to-get-the-best-possible-life-and-safety-from-your-battery/>
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<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/how-to-get-the-best-possible-life-and-safety-from-your-battery/9/>
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See also:
* Five ways Apple is responding to falling iPhone
sales<https://www.zdnet.com/article/five-ways-apple-is-responding-to-falling-iphone-sales/>
* Apple will soon be blitzing your iPhone with ads, because it's
profitable<https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-will-soon-be-blitzing-your-iphone-with-ads/>
* iOS 12.2 has a handy new timesaving feature for when your iPhone or iPad
breaks
down<https://www.zdnet.com/article/ios-12-2-has-a-handy-new-timesaving-feature-for-when-your-iphone-or-ipad-breaks-down/>
* Apple hardware updates have become boring, and the company knows
it<https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-hardware-updates-have-become-boring-and-the-company-knows-it/>
* iOS 13 wishlist<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/ios-13-wishlist/>
* Hardware is hard: The tech products that fooled or failed
us<https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/hardware-is-hard-the-tech-products-that-fooled-or-failed-us/>
* How to stop your iPhone from tracking and storing the locations of where
you live, work, and
visit<https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-stop-your-iphone-from-tracking-and-storing-the-locations-of-where-you-live-work-and-visit/>
* Should you be scared of your laptop's
webcam?<https://www.zdnet.com/article/should-you-be-scared-of-your-laptops-webcam/>
https://www.zdnet.com/article/buying-a-replacement-iphone-battery-be-careful-you-dont-get-ripped-off/#ftag=RSSbaffb68
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
