On Tuesday morning, reliable Japanese Apple blog Mac Otakara published a report claiming that Apple was preparing to extend its battery exchange program to include the iPhone 6. The blog didn’t provide any data to back up its claim, and now, hours later, the rumor appears to have been shot down by Apple.
Late last year, after consumer advocates pressured it to do so, Apple began offering free replacements for iPhone 6s batteries that were unexpectedly shutting down. It referred to the number of units affected as “very small,” but considering the attention that the story received, we found that very hard to believe.
Examining service data from over 40 Apple stores in the US, AppleInsider was unable to find anything that might indicate Apple would expand its battery exchange program to include iPhone 6 devices that might also be suffering from battery issues. An Apple corporate source even chimed in:
“We constantly evaluate service statistics,” the source told AppleInsider. “There are no plans or grounds for a wide iPhone 6 battery exchange program at this time.”
The iPhone 6 is currently in its third year of existence, which means that consumers who picked up the 6 or 6 Plus at launch are likely beginning to see diminishing returns from their batteries (I know I am). Unfortunately, until a widespread hardware issue is discovered, Apple isn’t going to replace your battery.
On the other hand, if you own an iPhone 6s and believe your phone is shutting down unexpectedly, you can visit this page on Apple’s website and input your serial number to see if you’re eligible for a replacement.
