More and more reports emerged online detailing a new battery problem that’s affecting a variety of iOS devices running a variation of iOS 10.1, including the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, and iPhone 5s. What happens with these devices is that they turn off unexpectedly, even when battery life indicates there’s more than 30% left. Upon connecting to a power source, they resume charging from around the same mark.
The good news is that you can have this problem fixed free of charge. The bad news is that not all these devices are covered.
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Responding to increased pressure from China, were a consumer advocacy group announced that it will investigate the iPhone 6s’s unexpected shutdowns, Apple announced an official iPhone battery repair program.
The problem with the program is that it only covers a limited number of iPhone 6s units, those produced in September and October 2015. 9to5Mac has a quick guide that tells you how to verify whether you’re eligible for the free repair.
Go to the Settings app, then General and then About. In there, check for the serial number and look for the 4th and 5th characters. If any of the following combinations is in the serial — Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, QC, QD, QF, QG, QH, and QJ — then you’re eligible for the free repair.
Everyone else will just have to wait for Apple to release an iOS update to fix potential issues. You could still bring in your iPhone to the nearest Apple store and try to have the battery replaced, but the procedure might not be offered to you free of charge.
We will point out that while this appears to be a widespread issue, battery problems with older iOS devices are only natural. It’s not Apple’s way of forcing you into an upgrade. It’s just what happens to iPhone batteries. They also age and may need replacing just like any other batteries out there.
