There’s been much ado about battery replacements for the iPhone. We know that after 400 full charges, the iPhone’s battery will drop to around 80% capacity; hardly unusable, but we don’t know how the curve goes from there: do another 50 charges drop it to 70% capacity? 50% capacity? We don’t know yet, and it’s likely to be a while before we do.
We do know that Apple’s got a FAQ up on battery service for the iPhone, which states that it’ll cost $79 plus shipping and handling to have your iPhone’s battery replaced, that the process will erase all the data on your phone, and that it will take about three business days (if they’re smart, they’ll come up with a way of doing it in the Apple Store, or give you a loaner phone—nobody wants to be without a cell phone for three days).
But now, courtesy of PC Magazine, we can pinpoint the precise instant* your battery will die, just by typing in what day you bought your iPhone. Now you can plan ahead, and take preemptive measures to ensure that your iPhone is kept in good working fashion. I recommend bookmarking the page on your iPhone, just so you can keep an eye on the ticking countdown clock. It’s even better than watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.
* By precise, we mean “totally, ridiculously estimated.”
Update: A couple of additional pieces of information, based on comments below. PC Magazine’s basis for the battery life is based on approximated usage per day. And, as reader Drew points out below, Apple will charge your $30 for a loaner.
They have their faq on loaner phones up too... Basically it'll cost 30 bucks, and they'll give you an iphone to rent for the period of repairs+10 days. So it's actually... going to cost 115 to replace the battery
Why would PC Magazine put up that ridiculous site? They could at least ask how often you charge your iPhone. Also, how did they get 1.85 years as the amount of time until the battery dies? At least explain your methodology PC Mag.
This is based on a total myth -- it's anti-iPhone FUD.
It's obviously based on the erroneous story that the iPhone battery *dies* after 3-400 cycles. But as iPhone Central points out elsewhere:
http://iphone.macworld.com/2007/07/assault_and_iphone_battery.php
"After 400 complete charges (and that means complete, drain-it-till-it-dies), the iPhone loses 20 percent ... 80 percent = not dead."
So don't give this ridiculous thing any more publicity, OK? It's a disservice.