Bad news for future owners of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max: if your battery dies, you will now have to pay €135 to have it replaced by Apple, compared to €109 for the iPhone 15 Pro last year. A 20% price increase that fortunately does not apply to the standard iPhone 16 models.
A price increase for the second consecutive year
This isn’t the first time Apple has increased its battery replacement prices. Last year, the move from the iPhone 13 to the iPhone 14 was accompanied by an increase, with the price climbing from €75 to €109 for all models.
This year, Apple is sparing the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, which remain at €109. But owners of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will have to pay €135 to have their battery changed out of warranty at an Apple Store or an authorized repairer. That’s €26 more than for the non-Pro models.
A revised battery to improve the heating of the iPhone 16 Pro?
How can we explain this price difference between the standard iPhone 16 and the Pro? Apple says that all iPhone 16 models are equipped with larger capacity batteries. But the Pro versions would also be entitled to an internal redesign to better dissipate heat.
In particular, there would be a metal shell for the battery of the iPhone 16 Pro, instead of the traditional plastic casing. This could explain an additional production cost and therefore a higher price for their replacement.
Another argument for taking AppleCare+?
With this new price increase, Apple is giving iPhone 16 Pro buyers a little more incentive to subscribe to its AppleCare+ home insurance. This allows you to get a free battery replacement, provided that its capacity is less than 80% of its original capacity.
But even without AppleCare+, it’s better to go through an Apple Authorized Center than a third-party repairer to change your battery. This is the guarantee of having a new official battery, with the level of safety and quality that goes with it. Even if it now has a significant cost, especially on the Pro models.
