The Chase
Replacing your old iPhone’s battery will likely speed it up
Scenic Route
Will changing my iPhone’s battery speed it up? Most likely, and the iPhone’s speed could increase by 50%. Apple recently announced that for iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, and 7 Plus, they have essentially been slowing the processing speeds. They claim this is to prevent the iPhones from unexpectedly shutting down due to old batteries.
Replacing the battery on these models can be done at an Apple Store for $29 without a warranty. This was recently reduced from $79. For the DIY crowd, a battery can be purchased online for $20-$30 and installed, following instructions like these (at your own risk).
How do I know if my battery is bad?
According to Apple, the user may experience the following:
- Longer app launch times
- Lower frame rates while scrolling
- Backlight dimming (which can be overridden in Control Center)
- Lower speaker volume by up to -3dB
- Gradual frame rate reductions in some apps
- During the most extreme cases, the camera flash will be disabled as visible in the camera UI
- Apps refreshing in background may require reloading upon launch
Certain Apps can be used to test the battery. Geekbench 4, for example, can be purchased for $0.99. The app will give the user a single-core score and a multi-core score. Ideal single-core scores are 1620 for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, 2500 for the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and SE, and 3500 for the iPhone 7. If the iPhone’s test results are significantly lower than those respective numbers, it is likely that the battery is bad.
How to avoid a bad battery in the future
To prolong the life of a battery, Apple recommends the following:
- Keep the software up-to-date
- Avoid ambient temperatures higher than 95º F (try to keep it between 62º-72º F)
- Avoid charging it in a phone case that makes it hot
- When storing long term, store it at half charge
Conclusion
If dealing with a slow iPhone due to a worn out battery, replacing it should turn off Apple’s performance limiting software and allow the phone to function at normal processing speeds. Apple introduced this software via iOS 10.2.1 for the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and SE. iOS 11.2 for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Though intended to smooth an old iPhone’s power peaks and stop the iPhone from suddenly shutting off, it also impacts performance. A new replacement battery could make the iPhone run 50% faster.
Hope this helps.
slooth 