Apple is taking a step toward alleviating the sadness that comes with aging batteries by updating its AppleCare+ support for the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and all Apple Watch models to cover batteries that hold less than 80 percent of their original capacity.
The update to the AppleCare+ terms extends its original coverage, which covered batteries that held less than 50 percent of their original capacity, according to MacRumors. The new coverage for batteries holding less than 80 percent of their original capacity applies to AppleCare+ support purchased for iPhones, iPads, iPods, and all Apple Watch models on April 10, 2015, or later.
Under the new terms, Apple will replace batteries that hold less than 80 percent of their original capacity for free as long as the affected devices are within the AppleCare+ coverage period, which extends the complimentary coverage for the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Sport to two years. The Apple Watch Edition comes with two years of complimentary coverage, and AppleCare+ extends it to three years.
AppleCare+ costs $99 for the iPhone; $59 for the iPod; $99 for the iPad; $49 for the Apple Watch Sport; $69 for the Apple Watch; and $1,500 for the Apple Watch Edition.
The iPhone’s battery will retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles; the iPad’s battery will retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete cycles; the iPod’s battery will retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 400 complete cycles; and the Apple Watch’s battery will retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles, according to Apple.
