iPhone 13 mini (battery health 85%) new battery or new phone?

So, take the phone in to the Apple Store / Genius Bar or an authorized Apple service shop and see what happens.

Both the Apple Store and an authorized shop....(Best Buy).... ran a diagnostic on my 4+ year old phone, and would not replace the battery when it was at 84% and I was willing to pay the $90. Maybe you will have better luck.

Worth a try if you have the time to spare. Let us know what happens.

Apple will not replace the battery until the Battery Health is under 80%, so you are likely 4-6 months away from a decision.

A new battery will provide 3-4 more years of good service for your iPhone 13 Mini, so unless there is a new feature that is unique to the iPhone 16 that you cannot live without, it would probably make good sense to stay with the Mini for the next few years.

That’s interesting Bob, maybe it’s also related to age of product. My wife had her battery in iPhone 12 Pro replaced at Apple Store and she thought it was 83% battery health or so. She paid the $89 and that was that. No questions, no diagnostics (at least she didn’t think so).

Don’t listen to Bob, Apple changes your battery even when it’s 99%. You pay, it’s your decision and your money.

They changed it when my 6s was 92% and when my SE2 was 86%.

I think it depends on usage. I don't use my phone (also a 13 mini) much - the battery is at 90% but I still only charge it a couple of times a week cos most of the time it just sits around doing not much. Only if the battery life is impacting on your use is it a problem.

If it were me I'd definitely get a new battery - but it's a very personal choice. For me the 13 mini is the last of the small phones that fits in a shirt pocket comfortably and I bought an Apple refurbished one a few months ago to have a spare.

You can take the phone in and ask to have the battery checked and tested, but Apple won't replace it unless they pick up a problem......which is unlikely, but possible I suppose.

Normally when the battery is having a problem, a message to that effect will appear under the Battery settings on the phone.

I think Bob was referring more to the free replacement at less than 80% at 2 year mark. Your 12.mini is beyond free replacement and you’re welcome to replace it at anytime. You will pay for it, however.