okicer

Q: iPhone 5 swollen battery

Noticed that there is a bulge on screen of my iPhone the day before.

I visited Apple store in Waterloo today to get some help, however all I got is recommendation of paying for a new iPhone since I bought my phone more than 3 years ago.

Apple "suggests" me to pay $349 to get another iPhone 5.

This battery issue happened completely out of my control and Apple doesn't want to take any responsibility for its device.

I have to use it for a while until I got a new device from any other vendor but apple.

Hope it doesn't explodes in my pocket or on my face before I got another phone.

Anyone else have similar problem?

iPhone 5, iOS 9.3.2, swollen battery

Posted on Jun 27, 2016 7:40 PM

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Q: iPhone 5 swollen battery

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  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jun 27, 2016 7:50 PM in response to okicer
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 27, 2016 7:50 PM in response to okicer

    3 year old batteries fail and sometimes swell. Apple doesn't make batteries nor design them and you are at least 1 year out of your warranty. Apple offered you an out-of-warranty replacement price for your iPhone or you can buy a new one. If you do decide to buy from another vendor get it in writing that they have a lifetime warranty regarding the failure of the lithium polymer battery and only buy from a vendor that will give you that. Then let us know how your life is getting on not using a cell phone.

  • by teknikks,

    teknikks teknikks Jun 27, 2016 8:58 PM in response to okicer
    Level 1 (93 points)
    Jun 27, 2016 8:58 PM in response to okicer

    Check this page to see if your device qualifies for free replacement...

    https://www.apple.com/support/iphone5-battery/

  • by okicer,

    okicer okicer Jun 28, 2016 8:37 AM in response to teknikks
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 8:37 AM in response to teknikks

    Thanks teknikks. I've already tried that, however seems like my phone is not eligible for that program

  • by okicer,

    okicer okicer Jun 28, 2016 8:45 AM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 8:45 AM in response to deggie

    This is not my first smartphone.

    I've used several BlackBerry devices, and my wife used several iphones and other devices. However we haven't noticed "3 year old batteries fail and sometimes swell"

     

    My point here is, hardware "may" fail, which is OK.

    But the apple's approach here is doing exactly "NOTHING" for my case.

    They suggest me to go and buy another phone while that problem happened completely out of my control.

    This is the frustration point.

     

    All the sudden I'm out of a phone now, if i don't keep using that swollen battery.

     

    I also asked them replace just the battery, not the device.

    But they don't even want to touch that battery due to "health concerns", but they are OK for me to keep using it!!!

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jun 28, 2016 9:22 AM in response to okicer
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 9:22 AM in response to okicer

    If this is the first lithium battery you've had swell or burst in a small electronics device (not just smartphones) then you have had a really good run. Thankfully it doesn't happen very often and it is even less with newer technology batteries. I know it ***** to be a statistic but it sometimes happens. They cannot just replace the battery because the swelling (and probably leakage) has already damaged other parts of the phone, it is just a matter of time before it fails. And they offered you an out-of-warranty replacement of your iPhone at about half the cost of what you paid originally. If you had any other phone the offer would be, "look at our new models and buy one of them".

     

    You could also look into buying a used iPhone 5 if you like that model.

     

    And yes, if you take the phone apart and try to remove the battery there is a health concern. And they aren't suggesting that it is OK for you which is why they offered an out-of-warranty replacement. If you had asked they would have told you it is also a risk for you to open it and change it. But speaking of that...you could also look for a reputable 3rd party repair site and see if they are willing to take the risk and replace your battery. Should be cheaper than the out-of-warranty replacement but it will end your eligibility for that program. But with a phone that really isn't an issue.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jun 28, 2016 10:45 AM in response to okicer
    Level 8 (38,117 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 28, 2016 10:45 AM in response to okicer

    okicer wrote:

     

    But the apple's approach here is doing exactly "NOTHING" for my case.

     

    NOTHING? Offering you a brand new phone for half price is NOTHING? What other manufacturer will do that?

  • by okicer,

    okicer okicer Jun 28, 2016 11:18 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 11:18 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    This is the same comment that I heard in in Genius Bar. Would you really buy an iphone 5 today for $349?

    Am I missing something here?

    Why are we talking about selling/buying an iphone 5 again, which is not even listed in this company's web site anymore?

    Why can't apple make the similar offers for the ones that they are listed on their web site, in such a case where my phone stopped working without my fault!

  • by Lawrence Finch,Helpful

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jun 28, 2016 12:42 PM in response to okicer
    Level 8 (38,117 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 28, 2016 12:42 PM in response to okicer

    What seems a little surprising to me was that they did not offer to replace your phone for the battery replacement cost of $79. I've seen a lot of posts from people who were made that offer. Of course, there may be extenuating circumstances, such as a phone that was repaired or attempted to be repaired by someone other than Apple, or maybe someone was just in a bad mood. But you might want to try talking to the store manager.

  • by okicer,

    okicer okicer Jun 28, 2016 11:40 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 11:40 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Scheduled another visit to apple store to re-explain situation and try to talk with store manager as if I have lots of free time to spend in apple stores to prove it was not my fault. Great customer service!

     

    BTW: phone wasn't repaired or attempted to be repaired by anyone.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jun 28, 2016 11:47 AM in response to okicer
    Level 9 (59,085 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 11:47 AM in response to okicer

    No one said it was your fault. Not knowing, it is possible that the bulge that you described in your device made it impossible to just repair the battery, but only Apple could determine that. A device well out of warranty, and you were offered an out of warranty replacement at a reduced price, which no other manufacturers provide. I'm sure you feel angry, but you were offered good customer service. Things happen outside of people's control, and that is what occurred. Like others said, you could have been told to purchase a new device, at a cost of nearly $800, especially since you could not purchase an iPhone 5.

     

    While you could turn in your device for recycling, since it is not serviceable, you would not receive very much for it. That is the only trade they do. So you would either need to purchase the out of warranty replacement, or a new device. You might also not want to project the sour attitude you projected when you speak to the manager. This battery failure was not Apple's fault either.

  • by okicer,

    okicer okicer Jun 28, 2016 12:12 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 12:12 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    As I mentioned above, I'm really sorry but I don't count that as an offer to sell me another iphone 5 for $349.

    I can find a brand new iphone 5 or even 5s around that price today without spending my hours in apple stores.

     

    On the other side, these type of issues -which can't be caused by customer- are certainly apple's fault. I have no control choosing that battery vendor for iphones (I don't even know who they are).

    My only fault can be choosing this phone here in this case.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Jun 28, 2016 12:49 PM in response to okicer
    Level 9 (56,005 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 28, 2016 12:49 PM in response to okicer

    Then go buy something else. This issue is NOT unique to Apple. It's the nature of the batteries being used in virtually ALL portable consumer electronics devices these days. They don't last forever.

  • by okicer,

    okicer okicer Jun 28, 2016 12:51 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 12:51 PM in response to KiltedTim

    Thank you for your advice kiltedtim, why didn't i think that

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jun 28, 2016 1:46 PM in response to okicer
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 28, 2016 1:46 PM in response to okicer

    YYou keep getting hung up on it not being your fault. You are well outside your warranty period so Apple doesn't owe you anything. You could ask them what they would give you on a trade in. Or find a company that has an unlimited warranty. Let us know who that is.

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