Rising memory costs renew calls for cheaper smartphone battery replacements
Higher memory costs have pushed smartphone prices up, and consumers are responding by keeping their phones longer or buying refurbished models. The article argues that manufacturers could make this easier with affordable battery replacements, helping people extend a phone’s useful life.
Apple charges $89 to replace the battery in an older iPhone model and up to $129 for newer Pro models; Samsung replacements are reported to cost $99 to $129. Apple briefly charged $29 in the US in 2018, and reported replacements rose from around one to two million a year to 11 million. The article also points to rising phone prices and pressure on household purchasing power as reasons cheaper repairs could matter.
- Rising memory costs are making smartphones more expensive.
- Battery replacements can cost up to $129 at Apple.
- Cheaper swaps could help people keep phones longer.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Affordable battery replacements could help people keep otherwise functional phones longer, especially as rising prices put pressure on household budgets. The reported increase in Apple battery replacements after its temporary $29 offer suggests that lower prices can make repair a practical alternative to buying new, while also reducing electronic waste.
The case against
Battery replacement prices reflect costs such as parts, skilled labour, service infrastructure and quality controls, and manufacturers may argue that setting prices too low could make reliable repairs harder to sustain. Phone makers also need revenue to fund new products, and consumers who keep phones longer may delay upgrades; refurbished models and other repair options can provide alternatives without requiring a specific low price from manufacturers.
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Originally published by Engadget as “If memory shortages last, tech companies should offer cheap battery replacements”.