Apple changed 11 million iPhone batteries in its $29 program, report says

Apple’s $29 battery substitute program might have significantly dinged gross sales of its 2018 iPhone fashions.

The firm changed 11 million iPhone batteries beneath this system, John Gruber of tech-focused weblog Daring Fireball reported Monday, citing Apple CEO Tim Cook at an all-hands assembly.

Typically, the corporate replaces 1 million to 2 million batteries annually, Daring Fireball famous.

Cook cited this system’s detrimental affect on Apple’s income in a Jan. 2 gross sales warning to buyers however did not supply particular numbers.

However, if a minimum of 5 occasions the same old variety of Apple prospects changed their iPhone’s battery for $29 as an alternative of forking out for the $749 XR, the $999 XS or the $1,099 XS Max, that is numerous misplaced income.

Apple determined to supply the cheaper battery replacements as an apology after customers realized in 2017 that Apple had been slowing down older iPhones to forestall sudden shutdowns associated to previous batteries.

Apple did not instantly reply a request for remark.

On Monday, iPhone chipmaker Dialog mentioned its preliminary income for the fourth quarter landed at the low finish of its goal. Last week, Apple reportedly minimize its iPhone manufacturing for the primary quarter by 10 p.c and slashed iPhone costs in China.

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