Apple raises iPhone 16 Pro battery replacement prices to $119

If you thought keeping your iPhone 16 Pro running smoothly would cost the same as the previous models, think again. Apple has quietly increased the out-of-warranty battery replacement fee for its latest iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models. According to Apple’s own iPhone repair and service page, the price hike is noticeable: what used to cost $99 for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max counterpart now sets you back $119, a 20% increase.

Let’s be clear—this $119 fee covers both the cost of a brand-new battery and the labor involved when you go to an Apple Store. If you’re thinking about going to a third-party Apple Authorized Service Provider, the price might fluctuate a bit depending on where you go, but Apple’s price point is the baseline.

Interestingly, if you own the regular iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, you’ll still be paying the same $99 fee for battery replacement—no price bump there. So, what’s going on with the Pro models? Why the price hike? Apple is staying relatively quiet on that, but they have hinted at some possible reasons.

Larger batteries and a new internal design

Apple says all iPhone 16 models—Pro and non-Pro—come with larger batteries. That’s good news for users, as bigger batteries typically mean longer life and more juice for everyday tasks. The company also revealed that these iPhones received an internal redesign to improve heat dissipation. This could be part of the reason for the higher cost; better heat management might require more complex engineering or materials.

Rumors are floating around that some iPhone 16 batteries might even have a metal enclosure, though nothing is confirmed yet. We’ll have to wait for the inevitable iFixit teardown to get a glimpse at what’s really going on inside.

AppleCare+ is still a good deal—if your battery is worn out

If you’re subscribed to AppleCare+, you’re in luck—sort of. AppleCare+ still covers the cost of a new battery for free, but there’s a catch. This only applies if your iPhone 16 Pro’s battery health has dropped below 80% of its original capacity. So if your battery is sitting at 81%, you’re out of pocket $119 for the swap.

Another price bump in recent years

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the first time Apple has bumped up battery replacement costs. The price to replace batteries in the iPhone 14 series was already raised from $69 to $99. This marks the second increase in just a few years, and while it seems tied to Apple’s push for larger, more efficient batteries, it does hit the wallet harder for Pro users.

Here’s a quick breakdown of Apple’s current iPhone battery replacement fees in the United States: