Apple will replace iPhone batteries for $29 even if they're technically still 'good'

If you have an iPhone 6 model or later, you should probably go replace the battery for a discounted rate at your local Apple Store.

Apple is now offering battery swaps for $29 (down from $79) a few weeks earlier than it originally promised. The decision to offer such low-priced battery swaps comes days after the company issued an apology for secretly slowing down older iPhones with software updates to prevent them from taxing the battery to the point where the phone might shut down unexpectedly.

The company faced severe backlash since it was first discovered that it slowed down older iPhones to mitigate long-term battery concerns. The discovery was first made by a Geekbench battery researcher who found that some iPhone 6, 6S, and 7 phones performed worse if they were running more recent versions of iOS (it was later revealed the iPhone SE was affected, too).

This weekend was the first that customers could set up an appointment at an Apple Store Genius Bar in order to replace their batteries for a discounted rate. However, the company did not explain to some employees that it was going to temporarily ignore results from the battery diagnostic test that's usually used to determine whether a battery should be replaced.

Apple has released a new company memo clarifying to Apple Store employees that iPhones do not have to fail a diagnostics test in order to get the out-of-warranty battery replacement. Instead, employees can offer the deal to any qualifying iPhone owners.

In short: It means that the iPhone 6, 6S, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and iPhone X are eligible for a $29 battery repair for the entirety of 2018. For more information, check out the Apple's official apology page or call your local Apple Store.