MMR broken iPhone WWYD poll

[v]

I have an iPhone 5 that I bought in October 2012.  I am up for a discounted upgrade in October of this year.

My iPhone has two major issues right now -- (1) the battery is shot to hell and (2) the "sleep/wake button" (the button on top of the iPhone) no longer works.  

The sleep/wake thing is a known issue with iPhone 5s and Apple repairs it for free.  Genius Bar says that my battery issues are not normal -- my battery should not be as shot as it is and it is defective rather than just a little old.  Apple won't fix the sleep/wake button if there is any other issue with the phone, so in order to get that fixed, I have to get the battery fixed first.

I have two options:

(1) Have Apple replace the battery ($79) and then send the iPhone out for the sleep/wake repair (that part would be free, but it will take some time for me to get my phone back. they'd give me a loaner in the meantime, but it might be a PITA to not have all my settings and such).

(2) Have Apple do an out-of-warranty replacement for $269.  I would not get a brand-new phone -- I'd get a "reconstituted" one.  The genius was a bit vague on how that differs from refurbished, but there's some difference apparently that I don't understand.  The store closest to my apartment didn't have any in stock, so it will take a few days to get one from them.  I'm going to check the store by work tomorrow, though -- maybe they have one in stock.  But it sounds like this can't be done immediately.  Also, I would have to get the same model that I already have -- there's no option to upgrade to a 5s.  Sad!

I think I know what I am going to do but I'd like validation  So what would you do?  Thanks!

[hbomdiggity]

Depending on how bad the battery issue was, I may not do anything and just upgrade in October.

If the battery issue was really bad, I would do 1. Option 2 doesn't seem worth it at all.

ETA: and thank you. I have issues with my sleep button and had no clue
Apple would fix this.

[v]

Battery is REALLY BAD and has died with me in some very unfortunate situations (leaving me, for example, sitting outside of a restaurant for an hour waiting for a friend to show up because I missed his message right before I left to meet up with him that he had to go back to work and needed to cancel on me). So either way, I'm getting it fixed.

[Mushe]

I'm in the same boat, but with a 4s. Well, almost the same boat, since Apple has refused to fix my button. I'm waiting until the new phone comes out and just getting that, and I'll try to sell my old one to whoever will buy it, with full disclosure of the problems.

[y4m]

IF you're going to pay $79 for a battery replacement, couldn't you just spend that same money on a Mophie juicepack or something to limp the battery situation through until October? No need to be without your settings, and you could resell it once you upgrade.

[cosmos]

Team mophie.

[y4m]

I also have a New Trent external charger for travel that I can't imagine life without. And it would be useful for things other than your phone. Doesn't solve the button issue of course.

[v]

Aug 21, 2014 19:24:00 GMT -5 y4m said:

I also have a New Trent external charger for travel that I can't imagine life without. And it would be useful for things other than your phone. Doesn't solve the button issue of course.

... And Apple won't fix the button if the battery isn't working properly (they know it isn't -- they've already diagnosed that problem so it is in my account).  It is a major PITA for that button not to work.

We have an external charger already, and I'm not interested in making that a thing for more than (MAYBE) the next few days.  I want a phone that just works, and I don't want to have to carry extra stuff with me, particularly when I'm out at night.  Also, I'm not sure that I'll actually upgrade in October just because I can so this could be a longer-term issue.

So only options are the above.

[kangaroo11]

Can you tell me what is "shot" about the battery? We bought our iPhones with our Amex too and they sometimes die randomly as well. DH's will go from 30% to dead in seconds. And mine seems to drain quickly through the day.

[v]

Aug 22, 2014 1:29:16 GMT -5 kangaroo11 said:

Can you tell me what is "shot" about the battery? We bought our iPhones with our Amex too and they sometimes die randomly as well. DH's will go from 30% to dead in seconds. And mine seems to drain quickly through the day.

The phone dies within 10-12 hours of being unplugged, even if it hasn't been used at all.  Much, much more quickly if I actually use it (and by "actually use it," I'm not talking about all that much use) or I'm in an area without great cell service.  It shuts itself off at around 40% and won't turn back on.  Genius Bar diagnostics show that the phone has less than 50% of its original capacity.  I really don't use the phone much, but I do rely upon it (I need to know when I have a new work email, and I don't like missing texts about meeting up with people because my phone is dead), so it is super annoying.  

(Note: was leaning towards option 1, and that's what I'm going to do)

[LoveTrains]

Option 1 and then get a new iphone when they come out in September.

[v]

Aug 22, 2014 7:41:24 GMT -5 milsaroo said:

Option 1 for now.


I have an iPhone 5s (but only since December). Even though my phone works great now, I have a hypothetical question: I don't have AppleCare, will they fix the sleep/wake button for free since it's a known issue?

It is a known issue only in iPhone 5 models manufactured through March 2013.  It isn't a known problem in the 5s.  So I'm guessing not unless they discover a problem with the sleep/wake button in the 5s as well?

Info here: ssl.apple.com/support/iphone5-sleepwakebutton/

[gt7301b]

Aug 22, 2014 7:41:24 GMT -5 milsaroo said:

Option 1 for now.


I have an iPhone 5s (but only since December). Even though my phone works great now, I have a hypothetical question: I don't have AppleCare, will they fix the sleep/wake button for free since it's a known issue?

I know nothing about the sleep/wake issue, but I'd take it in to the Apple store.  We have had good luck getting repairs done while we are under warranty.

[protozoa]

Option 1, but I would replace the battery myself since it is really easy to do.

[msmerymac]

Option one, but if I was going to spend $79 on it now, and the phone is repaired to my satisfaction, I would hold onto it longer than October. Get your money's worth.

[v]

Aug 22, 2014 8:57:24 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Option one, but if I was going to spend $79 on it now, and the phone is repaired to my satisfaction, I would hold onto it longer than October. Get your money's worth.

That's what I'm leaning towards too.  Not sure I like the idea of a bigger phone, so the iPhone 6 would have to be REALLY impressive for me to go for it!  Which means I maybe won't be that tempted.

[LoveTrains]

I just heard that the battery issue is a known problem with early iphone 5 from fall 2012. Apple is replacing them for free v.

Here is more info and you can check your serial number to see if it qualifies: ssl.apple.com/support/iphone5-battery/

[v]

Wow, thanks LoveTrains -- I had not heard of that and my serial number is eligible. I got the battery fixed yesterday and the phone is now out for the switch repair, but I'll definitely bring that up when I pick up the phone (I haven't paid yet).

[LoveTrains]

Good luck.

My h told me about it this morning and I was like OMG must tell internet friends!

[LoveTrains]

Oh and my H says to verify that the battery swap will fix the issue. He is suggesting that it might be a more complex issue in which case you might still have problems. So he says let the folks at the Genius Bar know when you pick up the phone that your original phone had this issue.

[v]

Aug 23, 2014 9:07:43 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oh and my H says to verify that the battery swap will fix the issue. He is suggesting that it might be a more complex issue in which case you might still have problems. So he says let the folks at the Genius Bar know when you pick up the phone that your original phone had this issue.

Will do -- thanks for the heads up!

[Norticprincess]

---

v
Did you see this post about the 5's battery?

pandce.proboards.com/thread/361726/free-battery-replacement-iphone-5

[vanillacourage]

This is not really a question for v, because I'm sure she already explored this option. But for anyone else in a similar boat - I have a 5s and the battery suddenly crapped out. Like, lost 20% an hour without being in use. The second time I went to the Genius Bar about it, they gave me a new phone b/c it was covered under Apple Care. 

[polarbearfans]

They won't just exchange it out? I'm on like my 6th iphone 5 due to various issues. I had a majorly scratched screen but I was having a really bad service issue and they still exchange it no problem

[LoveTrains]

Aug 23, 2014 20:22:00 GMT -5 Norticprincess said:

---

v
Did you see this post about the 5's battery?

pandce.proboards.com/thread/361726/free-battery-replacement-iphone-5

You mean the same info I posted about in this thread just a few posts up?

[v]

Aug 23, 2014 21:10:47 GMT -5 polarbearfans said:

They won't just exchange it out? I'm on like my 6th iphone 5 due to various issues. I had a majorly scratched screen but I was having a really bad service issue and they still exchange it no problem

It is out of warranty, so to switch it out would cost $269 plus tax as described above.  I went to the Genius Bar three times about this and was never offered a free exchange, so...

[polarbearfans]

Aug 24, 2014 9:44:16 GMT -5 v said:

Aug 23, 2014 21:10:47 GMT -5 polarbearfans said:

They won't just exchange it out? I'm on like my 6th iphone 5 due to various issues. I had a majorly scratched screen but I was having a really bad service issue and they still exchange it no problem

It is out of warranty, so to switch it out would cost $269 plus tax as described above.  I went to the Genius Bar three times about this and was never offered a free exchange, so...

That stinks... I have rotten luck with phones, so I always get the apple care.