iPhone's first sketchy battery replacement kit appears

When the time came and your battery died, you were probably thinking you'd have to send your iPhone off to Apple as part of their expensive and complicated battery replacement program -- but now you've got a sketchy DIY option instead. Once again, a mysterious Chinese company has stepped in and "created" a "solution" to your problem with its iPhone battery replacement kit. For just $20, which is cheap enough to elicit genuine concern, you get a 1400mAh, 3.7V iPhone battery, some type of screwdriver-like tool, a strange plastic shiv, and an instruction manual (presumably in English, but you never know). All you have to do is crack open your $600 phone, de-solder your old battery and solder in the new one... and probably some other, more complicated stuff too. At this price, it seems unlikely that this battery won't explode, so buy at your own risk, and definitely try at your own risk.

[Via I4U, thanks Luigi]

[Tyk @ Jul 31st 2007 9:33AM]

Apple has you by your balls when it comes to battery replacement.. cha-ching for them!

Whatcha gonna do? Void your warranty? No, send it back to Steve Jobs, pay the apple tax, and keep hyping the iPhone like a good fanboy.

[phoomp @ Jul 31st 2007 11:18AM]

Well, to be fair, by the time the battery starts to go, the iPhone in question will likely be out of warranty (unless, of course, you did the other good little Apple customer thing-to-do and purchased Apple Care)

[Terc @ Jul 31st 2007 11:28AM]

OR... wait until your warranty expires after a year, since your battery won't be needing a replacement until at least that long anyhow.

[Pete Wailes @ Jul 31st 2007 9:40AM]

This is such a dumb idea, I actually laughed.

[Mrmean @ Jul 31st 2007 9:46AM]

wow, "first"...quality post ya got there....dork

[shannon @ Jul 31st 2007 9:52AM]

It doesn't seem that bad to me; I used a similar kit to replace my 2G iPod's battery when it went south. $20 does seem a little...thrifty, though.

[phoomp @ Jul 31st 2007 11:19AM]

except, replacing your 2G iPod's battery didn't involve a solder-gun

[someguy7234 @ Jul 31st 2007 3:27PM]

I'm not sure its really that "thrifty". SanDisk's Sansa Battery replacements from the manufacturer are only $20- I've got two battery's for my Sansa to swap out during hiking trips. Now as for it being from some BS Chinese company, thats a perfectly good reason for it to explode.

[Tom Boucher @ Jul 31st 2007 9:57AM]

Why on earth are these coming to market now? Would people actually order these today? It'll be at least a year, if not more before it really becomes something you should bother dealing with, if at all.

[Argot @ Jul 31st 2007 10:09AM]

Hmmm... You are new to Apple products, right? :)

[Grunt @ Jul 31st 2007 9:58AM]

Gil, first name Masen...

What a douchebag...

[Pedro @ Jul 31st 2007 10:00AM]

A better kit would offer a connector instead of bare wires. You solder a small connector onto the board, then plug the battery into that. Need to replace the battery again? No problem, just open it up again and plug in the new battery - no more soldering required.

Oh and, $20? lulz.

[Nate @ Jul 31st 2007 10:41AM]

Have you ever hooked up a mini PCI wireless card? The WIFI antennae in your notebook connect to the board with little round clips. It would be awesome if these were on the iPhones circuitry.

[t-bone @ Jul 31st 2007 6:55PM]

The battery is soldered in because there's no room for a connector. There is very little unused space in the iPhone and certainly not enough for a connector.

[Froggy @ Jul 31st 2007 10:28AM]

Engadget, PLEASE, disable the IP for people doing the "first" bullshit. at least for a week...

[Chris @ Jul 31st 2007 10:29AM]

From the makers of the MacGyver Multitool!!!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/the-macgyver-multitool/

[Barry @ Jul 31st 2007 11:14AM]

It humors me that has the confidence and know how to solder inside their 600 phone doesn't own their own screw driver. It may just be me but if they really wanted to help people out, that didn't know what they were doing, they would include a small Chinese man in the box to solder it for you.

[Rich H. @ Jul 31st 2007 11:21AM]

This seems like old news. It worked great on my first gen iPod and I've done it to other iterations of the device, too. It was only a matter of time - although I did figure it would take a little longer, at least to give the market a chance to NEED such a device. This would, indeed, void a warranty, which should be a moot point by the time it's necessary. And no, I'm not new to Apple products.

[james @ Jul 31st 2007 11:41AM]

You've got to solder? Yikes. I have no problem with the Apple-only-replacement scheme - it definitely saves a few millimeters on the size of the iPhone. That's why so many cell phones are as big as they are - big enough plastic with guides and latches.

[PrimitiveWallflower @ Jul 31st 2007 11:46AM]

Hmmm... I got one of these for my 3G iPod. It didn't involve soldering, but still difficult for my stubby fingers nonetheless. And my iPod was bricked within a week, providing a perfect excuse to get a 5G one.

So, if you need a spousal rationale for getting the next-gen iPhone when it comes out, this is a perfect setup. Otherwise, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

[Adam @ Jul 31st 2007 12:22PM]

"a strange plastic shiv" - It's known in the electronics industry as a spudger. Sound made up? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spudger

[Maestro @ Jul 31st 2007 12:23PM]

Well, for a lot of people, sending in a phone for battery replacement is not an option. Being without an iPod for a few days is one thing. But if you live off your cell phone (and let's face it, many do) the prospect of being without your phone for a few days/weeks is unheard of.

[Rob @ Jul 31st 2007 1:20PM]

Agreed, Maestro...but I'm afraid this little jewel will leave you without a cell phone indefinitely, unless you have another $600 to throw down, and if you did, why would you spend $20 on this disaster waiting to happen?!?

[Andune @ Jul 31st 2007 2:05PM]

Well the battery replacement only takes three days ("The repair process normally takes three business days"). And you can borrow a "AppleCare Service Phone" if you need.

Those Apple guys are really clever...

[derF @ Jul 31st 2007 12:37PM]

Must be the same battery Apple uses for their $79 replacement...the mark-up sounds about right

[adrenaline @ Jul 31st 2007 12:39PM]

so about the warranty? who cares? just iVoid it

[JC @ Jul 31st 2007 4:51PM]

Boy, I don't think I'd even trust myself with that kit. Looks like $80 it is. You should check out iPhailure.com for some good alternative views on the iPhone. I think they have an article about that consumer group who filed the formal complaint.

[engineer @ Jul 31st 2007 8:58PM]

$20? This is more than what Apple pays fo the battery. By the time this makes it to market, you'll see these kits re-branded all over the internet for $89!

[Nestor C. @ Aug 1st 2007 1:50AM]

"too cheap it concerns me", "some tipe of screwdriver thingy", "a _strange_ plastic shiv" (come on!),"an -god forbid- instruction manual!!" and "probably some other, more complicated stuff too", like what, putting back the cover? pressing _a button_?

sounds like the perfect apple consumer, such tecnophobes...