Slowed iPhones: Apple apologises and slashes price of replacement battery to US$29 after outcry

Facing lawsuits and consumer outrage after it said it deliberately slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries, Apple Inc is slashing prices for battery replacements and will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good.

In a posting on its website Thursday, Apple apologised over its handling of the battery issue and said it would make a number of changes for customers “to recognise their loyalty and to regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple’s intentions.”

Apple made the move to address concerns about the quality and durability of its products at a time when it is charging US$999 for its newest flagship model, the iPhone X.

The company said it would cut the price of an out-of-warranty battery replacement from US$79 to US$29 for an iPhone 6 or later model, starting next month. The company also will update its iOS operating system to let users see whether their battery is in poor health and is affecting the phone’s performance.

That price cut applies to US consumers, but buyers elsewhere will apparently receive similar savings. In Canada, the price of a battery was coming down from C$99 (US$79) to C$35.