# Anybody having ipod battery problems? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267 "2005-03-07T00:23:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/1 "2005-03-07T00:23:53Z")
I just heard that after about a year of normal use an ipod’s battery is pretty much dead and the only solution is to buy a new ipod. Anybody have any knowledge about this - either firsthand or have you read anything more about it? While we’re at it, is there any reasonable alternative to an ipod yet? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/2 "2005-03-07T00:39:45Z")
Pretty much not true. Many people’s batteries last much longer. Even if the battery fails, it can be replaced, either by yourself or via a dealer. Here’s everything you need to know: [http://www.ipodbatteryfaq.com/](http://www.ipodbatteryfaq.com/) ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/3 "2005-03-07T12:27:31Z")
**Finagle** pretty much summed it up. I’ll just add that most battery problems were with earlier models of the iPod, and that Apple does have a replacement program for iPods with totally dead batteries. All that should be covered at the link he gave though. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/4 "2005-03-07T21:08:57Z")
Also note the newest iPods (introduced last month) use a newer, more energy-frugal processor; supposedly you can now get 18-20 hours of use out of one charge. That’s gotta help extend the battery’s lifetime some. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/5 "2005-03-07T21:13:42Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > While we’re at it, is there any reasonable alternative to an ipod yet? Depends on what you define as reasonable. If all you want is a music player, iPod is a good bet. If you want more functionality, then there are mp3 players that also include AM/FM receiver, voice recording, some that support many of the various codecs, some that even let you identify clips of music you hear on the radio by recording it and using their database. So what do you want from your player? ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/6 "2005-03-07T21:25:10Z")
Link to Apple’s iPod Battery Replacement Program: [http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/battery.html](http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/battery.html) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/7 "2005-03-07T21:49:39Z")
There are alternatives, but I don’t know enought about them to comment beyond that. As for the battery, yes it has been a ongoing problem w/ Ipods. Someone made a personal campain to warn the public that the non-replaceable IPOD battery only lasts 16? months. When he called for repair, Apple basically told him to take a long walk on a short pier. One of the newest IPOD’s that don’t have a display seems to have been designed that there will be no way for the consumer to replace the battery. ([cnet.com](http://cnet.com) did a recent artical on this). I personally feel Apple is doing this on purpose to ensure prompt upgrades, stratteling the line between consumer outrage and acceptance. In general Li-ion batts have a limited life that is basically determined right after they are manufactured. Bascially they eat themselves up and their ain’t nothing you can do about it. This creates a variation of battery life, your’s might last 4 yrs, or 1 year. Though it is very unlikely for such a battery to go totally dead (and qualify for free replacement). ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/8 "2005-03-07T22:21:16Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > There are alternatives, but I don’t know enought about them to comment beyond that. > > As for the battery, yes it has been a ongoing problem w/ Ipods. Someone made a personal campain to warn the public that the non-replaceable IPOD battery only lasts 16? months. When he called for repair, Apple basically told him to take a long walk on a short pier. > > One of the newest IPOD’s that don’t have a display seems to have been designed that there will be no way for the consumer to replace the battery. ([cnet.com](http://cnet.com) did a recent artical on this). > > I personally feel Apple is doing this on purpose to ensure prompt upgrades, stratteling the line between consumer outrage and acceptance. > > In general Li-ion batts have a limited life that is basically determined right after they are manufactured. Bascially they eat themselves up and their ain’t nothing you can do about it. This creates a variation of battery life, your’s might last 4 yrs, or 1 year. Though it is very unlikely for such a battery to go totally dead (and qualify for free replacement). Too… much… misinformation… _head explodes_ [ul] [li]The battery problems were fixed a loooooooong time ago.[/li][li]Li-ion batteries depend on charge/discharge cycles for lifespan. There is no random variation.[/li][li]The only iPod that does not have a screen is the shuffle. And ALL iPods are not very consumer friendly in the way of changing the battery. It still can be done, however. Also see point 4[/li][li]Not gonna do it[/li][li]Batteries that can store less than 50% max charge qualify for he replacement program. Within a year, this is free, as it is still covered by the warranty.[/li][/ul] And not to be a spelling nazi, but strattling? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/9 "2005-03-07T23:45:03Z")
**Tabby\_Cat** I’m sorry to burst your battery bubble, but the fight against ignorance must march on w/ or w/o Cecil > [@](#): > > The battery problems were fixed a loooooooong time ago. Then why did it re-occur with the IPOD shuffle: > [@](#): > > Sylvester surmises that because of the Shuffle’s design, it may not be possible for the battery to be replaced by a consumer, if at all. From [http://news.com.com/A+voyage+inside+the+iPod+Shuffle/2100-1041\_3-5590430.html](http://news.com.com/A+voyage+inside+the+iPod+Shuffle/2100-1041_3-5590430.html) It is pretty darn obvious that Apple designed the IPOD to only last a short time. > [@](#): > > Li-ion batteries depend on charge/discharge cycles for lifespan. There is no random variation . I counter with : > [@](#): > > The Li-ion battery has a time clock that starts ticking as soon as the battery leaves the factory. The electrolyte slowly ‘eats up’ the positive plate and the electrolyte decays… From [http://www.buchmann.ca/Chap10-page6.asp](http://www.buchmann.ca/Chap10-page6.asp) > [@](#): > > The only iPod that does not have a screen is the shuffle. And ALL iPods are not very consumer friendly in the way of changing the battery. It still can be done, however. Anything can be done (except for the speed of light thing) but it has been totally obvious that Apple has made it intentionally hard to do, and apparently w/ the Ipod Shuffle impossiable. > [@](#): > > Batteries that can store less than 50% max charge qualify for he replacement program. Within a year, this is free, as it is still covered by the warranty. Sort of a safe bet, since most will fall below this right after it (like 16 months) but when Li-ion batts go they go big time, since the electrode is eaten away. > [@](#): > > And not to be a spelling nazi, but strattling? My spelling is intentionl as a protest against a pay site not providing a spell checker. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/10 "2005-03-08T01:08:44Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > As for the battery, yes it has been a ongoing problem w/ Ipods. Someone made a personal campain to warn the public that the non-replaceable IPOD battery only lasts 16? months. When he called for repair, Apple basically told him to take a long walk on a short pier. Of course, it didn’t help that the guy was listening to his iPod for 16 hours a day, which really taxed the battery beyond what most folks do. > [@kanicbird](#): > > One of the newest IPOD’s that don’t have a display seems to have been designed that there will be no way for the consumer to replace the battery. ([cnet.com](http://cnet.com) did a recent artical on this). It’s a design decision – user-replacable batteries would make the iPods bigger than their current design, and might (depending on the type of battery) require changing more often. > [@kanicbird](#): > > I personally feel Apple is doing this on purpose to ensure prompt upgrades, stratteling the line between consumer outrage and acceptance. Every company makes these kinds of tradeoff decisions; my Palm Tungsten PDA doesn’t have a replaceable battery either, but that doesn’t prompt me to start off a campaign against them. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/11 "2005-03-08T01:22:56Z")
**rjung** The part you are missing is that Apple’s IPOD is known to have battery life problems, palm does not have that reputation. I have a palm Vx, in which the battery doesn’t last as long as it did, but it is still very usable. I thin my Palm Vx could go a month w/o recharging, now perhaps a week, still very acceptable, unlike IPOD. Another aspect is Apples attitude to early battery failure\*, basically they say F— you, go buy another one. - As I pointed out (with links above in my previous post) Li-Ion have a limited life span as soon as they leave the factory. The battery will eat itself. > [@](#): > > Of course, it didn’t help that the guy was listening to his iPod for 16 hours a day, which really taxed the battery beyond what most folks do. I don’t have the link to the artical, but I don’t beleive this to be the case. anyway if you google ‘ipods nonreplaceable batteries’ and ‘ipods non-replaceable batteries’ you will find several links as to this problem. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/12 "2005-03-08T01:58:13Z")
another nail in the ipod’s casket: > [@](#): > > What we really don’t get is why Apple’s tech support personnel are apparently not telling people to try this(re: battery life). If it really does fix the problem for even a small subset of afflicted users, [http://www.appleturns.com/scene/?id=4409](http://www.appleturns.com/scene/?id=4409) It seems like their tech support is intentionally not letting users know of a firmware update which could restore battery life (in this case regaining about 5-6 hours from 20 minutes) ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/13 "2005-03-08T02:05:00Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Also note the newest iPods (introduced last month) use a newer, more energy-frugal processor; supposedly you can now get 18-20 hours of use out of one charge. That’s gotta help extend the battery’s lifetime some. Unfortuantely, that’s not necessarily so. LiIon batteries suffer most from a three-odd-year lifetime, largely reguardless of useage. see: [Dan's Data letters #79](http://www.dansdata.com/danletters079.htm) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/14 "2005-03-08T07:51:54Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I don’t have the link to the artical, but I don’t beleive this to be the case. From the [**New York Times:**](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/technology/circuits/19POGUE-EMAIL.html) > [@](#): > > As for this “18 months” business: That statistic came from two disgruntled brothers who got a rude brush-off from Apple customer service when their iPod battery died after 18 months of use. They retaliated by spray-painting “iPod’s unreplaceable battery lasts only 18 months” all over Apple’s posters and billboards in New York City, and then posting a QuickTime movie of their deed on the Web ([www.ipodsdirtysecret.com](http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com)). > > …But here’s the thing: The typical iPod battery does not, in fact, die after 18 months. That’s possible, but not typical; I have two, and they’re still going strong after about three years. > > The iPod literature makes clear that the battery can be charged between 300 and 500 times. **So to burn out the battery in 18 months, you’d pretty much have to charge and deplete the battery (eight hours of playing) almost every day.** That’s probably not how most people use their music players. And apparently, the whole “iPod batteries suck” campaign got started because one of the guys involved tried to replace the battery himself and [broke his iPod in the process:](http://www.billpalmer.net/ipodgarage/ipod000081.html) > [@](#): > > In fact, if you look at the site that currently houses his vandalism movie, you’ll find a link directly below it, advertising the “latest short” from the filmmaker. No mention, though, of the fact that the iPod’s battery really is replaceable, something that he clearly knew going in, because he, you know, \*broke his own iPod \*while performing such a replacement. Nope, instead we just have the movie, in all its fully inaccurate glory, proudly displayed to this day, without apology. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/15 "2005-03-08T13:57:31Z")
> [@](#): > > **The iPod literature makes clear that the battery can be charged between 300 and 500 times.** So to burn out the battery in 18 months, you’d pretty much have to charge and deplete the battery (eight hours of playing) almost every day. So this just states that acording to the manufacturer for the IPOD to fail in this time he must have run it in a certain way. Again you are quoting from Apple. Remember it is Apple who is trying to deflect the change that their product may have a flaw, what do you expect them to say. I read a page on Apples web site that really does nothing but to downplay the battery issue. **Plan B** I think the ipod is a great device, and most people how have it really like it. But it is pretty darn obviouse that there are battery issues. You may get one and not have a problem, then again you might. Li-ion batteries do have a defined life (I provided a cite above), and are also effected by cycling. The typical Li-ion decline is that it will work ‘great’ meaning you won’t notice it declining in capacity till it happens. For what ever reason (+ electrode eaten away), (almost) overnight the capacity will drop by a lot. This it very typical of Li-ion cell phone batteries. These failures typically will start over 1 year (ever wonder why cell phone are only garentted for 1 year, and many time this does not include the battery - I had to return mine after 3 months and they replaced the phone with a new one, but made me keep my 3 month old battery) Most will be apparent starting as the 1.5 year point, some may go much longer, it’s a crap shoot. I suspect more are failing then gets reported as people will tend to buy a new and improved model then deal with fixing their old one. What really disturbs me it Apples responce to the issue. At first the told the guy to go blow. Now they deflect the problem, saying it’s a design compromise BUT (they say) _the IPOD is not a disposable device, but a high quality device that should give many years of service._ They offer a battery replacement program for $99. If you read on a bit you will find that they will not replace the battery in your unit, but send you a new or refurb one - this pretty much means it’s a disposable device. Also you must wait a week (or 2-3 if you have it engraved by apple), and no they won’t transfer your music. In contrast when my palm needed service, they sent me a refurb one overnight and a prepaid box to send my old one back at no charge to me. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/16 "2005-03-08T14:03:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Most will be apparent starting as the 1.5 year point, some may go much longer, Just want to clarify. What I ment by this is MOST will make it to the 1.5 yr point w/o battery failure. After this point the crap shoot begins and it could fail at any time. Failing does not mean total, just a great loss of capacity. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/17 "2005-03-08T14:38:30Z")
Regardless of the battery issues on Apple’s end, there are plenty of DIY kits or even places that’ll do it for you for much cheaper than the $99. I can understand Apple not wanting to transfer the files over to the new one if you pay to have them fix the battery. It’d be a big pain the ass and probably increase the turnaround time by quite a bit. Fortunately, like I said, you don’t have to have Apple do it. As far as I’m concerned, Apple did it’s part in giving us the device. The market took care of the rest of the problems. I don’t think the battery issue is really enough of an issue to count as a minus against the iPod. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/18 "2005-03-08T14:49:46Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > What really disturbs me it Apples responce to the issue. At first the told the guy to go blow. Now they deflect the problem, saying it’s a design compromise BUT (they say) _the IPOD is not a disposable device, but a high quality device that should give many years of service._ > > They offer a battery replacement program for $99. If you read on a bit you will find that they will not replace the battery in your unit, but send you a new or refurb one - this pretty much means it’s a disposable device. Also you must wait a week (or 2-3 if you have it engraved by apple), and no they won’t transfer your music. In contrast when my palm needed service, they sent me a refurb one overnight and a prepaid box to send my old one back at no charge to me. This is, as they say, life. There is no one holding a gun to your head (wallet) to buy one. If it upsets you, I’m afraid there’s just not a whole lot us Dopers can do to make you feel better. Me, I’m just glad I don’t have to keep a 12 pack of AA’s and AAA’s in the car to listen to my music anymore. And I’m mechanically inclined enough that I’ll swap in a new $40 battery when the time comes. Honestly, between the two cellphones, PDA, two ipods, Camera (x2 batteries), Camcorder (times 2 batteries), Gameboy, bluetooth GPS there are a MOT of LiIon batteries in my life that’ll eventually fail. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop using them. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/19 "2005-03-08T15:09:04Z")
> [@](#): > > This is, as they say, life. There is no one holding a gun to your head (wallet) to buy one. If it upsets you, Yes but the OP is asking about battery problems, which there are, so I though I would answer the OP. I don’t know why you brough up the gun to head issue, we are talking about someone who wished to be an informed consumer before they make a choice. If you read my posts you will find that I did say: > [@](#): > > Plan B I think the ipod is a great device, and most people how have it really like it. That does not elimiate the short commings. > [@](#): > > iIon batteries in my life that’ll eventually fail. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop using them. And this is a realistic view, Apple seems to indicate that this is a non-issue, which is a lie, and a pretty well known lie. > [@](#): > > two cellphones, PDA, two ipods, Camera (x2 batteries), Camcorder (times 2 batteries), Gameboy, bluetooth GPS The big difference is that all excpet the IPOD and PDA have used replaceable batteries. The PDA uses very little power and should work fine for most people with even 75% capacity of the battery gone, the IPOD is used for much longer time and uses far more power then a PDA (due to an internal HD), which means it will demand MUCH more from the batteries. To make them in a way that at best discourages user replacement is a obvious design flaw for a device ment to last years (or a way to make it disposable). ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267/20 "2005-03-08T15:15:34Z")
The end result is still the same though. The issue of the battery has been resolved by either third party service or DIY kits. So to the OP, if the battery is the main reason you’re hesitating, I’d say don’t worry about it. Whatever Apple’s motivation for making the battery not easily replaceable, the point has become moot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-having-ipod-battery-problems/293267.md?page=2)