Tomorrow I plan on heading to my local bestbuy to purchase the ipod 15 GB model.
But before I handover nearly 320 bucks, I was wondering about how long the actual battery last in the ipod. I recall reading somewhere that the iPOD battery does last up to 18 months, and you can either send it back to apple for a replacement for $99, or buy your own off one of the many internet sites now selling them, with full and easy instructions on how to swap it. Is this true? If not, how long does it last?
From http://www.ipodbatteryfaq.com/
Q: I heard that the iPod’s battery only lasts 18 months, and then you have to buy a new iPod! Is that true?
A1: NO! The vast, vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over two years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, have had issues with batteries. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles (more). For this reason, certain customers’ usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.
A2: If the battery does fail, and the iPod is no longer under its original one year warranty or $59 AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod, or any of numerous third party service plans, you don’t have to buy a new iPod. You may replace the battery yourself for as little as $49, or have Apple perform the replacement for $99.
Q: Will the iPod’s battery degrade over time?
A: Yes. Over time, the battery will not hold the same amount of charge as when it was new. This is natural, and is true of all lithium ion batteries. This slow degradation will not affect, or be noticed by, most users. However, based on usage, environmental factors, and many other variables, some heavy users may notice a greater degradation than others. It is important to understand that this is the exact same degradation that would occur with any lithium ion battery used in any laptop, cell phone, portable music player, etc., and is not unique to the iPod. For more information, see this page.
iPodlounge has the definitive statement on the matter. From 2-3 to 8-9 years. I work with an inventor/engineer who helped test early LION batteries several years ago. They are a very experimental technology still and new formulas are being tried out in the marketplace.
You can purchase a third-party user-installable replacement for under $60.
iPods have been sold for over two years now. If everyone’s batteries all falled en masse I think we would have heard big stories (besides that goofy video) by now.
My 15G has been working wonderfully since August. The iPod has kind of changed my life for the better and I wish you similar enjoyment.