# Replacing an iPad battery and privacy issues **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047 "2025-09-14T23:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/21 "2025-09-15T02:32:02Z")
I had an iPhone battery replaced at a non-Apple repair shop (the phone was old enough that it was out of Apple care and didn’t merit Apple Store prices). The cost was less than $90 and they did it while I waited. They asked “is your phone backed up in the cloud?” I said yes and that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/22 "2025-09-15T02:39:13Z")
How much less than $90? Because I took my iPhone 12 Pro to an Apple Store a couple of months ago for a battery replacement that cost me $89 (plus sales tax). ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/23 "2025-09-15T03:22:42Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > The idea that Apple is lying about how the encryption works borders on conspiracy theory thinking. A huge company cannot get away with something like that; typically that kind of stuff is audited by external agencies. Apple would not risk the enormous fallout from the revelation that they had the ability to access users’ data after saying that they did not. We’re talking about the same company who paid out $500 in a class action suit over allegations they deliberately slowed down the performance of older phones. Apple claimed it was only looking out for the consumer, making sure their aging batteries lasted longer, but a lot of Apple’s customers felt it was a ploy to encourage people to upgrade their phones. In an era where many tech companies seem to hate their customers, I don’t think it borders on conspiracy thinking for a customer to wonder if Apple is trying to put one over on them. When I tried to get my battery replaced on my old iPhone, the Apple Store here in Little Rock wanted me to make an appointment and go down there to talk to them about replacing it. Someone over the phone should have been able to tell me how much I could expect to spend on it. It was a miserable experience. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/24 "2025-09-15T03:24:35Z")
Apple has a [webpage](https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/battery-replacement) that will tell you in advance what it will cost to replace your iPhone battery. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/25 "2025-09-15T04:06:04Z")
I had apple replace the battery of my laptop, and they 1. asked me to back it up before bringing it in 2. made me sign something about understanding there was a risk they would lose all my data They did not ask to make a copy of the data for themselves. (And i didn’t back up my laptop with Apple.) I’ve also had batteries replaced on my pixel phone, and again, they asked me to back it up before i left it with them. Yeah, i let Google do that backup. I sold my soul to Google when i bought my first android phone. But the shop didn’t copy anything. My guess is that Samsung wanted a backup in case they bricked your device, and the salesman didn’t understand properly. But i don’t really know. I wouldn’t worry about bringing your phone to get new batteries. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/26 "2025-09-15T04:10:17Z")
Look, I have no love for Apple. The very fact that you use an iPhone means you have a higher opinion of Apple than I do. I wouldn’t touch Apple products with a ten foot pole. But my years of experience in working in the tech industry makes me very doubt very much that a company would know that they can access customers’ data and deliberately lie about it. That’s very different from spinning a story about why they slowed down phones (even if “a lot” of their customers “felt it was a ploy”). Hiding the fact that they could access customer data would be very easy for an audit to discover. It’s not impossible, but it would surprise me very much that a company even as sleazy as I think Apple is would make such an amateurish move. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/27 "2025-09-15T04:39:03Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > I used the Samsung experience by way of explaining my reticence about walking into an Apple Store. Handsome Joey’s iPad Hutt is likely where I will go with this problem. So years ago you went to a dodgy Samsung repair place that claimed they wanted your data, and because of that you believe the _Apple Store_ will want to steal your data so your solution is to go to a dodgy Apple repair place? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/28 "2025-09-15T04:43:07Z")
Just do what @Palooka said: Back up your iPhone to your computer (there are many apps for that) then wipe the iPhone completely. Bring it in without any of your stuff on it. Restore the backup afterward. It’s no big deal if you don’t trust Apple, it’ll just be more manual work vs the 1-click auto-backup of iCloud. But feel free to do that if you prefer? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/29 "2025-09-15T05:32:49Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > So years ago you went to a dodgy Samsung repair place that claimed they wanted your data, and because of that you believe the _Apple Store_ will want to steal your data so your solution is to go to a dodgy Apple repair place? It makes sense to me. The OP isn’t sure whether or not this is standard practice or not. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/30 "2025-09-15T05:44:08Z")
He’s already been told it isn’t. But his solution is to go to yet another off-brand random shop instead of Apple itself which makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/31 "2025-09-15T10:45:19Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > The idea that Apple is lying about how the encryption works borders on conspiracy theory thinking. It’s exactly as plausible as the idea that they’re snooping your data when you bring your phone in to be serviced. I’m not saying that I think it’s true; I’m saying that, if the OP isn’t already worried about their data being snooped, then they shouldn’t be any more worried when they get their battery changed. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/32 "2025-09-15T12:46:37Z")
I’ve read all of the replies so far. What I find most fascinating is the fact that so many posters have made a leap to a place that I clearly do not describe in my O.P. and talk on and on about protecting my iPhone, why Apple would or would not surveil my data while repairing my iPhone, etc etc. I use a Samsung Android cell phone. I have an Apple iPad 9.7" Pro whose battery life is at is end. And yes, yes, I’ve sold my soul to Samsung as well. In certain aspects. I do not use their passwording system. I do not store anything on their cloud ( and, with this S24 Ultra that takes a lot of work because everything is 2-3 submenus down ). Where do I store my photos and videos as they pile up year by year? Why, on an external hard drive sitting on my desk. Like any self-respecting Generation Joneser. Someone up there posted that they don’t try to repair things that have a touch-screen membrane. I’m with them. The videos are daunting. Off to the repair joint I go. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/33 "2025-09-15T14:21:34Z")
My generous guess is that there was some misunderstanding at the store, and what they really wanted to do was backup all of your data to your account with Samsung. The Samsung Windows application (whatever it was called) would allow them to do this. That was something you could do back in the S8 days, but I don’t know if Samsung still supports doing it from a PC, or only using the on-phone app. As for doing it yourself, it looks like the battery is only $33 from ifixit. However, it is listed as a difficult repair, taking 2+ hours. I inherited a iPad Pro 9.7" with a broken Lightning port. It would only charge if the cable was held just so. I decided it was not worth the effort to repair, partly because newer and better iPads were also available to me. > **[iPad Pro 9.7" A1673/A1674 Battery: Replacement Part](https://www.ifixit.com/products/ipad-pro-9-7-battery)** > > Replace a 7306 mAh battery compatible with iPad Pro 9.7". 27.91 Watt Hours (Wh). 3.82 Volts (V). Battery Model A1664. > **[iPad Pro 9.7" Battery Replacement](https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPad+Pro+9.7-Inch+Battery+Replacement/118536)** > > Follow this guide to remove and replace the battery for the iPad Pro 9.7”. This extensive procedure requires you to remove the logic board in order... ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047/34 "2025-09-15T20:54:15Z")
I’m with the Doper up there who said that anything with a touchscreen isn’t a home project. The odds of my cracking the glass and/or damaging the ribbon wires is high enough that I will take this to a pro. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-an-ipad-battery-and-privacy-issues/1023047.md?page=1)