On this page
What the percentage means
Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging shows Maximum Capacity: the charge your battery holds now as a share of what it held when new. 100% is a new cell; 80% means you get roughly four-fifths of the original runtime.
Apple considers a battery 'consumed' at 80%, which is also where the warranty threshold sits. Below that, iOS may start throttling peak performance to prevent sudden shutdowns — which is why an old iPhone feels slow, and why a new battery often makes it feel new again.
When it's actually worth replacing
Below 80% capacity. Clear case. You're losing runtime and performance both.
80–85% but shutting down unexpectedly. Replace it. Sudden shutdowns mean the cell can't hold voltage under load regardless of what the percentage claims.
Above 85% and lasting the day. Leave it alone. Replacing a healthy battery buys you very little.
Peak Performance Capability warning present. Replace it — iOS is actively throttling your phone.
What it costs
Roughly ₹1,900 for an iPhone X and older, ₹2,400 around the 11 and XR, ₹2,900–₹3,400 for the 12 and 13 families, and ₹3,900–₹5,900 for the 14, 15 and 16 series. Most replacements take about 45 minutes.
Set that against the cost of a new phone. A ₹3,000 battery on a phone worth ₹40,000 is one of the best value repairs in consumer electronics.
The cheap battery problem
A battery is one component where the cheap version is genuinely worse in a way you will feel. Budget cells are routinely rated well below their printed capacity, so a 'new' battery delivers the same runtime as the worn one you just paid to remove. They also degrade fast — six months to the same state — and poor protection circuitry is a real safety issue.
Ask what cell is being fitted and what warranty covers it. Six months on the part is the standard worth holding out for.
Making the next one last
Charge between 20% and 80% where convenient rather than running to zero and back to full. Keep the phone out of direct sun and out of a hot car — heat is the single biggest killer of lithium cells. Turn on Optimised Battery Charging. And use a decent charger; cheap unregulated bricks stress the cell and the charging circuit both.
Frequently asked
At what battery health should I replace my iPhone battery?
Below 80% is the clear threshold. Above 85% with no unexpected shutdowns, replacement buys you very little.
Will a new battery make my old iPhone faster?
If iOS was throttling performance because of a degraded cell — indicated by a Peak Performance Capability warning — then yes, noticeably.
How long does iPhone battery replacement take?
About 45 minutes in a properly stocked workshop, usually while you wait.
Do I lose my data during a battery replacement?
No. A battery swap doesn't touch storage. Back up anyway before any repair — that's sound practice regardless of the job.
Want us to look at it?
Free diagnosis at our Margao store, a fixed quote before any work, and six months of written warranty.