iPhone 3GS Warranty Replacement

**BullzEye** · 10-03-2010, 07:56 PM

Hi,
I have an iPhone 3GS that has started showing signs of a weak battery life.
The multi-tasking option in iOS 4.1 is causing the battery to deplete even more than before when I had iOS 3.1.2 installed.
I called Apple and they are willing to replace the phone as its still under warranty for one more month.

Since they will be giving me a refurbished iPhone 3GS, I wanted to know what the quality is like of the refurb model.
Will the workmanship be similar to a brand new 3GS?
Since I will be traveling to Toronto all the way from London, just to get the replacement model, I will be really disappointed if the refurb turns out to be a lemon. My current iPhone is scratchless all over. Will the refurb be the same?

I can still live with the current 3GS the way it is. Its just that I have to charge it more frequently and I believe that from now on the battery life has only one way to go, that is downhill.

Please let me know your experience with a refurbished iPhone 3GS.

Regards.

**trek.** · 10-03-2010, 09:28 PM

afaik the refurb have old internals but new battery + external shell. It should look brand new.

**HowEver** · 10-04-2010, 08:16 AM

You won't be able to look at the phone and tell that it's refurbished.

btw you're lucky. Batteries are considered "consumable" and you've consumed yours. It's rare to see a warranty replacement for poor battery life.

**loginatnine** · 10-04-2010, 10:32 AM

I got a refurb from apple for my 3GS and it really looked brand new. Not a single scratch.

**darkside flow** · 10-04-2010, 01:33 PM

Refurbs from Apple are almost entirely brand new, except for the "guts." New casing, screen, battery, and anything that was wrong with the original unit is fixed.

You will not be able to tell the difference. The "refreshed" iphones that you sometimes see are ones that have just been cleaned up and re-sold. That is not the case with Apple official refurbs.

**BullzEye** · 10-04-2010, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by HowEver

You won't be able to look at the phone and tell that it's refurbished.

btw you're lucky. Batteries are considered "consumable" and you've consumed yours. It's rare to see a warranty replacement for poor battery life.

Apple does replace iPhones under warranty if the battery becomes weak.
Since the battery in the iPhone is not removable, Apple will not swap the battery for you. They just give you a new refurbished unit.

Thanks for the replies guys.
Have an appointment at the Apple Store at Square One tomorrow.
Will post my experience on this thread when I get back home.