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Check iPhone Battery Health Before Selling or Trade-In
Find your iPhone battery health and service warnings before selling. Understand condition checks and whether replacing the battery makes sense.
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The quick answer
In Settings > Battery, open Battery Health or Battery Health & Charging for your iPhone. Record maximum capacity and any service or parts warning. The percentage is not the current charge level or a guaranteed resale grade; use the actual condition questions for your offer.
Key points
- Record the warning message as well as the percentage.
- Do not assume a battery replacement earns back its full cost.
- A swollen or damaged battery needs specialist handling.
Find and record the battery information
Open Settings > Battery. Apple's model-specific guidance directs iPhone 11-14 users to Battery Health & Charging. On iPhone 15 and later with iOS 17.4 or later, Battery Health also shows information such as cycle count and first-use date. Follow the labels available on your model and software.
Record maximum capacity, any service or parts message, and symptoms such as unexpected shutdowns. A private screenshot can help you describe the condition later. If the information is unavailable, report that rather than estimating a percentage.
Understand what the percentage means
| Reading | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Charge percentage | How much charge the phone has right now. Charging it to 100% does not restore battery health. |
| Maximum capacity | Estimated capacity compared with the battery when new. |
| Cycle count, if available | A record of accumulated battery use, not a resale price by itself. |
| Service or unverified-battery message | Additional information to disclose rather than replacing it with a guessed health figure. |
Apple's battery guide explains that aging can reduce capacity and peak performance. It also warns that health information may be inaccurate when the battery cannot be verified. A capacity reading alone does not test cameras, charging reliability or the rest of the phone.
Use the current condition descriptions
When requesting a quote, read the battery requirements in the selected condition. Do not assume that 85%, 80% or another number always means the same grade or a fixed percentage reduction across every model and buyer.
A phone can have a high displayed capacity and still have another fault. Check charging, unexpected shutdowns and service warnings, and report them where requested. If the form does not cover your situation, contact support.
Should I replace the battery before selling?
Compare the offer for the phone as it is with a realistic repaired-condition offer, then subtract the written repair cost.
Net benefit of repair = repaired-condition proceeds − as-is proceeds − repair cost − extra selling costs. If the result is negative, replacing the battery solely for resale leaves you with less. If you want to keep the phone longer, restored usefulness may justify a different decision.
Do not confuse a low reading with physical damage
Ordinary battery aging and a swollen, leaking or overheating battery are different issues. Stop normal sale preparation and seek manufacturer or specialist guidance for physical damage. Do not mail such a device under a standard label or try to flatten, puncture or open a battery.
Frequently asked questions
Does every one-percent drop reduce the offer?
Use the current model and condition questions for an actual offer. Do not calculate the price by multiplying a one-percent health change by a guessed deduction.
Can I sell a nonworking iPhone?
Some nonworking phones are eligible when the model and condition are supported. Water damage, account locks, blacklists, unpaid finance and unsafe batteries remain excluded. Ask support if the form does not cover your situation.
Check the full device value
Use the iPhone value guide, then get a quote for your model. If battery life is the only reason to upgrade, consider the repair-or-keep decision.
Check your device's offer
Record capacity and service warnings, then use the current condition descriptions.
Get my offerReview the shipping, inspection and payment terms before you send your device. Contact us if you need help.
Sources & useful links
Check the original guidance and the terms that apply to your device.