Preface
I didn't have to pack it myself; I just handed the unit over to the shipping company that came to pick it up, so it was quite easy.
I've been using iPhones for a long time.
I'm satisfied with it because I'm used to using it,One of the troublesome aspects is battery degradation.
Since smartphones are used every day, they naturally need to be charged daily.
If you charge it every day, the battery will start to drain faster after about two years (or even sooner).
The latest iOS no longer displays the battery level as a percentage, which I suspect is to make it harder for users to notice when their battery is draining quickly.
Battery performance itself should be improving year by year, but the performance of the device itself also improves, so power consumption increases. As a result, it feels like there's a slight increase with each new model.
Apple has long employed a strategy of releasing a new iPhone every two years, when the battery starts to wear out, encouraging users to upgrade frequently.
I feel that this continues even now,Recent iPhones have become extremely expensive.
Since it's wasteful to buy a new one every time, if replacing the battery can restore it to its original condition, it's more economical to replace it and continue using it.
However, since replacing the battery yourself is difficult, you will have to ask Apple or another company to do it for you.
Since it would be inconvenient to send my everyday iPhone in for repair, I faced the dilemma of not being able to easily send it in for repair.
This time, I'd like to write about my experience of requesting repairs for my old iPhone 7, a model I no longer use, through Apple's official website.
I felt it would be a waste to throw away an iPhone that costs tens of thousands of yen just because of a battery problem.
How to request repairs
If you want to officially request an iPhone repair, you can either take it directly to an Apple Store or have an Apple-designated repair shop pick it up.
Apparently, there are some independent shops that offer battery replacements at very low prices, but since there weren't any near where I live, I didn't use any of those services this time.
Regarding the option of taking it directly to an Apple Store, I wasn't very keen on that.
For starters, there might not be an Apple Store nearby, and even if you do go, you might have to make a reservation or wait, which can be a hassle.
On the other hand, there is a way to have Apple take it back:All you have to do is apply online and hand over the device to the delivery company that comes to pick it up (in my case, it was Yamato Transport).
You will need to back up your data beforehand and prepare by removing the case and screen protector, butIt's so convenient that I can just hand it over without having to pack it.
When you first apply, you will be given a repair estimate, and you can choose to pay by credit card or cash on delivery.
Payment is made upon receipt of the repaired item.
You won't be charged any money immediately when you apply.
The repair estimate is just a maximum figure, so the actual cost will probably be lower.
A battery replacement would cost around 5,000 yen, while a device that won't power on would cost around 35,000 yen.
The problem with my iPhone that I requested repairs for was that it wouldn't turn on, and the estimated cost was around 35,000 yen.
If the inspection reveals that the only issue is with the battery, the actual cost will likely be around 5,000 yen.
Until repair is complete
The morning after the shipping company picked up the device, I received an SMS from Apple saying, "We will begin the repair."
Then, that same evening, I received an SMS message saying, "Your product has been shipped."
I'm impressed by their extremely quick response.
<Apply online ⇒ Shipping company picks up the item ⇒ Repair begins, is completed, and shipped ⇒ Finished item arrives>Therefore, the repairs will be completed in four days.
Then the main unit arrived at my house via courier.
They are packaged in boxes in this condition.
It looks quite nice, and it seems that a different replacement item from the original has been sent.
After reading the accompanying letter, it seemed that the problem couldn't be solved simply by replacing the battery, and they were sending me a replacement unit.
I believe the replacement item is not a new product, but rather a refurbished item.
It looks great, so you can consider it practically brand new.
The document also states that the unit I sent in this time appears to have a different serial number than the unit I had previously ordered.
However, it seems the process was completed without any problems, so I don't think you need to worry too much about it.
Furthermore, it states that if the device you sent is still under warranty, the repair will be free of charge.
I don't think my device is still under warranty, so I expect I'll be charged the amount quoted beforehand.
In conclusion
If you buy a new iPhone and still have your old one, you can often get it working again relatively quickly through a repair service.
I think it's a good idea to have multiple iPhones as backup devices, so if you have a malfunctioning iPhone lying around, why not take advantage of Apple's repair service?
It can be repaired relatively easily without needing to be packaged.
Using a secondary device, for example, solely for listening to music or watching videos, can reduce the battery consumption of your main device and make pairing with Bluetooth devices easier.
Having multiple devices expands the range of things you can do.