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rhonda500 · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 12

I have a question about iPod batteries. How long do they last and can I replace the battery if needed?

benny · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 52

iPod batteries are lithium ion batteries and are designed to last about 300 to 500 charge cycles. These batteries are not designed to be user replaceable, however there are 3rd party vendors who will sell you the battery and yes, it can be done but most people should not try to replace their own battery.

The reason for this is that you may damage your iPod internals while trying to replace the battery. You have to pry open the iPod's case, move ribbon cables around, take out the old battery, insert a new battery, put everything back like it was before and get the case back on, all without breaking anything.

Apple warranties are good for 1 year on the iPod including a defective battery, so you're good to go for 1 year. In addition, APPLE offers their APPLECARE extended warranty for another year. So 2 years from purchase date, you could be covered. Call 1-800-APL-CARE to check details.

If your battery fails to hold a charge or lasts only a short time, you can send your iPod in to APPLE Inc. and for about $65, they will send you another iPod with a good battery. You can also get your iPod battery replaced at an APPLE retail location. Check www.apple.com/retail to find a retail store near you. One sync with iTunes will restore all your songs.

Under normal usage, your battery should last for years but if your usage style is much heavier than the norm, it might not last as long. You should expect an absolute minimum of 8 hours usage on a charge and a maximum of around 20 hours for the newer iPod 60GB models.