Bought full-price iPhone batteries? Get a rebate

san francisco - Apple lowers price of battery replacements for affected models from $79 to $29

Apple has seen "strong demand" for replacement iPhone batteries and may offer rebates for consumers who paid full price for new batteries, the company said in a February 2 letter to US lawmakers made public on Tuesday.

Apple confirmed in December that software to deal with ageing batteries in iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE models could slow down performance. The company apologised and lowered the price of battery replacements for affected models from $79 to $29.

In the letter released on Tuesday, amid nagging allegations that it slowed down phones with older batteries as a way to push people into buying new phones, the company said it was considering issuing rebates to consumers who paid full price for replacement batteries.

The letter, released by the US Senate Commerce Committee, also said Apple provided a phone-slowing software update in January 2017 but did not disclose it until a month later. In the letter, Apple said it had known about battery problems caused by a manufacturing defect as early as autumn 2016.

Senator John Thune, a Republican who chairs the committee, said that "consumers rely on clear and transparent disclosures from manufacturers to understand why their device may experience performance changes."

Thune said that in discussions with the committee, "Apple has acknowledged that its initial disclosures came up short. Apple has also some follow-up information, including an answer about additional steps it may take to address customers who purchased a new battery at full price."