Replacing a battery will be fraught with peril, not less than for the iPad. Repair retailers and skilled DIY-ers know this, and Apple appears to acknowledge it, often giving clients in search of battery swaps a brand new iPad as a substitute. Starting quickly, with not less than one mannequin, Apple and its restore techs may begin truly changing an iPad’s battery as a substitute of sending it into the refurbishment ether.

A report at MacRumors claims that Apple is issuing a brand new coverage for the iPad mini 6 (i.e., the 2021 iPad mini), permitting restore facilities (the place units are shipped for extra in-depth service) to interchange simply the battery, relatively than present a Whole Unit Replacement (WUR) from current or refurbished inventory. MacRumors states that “different iPads could observe within the coming weeks and months,” with out specifics.

Replacing the battery on an iPad requires eradicating the display, and that is tough on nearly all of them. Apple’s proprietary restore instruments, sized to every machine, could also be simpler to make use of than utilizing hand instruments at house. But there’s an unavoidable physics difficulty of getting to use sturdy suction or prying power to a protracted, extensive, and skinny show. The sixth-generation mini iPad, being the smallest of them, doubtless represents a tool with the best success charge of display removing.

iPad repairs are so onerous that some non-Apple-licensed restore retailers bundle the price of a substitute display into quotes for changing a battery on bigger iPads, just like the iPad Pro, whether or not to keep away from a tedious course of or just assume some breakage.

For clients, getting a substitute iPad may generally be a small blessing, as scratches, dents, or different defects not noticeable at a look can be fastened by Apple’s provide chain. That’s set towards the method of getting to revive a full backup and signal into dozens or a whole lot of apps once more, merely since you wanted a brand new battery.

Apple would not at the moment supply its restore instruments for iPads in its Self Service Repair Store. Apple usually prices $99, plus tax and about $7 delivery, to interchange an iPad by way of mailing to a service middle. iPad battery substitute whereas below AppleCare protection could also be lined, however provided that the machine’s Battery Health is under 80 p.c or different battery points will be demonstrated.