iPhone X Battery Replacement: Cost & DIY Guide
An iPhone X battery replacement costs about $89 at Apple, $50–$90 at a local repair shop, or under $40 as a DIY job with a fresh 2716mAh battery and a basic tool kit. It's a moderate repair a patient beginner can finish in under an hour — and because the iPhone X launched back in November 2017, its original battery is almost guaranteed to be worn out by now.
The X was Apple's tenth-anniversary landmark: the first iPhone with Face ID, the notch, and an edge-to-edge OLED display, powered by an unusual L-shaped, two-cell battery squeezed around the logic board. After eight-plus years of daily charging, replacing that cell is by far the cheapest way to keep this classic running. Here's how to check it, price it, and swap it.
How to check your iPhone X battery health
Confirm the battery is the problem before you buy anything. On the phone, open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and read the Maximum Capacity — the percentage of the original 2716mAh the cell can still hold.
- 80% or above — still healthy; a drain issue is more likely software or a background app.
- Below 80% — Apple considers the battery worn, usually alongside a "Service" note.
- Peak Performance message — if iOS reports an unexpected shutdown, the battery can no longer feed the A11 chip and is being throttled.
Then open Settings > Battery and check the per-app usage over the last 10 days. If one app is draining a big slice, address that first. On a phone this old, though, worn hardware is usually the answer.
Signs your iPhone X battery is failing
An eight-year-old X rarely dies gracefully. Common warning signs:
- iPhone X battery draining fast — dead by mid-afternoon, or dropping 20–30% overnight while idle.
- Sudden shutdowns — the phone powers off at 30–40% and won't wake until it's plugged in, a classic dying-cell symptom.
- Sluggish performance — iOS throttles the processor to protect a weak battery, so apps and animations lag.
- iPhone X battery not charging — or charging painfully slowly. Test a different Lightning cable and clean the port first.
- Heat — the phone gets warm just sitting idle.
Safety note: the iPhone X is one of the more common models for battery swelling simply because of its age. If the OLED is lifting out of the frame, the phone rocks on a flat table, or the back feels bulged, stop using it. A swollen lithium cell is off-gassing flammable vapor — never puncture, bend, or force it. Power down, keep it cool, and replace the battery promptly.
iPhone X battery replacement cost
Here are realistic 2026 prices, from most to least expensive. Laying out the full iPhone X battery replacement cost shows why so many owners go the DIY route.
| Option | Typical 2026 price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Apple / Apple-authorized | ~$89 | Genuine cell, 90-day service warranty (parts availability limited on this model) |
| Local repair shop | $50–$90 | Same-day labor, third-party battery, quality varies |
| DIY with our part | Under $40 | 2716mAh replacement battery + adhesive + tools; free labor |
Most of the shop price is labor — the part is inexpensive. Our iPhone X replacement battery ships as a zero-cycle cell, never charged before it reaches you, so you begin at full rated capacity rather than an already-aged one. Because the X is old enough that some shops no longer stock it, DIY is often the fastest option too — and repair shops handling several units can buy at PhonePartPro's wholesale tiers.
The exact replacement battery for the iPhone X
The iPhone X takes a 3.81V, 2716mAh Li-ion battery in its distinctive L-shaped, two-cell layout — a single flexible pack folded around the board, not a plain rectangle like later models. The same battery fits every regional variant, whether your device is sold as A1865, A1901, or A1902. Confirm your model under Settings > General > About if you like, but you don't need to match a sub-model.
When shopping for an iPhone X OEM battery, pick a zero-cycle or genuine-capacity L-shaped cell with an integrated protection circuit and the correct dual-connector flex. Cheap no-name packs often arrive pre-aged or under-spec — the reason they fade within a year. A quality cell holds close to the full 2716mAh and lasts hundreds of cycles.
How to replace your iPhone X battery yourself
Here's an honest overview of how to replace an iPhone X battery. It has one wrinkle later models don't — the two-cell shape and its connectors.
- Power down and warm the edges to soften the waterproofing adhesive around the display.
- Remove the two bottom pentalobe screws, then use a suction cup and pick to open the screen. The X opens from the left like a book — go slow, the display cables run along the right side.
- Disconnect the battery connectors first after removing the metal brackets. The X has connectors for both cells, so make sure both are unplugged before you proceed.
- Pull the stretch-release adhesive strips beneath the battery — there are several under the L-shape. Pull slowly and flat; if one snaps, use heat and a plastic card to lift the cell.
- Seat the new L-shaped battery, lay fresh adhesive, reconnect both connectors, and test before sealing.
Difficulty: moderate (6/10). Plan on 45–60 minutes your first time. The extra adhesive strips and the folded shape make the X slightly more tedious than a flat single-cell battery, so patience matters most here. Work in good light, keep screws organized, photograph each step, and replace the display's waterproof adhesive if water resistance matters. Our battery replacement by model guide has the full walkthrough.
After the swap: Battery Health still works
Here's a pleasant surprise, and a genuine advantage the iPhone X has over the XS and XS Max that followed it. The X came out before Apple added battery authentication, so installing a third-party battery does not trigger the "Unable to verify genuine battery" warning — and Battery Health keeps reporting Maximum Capacity normally on the new cell.
In other words, after your DIY swap you can watch the new battery's health tick along in Settings just like the factory one, with no software nagging. It's one of the last iPhones where a home repair leaves the software experience completely untouched, which makes the X an especially friendly candidate for a first battery replacement.
Repair vs. upgrade: is it worth it?
A new flagship in 2026 runs $800 or more. A quality iPhone X battery is under $40 — around 5% of that. For a fresh cell you get a phone that lasts all day again, and the X's OLED display and Face ID still feel modern for everyday use, texting, and calls.
The environmental case seals it. Building a new phone consumes vastly more energy and raw material than manufacturing one small battery, and every X kept in service is a device that stays out of the landfill. Swapping a $40 battery instead of buying a whole new phone is one of the simplest wins for both your wallet and the planet. When you're ready, explore our full range of replacement batteries for other models too.
FAQ
How much does an iPhone X battery replacement cost?
About $89 at Apple, $50–$90 at an independent repair shop, or under $40 if you do it yourself with a quality 2716mAh battery and basic tools. DIY saves the most because you skip the labor charge, and on a phone this old some shops no longer stock the part.
How do I replace an iPhone X battery?
Power down, warm the edges to loosen the adhesive, remove the two bottom pentalobe screws, open the screen from the left, disconnect both battery connectors first, pull the stretch-release adhesive strips under the L-shaped cell, seat the new 2716mAh battery with fresh adhesive, then reconnect and test. Plan for about 45–60 minutes your first time.
Why is my iPhone X battery draining fast?
After eight-plus years the original cell has almost certainly dropped below 80% capacity, so it holds far less charge. Check Settings > Battery Health & Charging for the Maximum Capacity figure; if it's under 80% or shows a Service note, a new battery is the fix. Rule out a runaway app first with the per-app breakdown.
My iPhone X is not charging — is it the battery?
Maybe. First try a different Lightning cable and gently clean lint from the charging port. If it still won't charge, or charges very slowly and shuts down early, the battery is likely dead or swollen and should be replaced. Stop using the phone if the screen or back is bulging.
Does a third-party iPhone X OEM battery disable Battery Health?
No. The iPhone X predates Apple's battery authentication, so a third-party battery does not trigger the "Unable to verify genuine battery" message, and Battery Health keeps reporting Maximum Capacity normally. This is a real advantage the X has over the XS and XS Max.
Is it worth replacing the battery instead of buying a new phone?
Yes. Under $40 for a battery versus around $800 for a new phone is an easy call, and the X still handles everyday apps, calls, and texts well. Keeping it running also keeps a device out of the e-waste stream, making it the greener choice.