If you've ever looked at your iPhone's battery health and wondered what it means, you're not alone. Battery health is one of the most important factors when buying a refurbished iPhone — yet it's one of the least understood. Here's everything you need to know.
What Is iPhone Battery Health?
Every lithium-ion battery has a limited number of charge cycles before it starts to degrade. Apple measures this as "battery health" — a percentage that reflects how much capacity your battery retains compared to when it was new.
A brand-new iPhone has 100% battery health. Over time, as you charge and discharge the battery, that percentage slowly decreases.
How to Check Battery Health on Your iPhone
- Open Settings
- Tap Battery
- Tap Battery Health & Charging
- You'll see your current Maximum Capacity percentage
What Percentage Is Acceptable?
Apple states that iPhone batteries are designed to retain up to 80% of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles. This means:
- 100% – 90% — Excellent. Essentially like new.
- 89% – 80% — Good. Apple considers this full performance capacity. You may notice slightly shorter battery life.
- Below 80% — The battery may need replacement. iPhone may start showing performance warnings.
At OzPhoneMart, all our refurbished iPhones have a minimum battery health of 80%, and the exact percentage is displayed on every product listing so you know exactly what you're getting before you buy.
Does Low Battery Health Affect Performance?
Yes, it can. When battery health drops below 80%, iPhones may activate "Performance Management" — a feature that slightly reduces processor speed to prevent unexpected shutdowns. You may notice apps taking slightly longer to load.
The good news: replacing an iPhone battery costs around $89 AUD at Apple, which can restore your phone to near-new performance instantly.
Why Battery Health Matters When Buying Refurbished
When buying a refurbished iPhone, always ask about battery health. Sellers who don't disclose this information may be hiding a heavily degraded battery. At OzPhoneMart, we believe in full transparency — every listing clearly states the battery health percentage so you can make an informed decision.
Tips to Preserve Your iPhone Battery Health
- Enable Optimised Battery Charging in Settings — this slows charging to 80% overnight and completes the charge just before you wake up
- Avoid leaving your phone at 0% or 100% for extended periods
- Use Apple-certified chargers
- Keep your phone cool — heat is the biggest enemy of lithium-ion batteries
The Bottom Line
Battery health is one of the most important specs to check when buying a refurbished iPhone. At OzPhoneMart, we guarantee a minimum of 80% battery health on all devices and display the exact percentage on every listing. Shop with confidence at ozphonemart.com.