TECH NEWS – We already knew that the Cupertino-based tech giant often makes a lot of money off its users, and here’s another example of that.
Apple‘s ability to leverage its size and economic system to negotiate reasonable prices for iPhone batteries is no surprise, but its phenomenal profit margin on battery replacements probably is. In a tweet discussing the disadvantages of silicon-carbon batteries, Schrödinger provided valuable insider information: The 5,088-mAh battery that powers the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs Apple $12. Meanwhile, a 6,000-mAh silicon-carbon battery typically costs $18 but is significantly smaller. If this information is accurate, it paints an astonishing picture of Apple‘s profit margins on battery replacements.
Si/C batteries are not ready enough for main stream brands. I’ve said it over and over again, this people that claim to know tech on twitter don’t know anything. Apple’s 5088mAh battery cost $12 and a 6000mAh smaller than it cost $18 you think its about cost cutting??
– Schrödinger (@phonefuturist) February 7, 2026
At the end of October, Apple officially announced the prices for replacement parts for the iPhone 17 series. The following replacement parts for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are available from Apple‘s self-service repair store: The battery costs $119; the rear glass, $159; the front camera, $199; the battery cover, $299; the iPhone 17 Pro display, $329; and the Pro Max display, $379. Assuming Schrödinger’s cost estimate is correct, Apple makes an $100 profit, or 89%, on every iPhone 17 Pro Max battery replacement. Even considering the lower economies of scale associated with battery replacements, this margin is phenomenally high and could be considered outright robbery.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max recently won CNET‘s extensive battery life test, in which 35 smartphones competed. The base model iPhone 17 and the OnePlus 15 tied for second place, a surprising result given that the iPhone 17‘s battery is 49.4% smaller than the OnePlus 15‘s. This outcome is a testament to Apple‘s operating system optimizations.
Therefore, consumers get the best value for their money, even though Apple charges high prices for iPhone batteries.
Source: WCCFTech
