Apple launches iPhone 5 battery replacement program for units experiencing poor battery life

This could come in handy.

Per Macworld, Apple is offering a second replacement program for iPhone 5 users after offering to replace the sleep/wake button on some models in April. Apple has stated that a “very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices” may be experiencing poor battery life, requiring users to charge the device more frequently.

Affected devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and are within a specific serial number range, Apple says. You can check your serial number on Apple’s site to see if your phone qualifies for a free battery replacement.

If you have an affected device you’ll have the choice to replace your battery free of charge at the Apple Store, an Apple authorized service provider, or you can send it off to Apple Technical Support.

Prior to bringing in your handset, Apple advises you to back up your data to iTunes or iCloud, turn off Find my iPhone, and do a factory reset. You can do that by navigating to Settings > General > Reset > Erase all Content and Settings.

The program won’t replace broken screens, cracked backs, or other physical problems free of charge. But the company also won’t replace the battery for free until any damage that impairs battery replacement is fixed—including cracked screens.

Once your battery is replaced, Apple will guarantee the battery for two years after the device’s initial retail sale or March 1, 2015, whichever is longer. The battery replacement will not extend your iPhone 5 warranty.

The battery replacement program began on Friday, August 22nd for iPhone users in the U.S. and China. Other countries will start seeing a replacement program this upcoming Friday, August 29th.

If you’ve taken part in this program and can offer any feedback about it, let us know in the comments.