iPhone – Non-Genuine Battery Warning / Important Battery Message

In another attempt to limit third-party repairs, Apple is monitoring for non-genuine battery replacements.

On Apples latest devices starting from the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max customers will see the Non-Genuine Battery Warning message if the battery is not replaced by Apple.

Apple has rolled out a notifications alert for non-genuine battery replacements for the iPhone. Apple explained it was to protect customers from damaged, poor quality, or used batteries that can lead to safety or performance issues. These notifications also don’t stop users from using the phone, but again can affect future servicing.

Apple furthermore tries to justify this action by claiming it is for customer safety for using genuine parts that are installed by Apple, authorized service providers or certified technicians. Anyone else might not follow proper safety and repair procedures and could result in improper function or issues with battery quality or safety.

The truth is each phone has a custom chip that is soldered on to the original battery flex it was sold with, therefor it does not make a difference if an original Apple battery was used or the cheapest one on the market. If the chip that is soldered on the original battery is not swapped over to any new battery installed then the message will appear.

So if you recently replaced your battery by a third-party without the original chip from the battery being swapped over, you can expect to see the Important Battery Message appears on the lock screen for four days and in the Settings app for 15 days.

After that the message will remain in the About page within Settings. The message states that Apple was “unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery” with a link to learn more.

With the new restrictions this it allows Apple not to service your phone under the 1 year manufacturers warranty.

Although the importance of using a good premium battery is critical and its awareness is good. Apple’s approach is completely for other reasons and that is to kill third-party repairs.

Apple says owners might see a further notification stating that “Apple has updated the device information for this iPhone”. Which means, “Apple has updated the device information maintained for your iPhone for service needs, safety analysis, and to improve future products.” In reality not to service your device under warranty if it was eligible.