Phone batteries are lithium-ion cells that lose capacity with charge cycles and heat. A swollen battery is a safety hazard: do not charge or puncture it. Replace it with a battery listed for the exact model, handle old cells as hazardous materials, and recycle them. Model-matched replacements are listed in this batteries catalog.
Why do batteries wear out?
Each charge cycle and every hour spent hot or at full charge wears the cell chemistry. The result is less capacity, and eventually shutdowns under load, such as a phone turning off at 20 percent in the cold.
Why do batteries swell?
Ageing and damage can produce gas inside the cell, and the pouch swells. A swollen battery can lift the screen or back glass. Stop using the phone, do not charge it, and have the battery replaced.
How should old batteries be handled?
The US Department of Transportation's PHMSA classes lithium batteries as hazardous materials in transport, because they contain flammable electrolyte and have high energy density. It warns that damaged batteries are more likely to short circuit, overheat or catch fire. Tape the terminals, store old batteries in a fire-safe container and recycle them through a battery recycler.
What should you check when choosing a replacement?
- Exact model match
- Adhesive strips included or not
- For iPhone: whether battery health reporting is supported. Some catalogs group these as diagnosable batteries.
- Higher-capacity options, where offered, such as max-capacity iPhone batteries
Does iPhone show battery replacement messages?
Apple's Parts and Service History lists the battery among the parts it tracks. A non-genuine battery can show as "Unknown."
Sources
- US PHMSA: Transporting Lithium Batteries
- Apple Support: About iPhone parts and service history
- US EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling
Sources checked September 29, 2026. Prices, stock and program terms change; confirm them on the linked pages.