Apple rebates customers for battery replacements

Smartphone vendor Apple Inc announced Wednesday it would roll out rebates to customers who paid high prices to replace out-of-warranty batteries for iPhone 6 or later devices between Jan 1, 2017 and Dec 28, 2017 at company-authorized service locations.

Customers in China will receive 394 yuan as an offset price difference from the company's battery replacement fee, dropping costs from 608 to 214 yuan. The rebate in the US is $50.

Apple will send e-mails to eligible customers instructing them how to obtain the rebate between May 28 and July 27.

Moreover, Apple recommends eligible customers who cannot receive the e-mail connect with the company before Dec 31.

In-warranty iPhone battery replacements are not eligible for this rebate, Apple said.

Last year, Apple was criticized for slowing down older iPhones after iOS updates to offset battery performance.

In response, the company cut the price of out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacements from late January to December 2018.