[vvladymyrov]

Good luck. I’ve tried to replace battery in mine 12 mini last week - with no success. I had to leave my phone for 4 hours or several days (if they brake screen during battery replacement, they will wait for replacement phone to be shipped overnight). Also representative was convincing me to buy a new phone - saying that battery replacement won’t help much because new ios versions has features which high battery usages, while newer iphones has larger battery and hardware optimizations for these new features. I’m thinking about iPhone 16 now while keeping iPhone 12 mini as backup phone.

[Syonyk]

So do the swap yourself.

Part and kit: https://www.ifixit.com/products/iphone-12-mini-replacement-b...

Steps: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+12+mini+Battery+Replacem...

[vvladymyrov]

I've successfully have replaced batteries and displays in older iphones (mainly iphone 6). But with newer iphones opening the phone is more complex.

I've read online and heard from Apple Store representative that iPhone 12 (all models) has tendency to crack the screen when phone is opened for repair or battery replacement and in that case Apple Store would replace the hole phone (this is were multi day repair process). So I would rather pay $90 to Apple that guarantees that I'll get a phone replacement in case when screen is broken during battery replacement. Without the phone I sill would be able to answer the cell calls from Apple Watch and with ipad over WiFi.

[tra3]

Oh boy I hope that doesn’t happen to me. It took them a week to get iPhone 13 mini battery in.

[hedora]

I recently brought an SE2 in for a screen + battery swap, which basically means they'd just give me a new SE2 at a steep discount.

They didn't try to upsell me at all, but I ended up getting an SE3 anyway (I didn't realize there even was a newer SE).

[vvladymyrov]

This is nice of them. I think this is because screen replacement was required and them not having SE2 in stock.

[vvladymyrov]

They would tell you and you would notice if your phone was replaced - it would have new serial and 2FA apps won't work on a new phone without reregistration.

Most likely it took them a week to get a new battery for replacement shipped.