Due to "sharply inflated" memory costs, global smartphone prices are up an estimated 20 percent since the start of the year, which phone makers are passing on to consumers. Accordingly, people are holding on to their devices for longer, or turning to refurbished phones. Maybe that should have been the case all along, but there's still one major barrier to handset thriftiness: tech companies largely do not offer cheap battery replacements.

Let's look at how much Apple charges to replace your phone's battery. If you own the newest Pro model, you're looking at $129 (or $10 more than older Pro models) for an out-of-warranty battery service direct from the company, while an older base model, such as the 2020 iPhone 12, will set you back $89. Apple has priced iPhone Duo batteries at $229.

Apple's current prices are in line with its competitors. Samsung doesn't prominently list the cost of out-of-warranty battery replacements on its website, but most reports online suggest you can expect to pay between $99 and $129 for a new one if you go directly through the company. Both Apple and Samsung incentivize people to sign up for their extended warranty plans (AppleCare and Samsung Care+, respectively) with included battery replacements, but those are packages you need to sign up for shortly after buying your device. iFixit is a great DIY alternative, but most modern phones aren't designed to be easily user-repairable.

At first glance, none of those prices are egregious, but historically Apple has charged far less.

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