Battery standards
Not all refurbished phones have brand new batteries, especially when they don't need one. A charge cycle of a device is considered healthy when the battery capacity is 80% or higher. At Reebelo, we require vendors selling smartphones to ensure they all have at least 80% battery health and 100% charge capacity.
Are all batteries from the original manufacturer (OEM)?
Brand new batteries don't always come from the original manufacturer. Nor do OEM batteries necessarily perform better than non-OEM batteries (though Apple likes to market otherwise).
All vendors on Reebelo are required to implement a series of comprehensive tests to ensure that a brand-new battery performs as well and efficiently as an OEM battery. We then monitor vendor performance, especially when it comes to to battery performance, to ensure they are upholding their commitment.
If you ever have any concerns regarding a device's battery performance, rest assured that all devices come with a 12 month warranty and we're here to help with any questions or concerns.
What's up with the "Unable to Verify Genuine Battery" notification?
Apple has had a history of creating notifications when non-Apple parts are used with their devices, even including a charging cable! This a common scare tactic to discourage customers from using non-Apple parts, which are often more affordable and can work just as well.
What's the difference between 80% or 100% battery capacity?
Ultimately, anything over 80% battery capacity will be essentially no different than 100% battery capacity. There's a bit more time that the device needs to be with a charger when the health is under 100% but it isn't that noticeable until the health drops below 80%. Once it's below 80%, it may be challenging for the device to hold a charge for a full day. This is why we require vendors to use batteries with 80% capacity or above.
If you spend long hours away from a charger or run multiple apps on your device frequently, a brand new battery with 100% capacity may be a better fit.
How do I keep my battery healthy?
The amount of energy a battery can hold is measured in capacity, which is also the leading health indicator for a battery. The life of a battery is measured in number of cycles. A cycle is a full discharge (0%) to a full charge (100%). This is why you'll see resources recommending that you keep phone charge levels close to 50% and unplugging your smartphone before it's fully charged as that will minimize the number of cycles it's undergone, allowing your battery to last longer.
The optimal charge for a battery is between 20-80%. Most current smartphones come with optimized charging features that slow down battery charging when it reaches 80%.
You can also protect your battery's health by using lightning cables infrequently -- while they are nice to use for their rapid charge times, they are also harsh on battery capacity and exacerbate its degradation. Keep your device cool as well as elevated temperatures can damage the battery.