The Truth About Battery Health on Refurbished iPhones

Battery health is the single most misunderstood spec in the refurbished market. Here's what actually matters.

What the number means

Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health. That percentage is Apple's estimate of your battery's maximum capacity relative to when it was new. 100% is a fresh cell. 80% is Apple's official threshold for suggesting a replacement.

The refurb industry secret

Many sellers advertise "85%+ battery health" — technically true, but a battery at 85% is already partway through its useful life. At Furbishmarket, every phone we grade Excellent or higher ships at 90% or above, and if the cell drops below 85% during our checks, we replace it. Full stop.

When to demand a brand-new battery

• Heavy user? Anything under 90% will annoy you within 6 months.
• Reselling in 12–18 months? A new battery preserves resale value.
• Buying an older model (iPhone 11/12)? Insist on new — those cells have already been aging on shelves.

What "genuine Apple battery" really means

Apple no longer sells replacement batteries to third parties in most cases. Reputable refurbishers use either original Apple pulls (tested, high-cycle-count-rejected cells) or certified third-party cells that pass Apple's pairing checks. Both are fine — walk away from anyone who can't tell you which they used.