Phones
iPhone Battery Health: What Percentage Is Good When Buying Used?
85% or higher is good, 80% to 84% is fine, and below 80% means a worn battery. How to check it, what cycle count means, and the warning signs.
On a used iPhone, 85% battery health or higher is good, 80% to 84% is fine for most people, and below 80% means the battery is worn and you should plan on a replacement. Apple designs iPhone batteries to keep 80% of their capacity after 500 full charge cycles on iPhone 14 and earlier, and after 1,000 cycles on iPhone 15 and later. Check it in Settings, Battery, Battery Health.
What battery health percentage is good?
| Battery health | What it means | Our take on a used iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| 95% to 100% | Close to new. Little or no wear. | Excellent. Expect near-new battery life. |
| 90% to 94% | Light wear. | Very good. You will not notice much difference. |
| 85% to 89% | Normal wear for a phone a year or two old. | Good. A bit less screen time per charge. |
| 80% to 84% | Noticeable wear, still healthy. | OK for light to medium use. Price should reflect it. |
| Below 80% | Apple treats this as a worn battery. | Plan on a new battery. We replace these before we sell. |
Battery health is the battery's maximum capacity compared with when it was new. At 85%, a full charge holds about 85% of what it did on day one, so a phone that lasted a full day new will run out a few hours sooner.
How to check battery health on an iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery, then Battery Health (called Battery Health and Charging on some iOS versions).
- Read Maximum Capacity. That is the battery health percentage.
- Read Peak Performance Capability. It should say the battery supports normal peak performance.
iPhone 15 and later also show the cycle count, manufacture date and first use date in Settings, General, About. A low cycle count with high health is the best sign.
Battery health vs cycle count
| iPhone | Apple design target |
|---|---|
| iPhone 14 and earlier | 80% capacity at 500 complete charge cycles |
| iPhone 15 and later | 80% capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles |
Source: Apple Support, iPhone battery and performance, checked October 21, 2026. Targets are for ideal conditions.
One cycle is 100% of charge used, even across several days. Two half charges count as one cycle. Heat ages a battery faster than anything else, so a phone kept cool can beat these numbers and one left in a hot car can fall short.
Warning signs on the Battery Health screen
"Battery health degraded" or service message
The battery has worn down a lot. Apple says it is not a safety issue, but you can expect shorter battery life and slowdowns until it is replaced.
Performance management applied
The iPhone shut down unexpectedly once, so iOS slows peak performance to prevent it happening again. A new battery fixes it.
"Unable to verify" or "Unknown part"
The battery may not be a genuine Apple battery. Apple warns the health figures on that screen may not be accurate. Check Settings, General, About, Parts and Service History.
Health shows 100% on an older phone
Possible after a battery replacement. Check Parts and Service History to see if the replacement used a genuine part.
Buying a used iPhone? Do this
- Ask for the battery health number before you pay, and a screenshot of the Battery Health screen.
- Check Parts and Service History in Settings, General, About for unknown parts.
- Check the cycle count on an iPhone 15 or later.
- Price it in. A phone at 80% to 84% should cost less than the same phone at 90% or more.
- Get a warranty that covers the battery. Our up to 1-year warranty covers battery faults.
Our standard: every phone we sell has at least 80% battery health. If a battery tests below 80%, it gets a new one before the phone is listed. Every phone also comes with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. See our promise.
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How to keep your iPhone battery healthy
- Avoid heat. Do not charge it under a pillow or leave it in a hot car.
- Use Optimized Battery Charging, on by default in Settings, Battery.
- Set an 80% charge limit on iPhone 15 and later (Settings, Battery, Charging) if you rarely need a full charge.
- Use a good charger. See which charger and cable your phone needs.
- Do not stress about small top-ups. Plugging in often is fine.
What about Samsung and Pixel?
On a Samsung Galaxy, open the Samsung Members app, tap Support, then Phone diagnostics, then Battery status. On a Google Pixel 8a or later, go to Settings, Battery, Battery health. The same rule of thumb applies: 80% or more is healthy.
Questions people ask
What is a good battery health for a used iPhone?
85% or higher is good, and 80% to 84% is fine for most people. Below 80% the battery is worn and should be replaced.
Is 80% battery health bad?
No. 80% is the line Apple designs batteries to stay above for 500 cycles (iPhone 14 and earlier) or 1,000 cycles (iPhone 15 and later). Below 80% is when replacement makes sense.
Is 85% battery health good on an iPhone?
Yes. It is normal for a phone that is a year or two old, and you will lose only a little screen time per charge.
When should I replace my iPhone battery?
When health drops below 80%, when you see a service message, or when the phone shuts down unexpectedly. Our mail-in repair replaces iPhone batteries.
Does battery health go back up?
No. Battery health only goes down with age and use. It may update after a recalibration, but the only way to raise it for real is a new battery.
How fast does iPhone battery health drop?
It depends on use and heat. Apple designs iPhone 15 and later batteries to keep 80% at 1,000 full cycles, which is about three years of daily charging. Older iPhones are rated for 500 cycles.
What battery health do refurbished iPhones have?
It depends on the seller. Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones come with a new battery. Ours have at least 80%, and anything lower gets a new battery. Read Apple refurbished vs third-party refurbished.
Does battery health affect trade-in value?
Yes. For our trade-in quote, Like new needs 85% or more and Good needs 80% or more. See how much your iPhone is worth.
Ready to buy? See every refurbished iPhone, or read which iPhone you should buy.
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