3G shuffle Users to Pay Heavy Cash for Battery Replacement

With the new, third generation iPod shuffle (4GB) selling for $79, it may come as a surprise to learn that Apple's battery replacement service costs no more, no less than 49 USD. Replacement batteries are not sold anywhere, while opening the fresh shuffle on your own may have unforeseen repercussions.

As the folks at iFixit say, opening the new iPod shuffle requires a bit of patience, as well as a steady hand, in order to keep the parts intact. “It's fairly easy to bend the rear cover even though it is made out of aluminum,” says the tech-focused team in a post. “There is a retaining tab on the top of the shuffle that prevents the rear cover from being pulled apart on the top side. The rear cover should be pulled apart from the iPod on the bottom side first.” To put it in simpler words – let Apple do it!

According to Apple, iPod shuffle has an internal battery that is rechargeable and not user-replaceable. The company advises users to let the battery charge for about three hours (full charge), the first time they use iPod shuffle, for best results.

“The battery is 80-percent charged in about two hours and fully charged in about three hours. If iPod shuffle isn’t used for a while, the battery might need to be recharged,” the company states in the iPod shuffle (third generation) user guide. You can charge the iPod shuffle battery either by connecting the player to your computer via the provided USB cable, or by using the Apple USB Power Adapter, available separately.

Of course, you needn't worry about having to pay the 50 bucks if you buy a shuffle now and the battery breaks on you six months into your purchase. Apple charges the replacement only if your new shuffle is no longer covered by warranty. The same goes if you yourself caused the damage to the battery. Note that the quoted price of the battery (highlighted in the screenshot above) is in US dollars and requires a shipping fee of $6.95. To make matters even worse, a $29.95 shipping and handling fee will apply to all warranty repairs performed six months after date of purchase. However, if you have AppleCare, there will be no shipping and handling fees.