Symptoms:
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Battery drains much faster than when new (e.g., half the screen time)
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Phone shuts down unexpectedly at 10–20% charge
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Battery percentage jumps erratically (e.g., 40% to 15% in seconds)
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Takes much longer to charge than before
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Phone stops charging at 80–90% (battery calibration issue or wear)
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Swollen battery (back cover bulging, screen lifting) – replace immediately, stop using phone
How to check battery health:
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iPhone: Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging (look for Maximum Capacity below 80%)
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Android: Settings → Battery → Battery health (if available), or use reputable apps like AccuBattery; many Samsung and Xiaomi phones have built-in diagnostics
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General rule: 500–800 charge cycles (2–3 years of normal use) = expected degradation
Replace vs. buy new:
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Replace battery if phone is less than 3 years old and still performs well (cost typically 750–1,500 MVR)
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Buy new phone if device is too slow, no longer gets security updates, or repair cost exceeds 30% of phone's current value