As devices age and batteries fade, Apple holds a single line: $99 for an out-of-warranty battery replacement, regardless of whether the phone is new or years past its prime. The company has quietly stepped back from publishing model-specific pricing, replacing transparency with a personalized estimator that reveals costs only on demand. This shift reflects a broader tension in consumer technology — between the promise of longevity and the opacity of repair economics. For those holding onto older iPhones, the fee is known, but the full terms of eligibility remain a question Apple answers only w