A refurbished iPhone should come with a battery at 80% or better, and the best ones sit above 90%. At MacStore UK, Premium-grade devices are guaranteed at 90% or above, and Excellent, Good and Fair at 80% or above. That figure is what Apple calls Maximum Capacity, and it's the first number to check when you compare refurbished iPhones.
We sell refurbished iPhones, so weigh what follows accordingly. The battery facts come from Apple's support pages, and the grade figures come from our grading guide.
The short version
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Battery health is Apple's Maximum Capacity: how much charge the battery holds compared with when it was new.
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Premium iPhones are guaranteed at 90% or above. Excellent, Good and Fair are guaranteed at 80% or above.
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80% isn't a fault. Apple designs batteries to hold 80% of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles on iPhone 14 and earlier, or 1,000 on iPhone 15 and later, under ideal conditions.
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Settings shows the cycle count on iPhone 15 and later only. On older models, go by the percentage.
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If you plan to keep the phone for years, a higher percentage or a newer model is worth paying for. That's our view, not a rule.
What battery health means on an iPhone
Apple says Maximum Capacity measures the battery's capacity relative to when it was new. A new battery reads 100%. A reading of 85% means the battery holds about 15% less charge than on day one, so you'd expect roughly that much less time between charges, all else being equal.
To see it, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health. On iPhone 11 to iPhone 14 the screen is called Battery Health & Charging.
What battery percentage should a refurbished iPhone have?
Here is what we guarantee at each grade. The grade changes how the phone looks. Every grade is fully functional.
|
Grade |
Battery guaranteed |
What that means day to day |
|---|---|---|
|
Premium |
90% or above |
Up to about a tenth less charge than new |
|
Excellent |
80% or above |
Up to about a fifth less charge than new |
|
Good |
80% or above |
Up to about a fifth less charge than new |
|
Fair |
80% or above |
Up to about a fifth less charge than new |
Those are minimums, so a phone can read higher than its grade. If the exact reading matters to you, ask us before you buy.
An 80% battery is a normal, working battery. It's the level Apple designs batteries to reach after their rated number of cycles. But if you want a phone that comfortably lasts the day for the next two or three years, aim higher: Premium, or a newer model.
Cycle count: what it is and why it matters
A charge cycle isn't one plug-in. Apple counts a cycle when you've used an amount equal to 100% of the battery's capacity, so using 50% one day and 50% the next adds up to one.
Apple rates the battery in iPhone 14 and earlier to keep 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete cycles. For iPhone 15 and later the figure is 1,000 cycles. Both assume ideal conditions, and real use varies.
|
iPhone model |
Designed to hold 80% capacity at |
Cycle count in Settings |
|---|---|---|
|
iPhone 14 and earlier |
500 complete cycles |
Not shown |
|
iPhone 15 and later |
1,000 complete cycles |
Shown under Battery Health |
That second column is why we say to read the percentage first. On an iPhone 15, 16 or 17 you can read both numbers, and a high percentage with a low cycle count points to plenty of life left. A percentage near 80% on a low cycle count would be unusual and worth a question.
How we test iPhone batteries
Every device we sell is tested with Blancco. Its diagnostics cover battery health and condition, as well as the display and touchscreen, cameras and microphones, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, sensors, ports and lock checks. Each device comes with a Blancco report that lists the device details and the diagnostic outcomes.
Technical testing and cosmetic grading are two separate parts of our assessment. The grade and its battery minimum are set out in our grading guide. Our post on what Excellent, Good and Fair really mean goes into the cosmetic side.
What the battery percentage doesn't tell you
Two other things appear on the same Battery Health screen. Peak Performance Capability shows whether iOS has needed to limit performance because of the battery. And for a significantly degraded battery, Apple shows a service message and says an Apple Authorised Service Provider can replace it. Apple says the message doesn't indicate a safety issue.
You may also see an "Unknown Part" message. Apple says it appears when the battery isn't a genuine Apple part, wasn't verified after a repair, or isn't working as expected, and that battery health information may not be accurate in that case. If you see a battery message you weren't expecting when your phone arrives, get in touch. You have 30 days to return it under our returns policy.
How to check battery health when your iPhone arrives
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Open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health (Battery Health & Charging on iPhone 11 to iPhone 14).
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Read Maximum Capacity and compare it with the grade you bought: 90% or above for Premium, 80% or above for the others.
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On an iPhone 15 or later, note the cycle count too.
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Look under Peak Performance Capability, and for any service or Unknown Part message.
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If something doesn't match what you were promised, contact us and check the returns page. You have 30 days.
Which refurbished iPhone should you choose?
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If you'll keep the phone for years, choose a newer model at Premium. iPhone 15 and later are rated for 1,000 cycles, and 90% or above gives you the most headroom.
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If budget comes first, an older model at Good or Fair is a sensible buy. Plan for a battery service later, which Apple offers for a fee once out of warranty.
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If you're a heavy user, favour the higher percentage even on a lower-spec phone. Battery time is what you'll notice every day.
It's also worth knowing what you're paying for. A lower grade means more visible wear, not a phone that works less well. Compare the price gap between grades for the model you want, then decide whether a tidier case or a longer-lasting battery is worth it to you.
And if you're weighing refurbished against new, the iPhone 18 Pro now starts at £1,199 in the UK. We covered how Apple's 2026 pricing affects the choice in our post on Apple's price rises. Buying refurbished also avoids a new production run, which we cover in the environmental impact of refurbished devices.
Buying a refurbished iPhone from MacStore UK
Every iPhone is Blancco-tested, graded for cosmetic condition, and covered by a 12-month warranty and a 30-day return policy. Shipping is free on orders over £250. If you're also looking at MacBooks, our guide to refurbished MacBook battery health covers the same questions for laptops.
Browse by model: iPhone 17, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14 and iPhone 13.
Shop current iPhone stock with a 12-month warranty and a 30-day return policy.
Frequently asked questions
1. What battery health should a refurbished iPhone have?
At MacStore UK, Premium iPhones are guaranteed at 90% battery health or above, and Excellent, Good and Fair at 80% or above. Apple designs iPhone batteries to keep 80% of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles (iPhone 14 and earlier) or 1,000 (iPhone 15 and later), so 80% is a normal working battery.
2. Is 80% battery health good for a refurbished iPhone?
It's acceptable, and it's the minimum we guarantee. An 80% battery holds about a fifth less charge than a new one, so expect shorter time between charges. If you want a phone that comfortably lasts the day for a few years, choose a higher percentage or a newer model.
3. What is a good cycle count for a refurbished iPhone?
Lower is better, but there's no single cut-off. Apple rates batteries at 500 cycles (iPhone 14 and earlier) or 1,000 cycles (iPhone 15 and later) before they're designed to hold 80% of their original capacity. Settings only shows the count on iPhone 15 and later.
4. How do I check battery health and cycle count on an iPhone?
Open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health. On iPhone 11 to iPhone 14 the screen is called Battery Health & Charging. Maximum Capacity is the battery health percentage. iPhone 15 and later also show the cycle count.
5. Can I see the cycle count on an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14?
Not in Settings. Apple shows the cycle count on iPhone 15 and later. On earlier models, use the Maximum Capacity percentage to judge the battery.
6. What counts as one charge cycle?
One cycle is the use of an amount equal to 100% of the battery's capacity, not one plug-in. Using 50% one day and 50% the next adds up to one cycle.
7. Do refurbished iPhones get a new battery?
Refurbishers handle this differently. What we guarantee is the battery health figure for the grade. If a replaced battery matters to you, ask us about the specific phone before you buy.
8. What if the battery drops below 80% after I buy?
Batteries wear with use, so the reading will fall over time. Our warranty lasts 12 months, so check the warranty page for what it covers or contact us. Once any warranty ends, Apple offers battery service for a fee.