We’ve all read the stories of old, unused Samsung phones left in drawers (or boxes; we don’t discriminate) for a while, and when you decide to check on them, you find that their batteries have swollen up and deformed the rear panel. Usually, these phones are well out of warranty, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. This might never happen with current or future handsets for those subscribed to Samsung Care+ because the Korean brand will soon offer unlimited battery repairs.
Unlimited Battery Repairs With A Few Caveats
The main caveat is that you need to be enrolled in the Samsung Care+ program, which naturally costs money. However, as long as you sign up for Care+ within that sixty-day period, you’ll be covered for unlimited, free battery repairs from May onwards.
When we say ‘free,’ we mean that there is no excess fee; you’ll still need to make the monthly subscription charge for Care+ or Care+ with Theft and Loss, unlike when you have a display or mechanical breakdown that requires you to contribute $29, for example.
The second caveat is that the battery must show a health rating of 79% or less before it’s eligible for repair or replacement by Samsung. So, if it’s stuck around the 81% mark, you’ll need to wait until it drops another couple of percent before sending it in to be fixed. A diagnostic test will confirm the percentage and eligibility of the device for repair.
This news coincides with the news that Samsung is bringing advanced battery health protection to devices running One UI 6.1 and higher. You can send the device to one of Samsung’s Service Centers or physically take it to a walk-in outlet for repair.
The final caveat is that the device will need to be in reasonable condition because Samsung is giving itself an out with this phrase in the terms and conditions:
“without additional damage to the covered device being present”
If your handset is slightly battered or worse, Samsung may refuse to cover the repair – even though you are a Care+ subscriber. This is because the handset may have been misused. The parameters for this potential obstacle aren’t known now, but hopefully, Samsung will clarify the clause before May.
Battery Repair Is Included, But You’ll Be Paying More Each Month
Yup. Samsung is also bumping up the monthly subscription fee for both plans by $2 starting in May. If you don’t cancel the subscription before May 1st, Samsung will take that as tacit consent that you accept the additional cost. If the extra couple of bucks each month isn’t something you are happy to pay, you’ll need to contact Samsung to cancel the arrangement. Thankfully, Samsung says that canceling won’t result in penalty charges, so there is that, at least.
One of the benefits of paying for Care+ is the peace of mind that official, genuine parts will be used to repair your device by certified technicians and that if it needs replacing, Samsung will ship a replacement device to you as soon as the next business day.
