Battery health is the single most important number to check on any refurbished iPhone — more important than storage size, more important than cosmetic condition. A phone that looks flawless with a worn-out battery will disappoint you within a month; a phone with a few scratches and a strong battery will serve you well for years.
Where to find it
On any iPhone running a reasonably current iOS version:
Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging (on iPhone 15 or later, it's just "Battery Health")
This shows a percentage labeled "Maximum Capacity" — this is the battery's current capacity compared to when it was new. Apple's own support guide walks through where to find battery health and usage details if your menu looks different from what's described here.
What the numbers mean
- 90–100%: Excellent. Battery is in great shape, close to original performance.
- 80–89%: Good, and typical for a well-maintained refurbished phone. Apple itself considers 80% the threshold for "normal" battery condition.
- Below 80%: Noticeably degraded. You'll likely notice faster drain and possibly unexpected shutdowns under heavy use. Not a dealbreaker if the price reflects it and you plan to replace the battery, but factor in a $70–100 battery replacement cost.
Apple explains exactly how this measurement works, and what triggers its built-in performance management, in its iPhone battery and performance support article — worth a skim if you want the full technical picture.
If you're buying in person
Ask the seller to open Settings and show you the Battery Health screen directly — don't take their word for a percentage listed in an ad. Screenshots can be faked or outdated; walk through it live if you can.
If you're buying online
Reputable refurbishers (Apple Certified Refurbished, Back Market, Gazelle, and similar) typically guarantee a minimum battery health percentage (often 80%+) and will replace the battery before shipping if it doesn't meet that bar. Read the specific listing — "tested" and "guaranteed minimum" are not the same thing, and cheaper marketplace listings from individual sellers often don't disclose battery health at all unless you ask directly.
A quick red flag to watch for
If a seller can't or won't tell you the battery health percentage, or the listing has no return window, treat that as a warning sign rather than an oversight. A legitimate refurbisher has this number on hand instantly — it's one of the first things checked during refurbishment.
One more thing worth checking: if the phone shows "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery" on the Battery Health screen, that's a sign of a non-original replacement battery, and Apple explains what that means in its guide to genuine iPhone batteries.
Battery health aside, it's also worth knowing exactly what "refurbished" means versus "used" or "open-box," since sellers use those terms inconsistently — that's next.
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