Qualcomm Nears $4 Billion Acquisition of AI Chip Startup Modular 
Japan Keeps Markets Guessing as Yen Nears 40-Year Low, Raising Intervention Risks 
SpaceX Stock Rebounds After Sharp Selloff, But Valuation Concerns Persist 
US-Iran De-Escalation Shifts Washington’s Focus to AI Regulation and Crypto Legislation 
NTSB Investigates Boston Logan Airport Near-Miss Between Delta and American Airlines Jets 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Concerns 
Meta Reportedly Developing ‘Arena’ Prediction Market App to Rival Polymarket and Kalshi 
China Adds MP Materials, USA Rare Earth to Export Control List Amid Escalating U.S.-China Trade Tensions 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Alphabet Slumps, Middle East Developments and Fed Outlook Weigh on Markets 
Nissan Halts Electric Qashqai Development Amid EV Market Challenges 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Rebounds Amid Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Alphabet Stock Slides as AI Talent Exodus and SpaceX Losses Shake Investor Confidence 
KPMG Australia Chairman and Senior Partners Exit Amid Escalating Whistleblower Scandal 
South Korea Stocks Tumble as AI-Fueled Rally Faces Profit-Taking Pressure 
Oil Prices Fall as Iran Peace Talks Progress, Hormuz Reopens, and U.S. SPR Hits 1983 Low 
Gold Prices Mixed as Stronger Dollar Offsets Safe-Haven Demand Amid U.S.-Iran Peace Talks 
France Faces Long Road to Economic Rebalancing as Weak Demand and High Rates Weigh, Says Citi 
Apple Inc. is raising the price of iPhone battery replacements and it will be up by $20. Starting March 1, the new price will be applied to battery replacements for all out-of-warranty iPhone models.
Apple confirmed the price increase this week and said it would start charging $89 for battery replacements for iPhone 13 and iPhone X models. This is $20 higher than the current price of a new battery. For iPhone 8 and iPhone SE, the new price would be $69 from the previous $49.
According to CNN Business, the Cupertino, California-headquartered tech giant is also set to raise battery replacement prices for its other devices. It was mentioned that batteries for the recent models of iPad would also see a $20 increase while batteries for MacBook Air have an additional $30.
The biggest price hike was applied to MacBook Pro models, and Apple upped its price by $50 more. It was noted that all Apple products come with one year warranty during purchase, so the changes in prices are only applicable to customers who did not sign-up for the company’s AppleCare+ repair service program.
The program covers costs based on the product type and model. Apple usually offers coverage for two to three years.
In any case, in its decision to raise prices, it was assumed that this could be the tech firm’s response to the rising inflation rates, the soaring cost of supplies, and other issues with the supply chain.
Through the changes in the battery replacement prices, Apple may also be getting another benefit as the higher rates could also push customers to just upgrade their iPhone units. They will not delay the upgrade since they may have to pay for the repair service program.
Owners of iPhone units that are not covered by warranty any longer may have to replace batteries at Apple stores soon thus, they may just choose to buy the newer models. Meanwhile, those who bought the latest iPhone 14 models are still under warranty, so if there is anything to fix, the company will repair it for free. However, once the warranty ends after a year, they will have to spend $99 for battery replacements if needed, CNBC reported.
