Apple estimates that the iPhone will lose 20 percent of its capacity  — a darn sight less than 100 percent — “after 400 full charge and discharge cycles.”

“Sadly, there are some inaccurate reports out there,” Apple marketing vice president Greg Joswiak told me today during a brief phone call from New York City. Joswiak isn’t quite sure where the story went off the rails — David Pogue’s initial New York Times review of the iPhone mentioned the battery issue, but Pogue got it right: “Apple says that the battery starts to lose capacity after 300 or 400 charges.”

Somehow, though, things got lost in translation. And follow-on reports started claiming that 300 to 400 charges would be the end of the line.

"After 400 complete cycles, the iPhone’s battery still has 80 percent of its charged capacity,” Joswiak said. “And by a complete charge cycle, I mean completely draining the battery, a full chemical cycle.” In other words, using a little battery and then putting your iPhone back in its dock doesn’t count as a charge cycle. If you use a quarter of your iPhone’s battery and then re-charge it, Joswiak said, that’s the equivalent of a quarter of a charge cycle.

“If you top it off, you’re not wasting a charge cycle,” Joswiak said.

Apple’s iPhone battery page explains the rated life and lifespan of an iPhone battery, and also provides some helpful tips about how to extend battery life. For example, the page suggests that “for proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, be sure to go through at least one [full] charge cycle per month.”

So let’s put this in perspective: if you completely drained your iPhone’s battery every day — which would be a whole lot of use, since Apple estimates the iPhone can offer up to 8 hours of talk time per charge — in about 13 months your battery would only hold 80 percent of its current charge.

Or to put it another way, battery use will vary widely from person to person, but generally your iPhone will still be providing all but the heaviest users with good battery life even two years from now.

“Most iPhone users will realize, as most iPod customers realized, that they never needed to replace their batteries,” Joswiak said.

For those who do eventually need to replace the iPhone battery a few years down the road (assuming they haven’t upgraded to a new model by then), Apple will offer a battery-replacement program. If your iPhone’s battery dies young (i.e., within the first year), then you’re covered by Apple’s warranty and the company will replace your battery for free.

for those people who already collect your iphone today (esp 32GB), can you post when did you actually make the deposit?

hm i thought 16gb comes with the dock as well? Or only the 32gb comes with the dock?

I make my deposit on 15/7. Does it have any difference? As long as you pay ur deposit earlier,meaning batch 1,u might get it today. I got mine today afternoon. The maxis center call me to collect up my phone..

Why I didn't receive any call from machine which the iphone actually can be collect?
I just got call from them saying that I cant get the phone last night.

@sookk

any info bout the iphone in JB..??

wuaa..

Hi guys, I'm wondering 1 issue. Do you think it is the strategy of Maxis to handle the processing for iPhone. The stock might have arrived all. And I've collected my iPhone 3Gs 32gb white. I'm thinking that will it be Maxis letting ppl who book 16gb take their iPhone first,because they are scare that if everone rush in to Maxis center,the whole building will as well collapse. So they let the 16gb ppl take first cz 16 gb got more ppl booking. When 16gb is halfly distribute finish,then they inform 32gb bookers to collect. Like my case,I went to maxis this morning and they say 32 gb haven't arrive,but when 1.30 pm,they call and say have already arrived. It's weird. Until now I still recieve the email saying changing the collection date to 5/8/2009. But I've collected today cz Miri is a small city,so is faster to finish distribute 16gb for today. Cz I remember I heard the maxis ppl in miri says that, the 16gb order for today is finish distributed. So after 16gb then is 32gb turn...

Some latest update. Machines @ 1U just called us and still no love for 32GB, but they are calling people up so they can switch our plans first - to reduce the wait time.

Now come to think of it, if they change the plan NOW for me, does that mean I have to pay iData buta buta since I don't have a phone to utilize the data plan? Darn it, more complications!!!

It is not logical to do this since it is a logistic nightmare to split the stock 16GB and 32GB (why pay for the shipment cost 2 times when you need to pay once for both to arrive). Furthermore, it doesn't explains the reason why Machines never receive stock of 16GB in certain locations as well.

Infact thats what they told me too. Change the plan myself to avoid waiting time. But I called maxis but they said it can only be done in the Maxis centre.

You do not have to pay for iData. Internet/3G service is included in the plan. 500mb. If doesnt matter if you use it or not, you still will be charged according to your plan.