Cell Only, Standard or Pairing Ready: which to choose
All three replace a worn iPhone 15 Pro Max battery. The difference is what happens to the battery IC, the small board that tells iOS which battery is fitted, and that decides what the phone shows afterwards.
| Feature | Cell Only (this part) | Standard | Pairing Ready |
|---|
| What you get | Bare cell, no IC board, adhesive included | Complete battery with its own new IC | Complete battery with a pre-paired chip |
| Your original battery IC | Soldered onto the new cell | Replaced | Replaced |
| Parts and Service History | Reads as your original battery | “Unknown” | “Genuine” (marked “Used”) |
| Battery Health | Comes from the data stored on your original IC | Shows a percentage from iOS 18 | Shows a percentage |
| Skill needed | Micro-soldering | A standard battery swap | A standard battery swap |
| Best for | Keeping the phone reading the battery it already had | A straightforward, lower-cost swap | No Unknown message and no soldering |
Choose Cell Only when you want the phone to carry on reading the battery it already had, and you have the tools and skill to solder. If you would rather not solder, the Standard or Pairing Ready iPhone 15 Pro Max battery fits as a standard battery swap.
About the iPhone 15 Pro Max replacement battery cell only
This is a replacement lithium-ion polymer cell for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, supplied without an IC board. You keep the customer’s original battery IC and solder it onto this cell, so the phone goes on identifying the battery it already had rather than a new part.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max was released in 2023. At 4422 mAh it is the largest cell in the iPhone 15 line-up. The iPhone 15 Pro Max can be opened through its removable back glass as well as from the screen, so the battery can be reached without taking the display off.
The original iPhone 15 Pro Max battery carries model number A3121 on its label. Checking it against the old cell before you start confirms you have the right replacement.
Important information
- This is an aftermarket replacement battery cell, not an Apple original part.
- GA Tech NZ is not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Apple Inc.
- Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., used here only to identify the device this part fits.
- This cell is for trained technicians: fitting it means soldering the original battery IC onto it.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Replacement Battery – Cell Only specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Product type | Replacement battery cell, supplied without an IC board |
| Battery model | A3121 |
| Capacity | 4422 mAh |
| Rated voltage | 3.869 V |
| Charging cut-off voltage | 4.48 V |
| Energy | 17.11 Wh |
| Chemistry | Lithium-ion polymer |
| Compatible model | iPhone 15 Pro Max (A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108) |
| IC board | Not included, transfer the original from the old battery |
| Battery adhesive | Included |
| Warranty | 6 months against manufacturing defects |
| Dispatch | Same day on weekday orders before 2pm, NZ stock |
Capacity, voltage and energy figures are the supplier’s specifications for this cell. The battery model number is the one printed on the label of the iPhone 15 Pro Max battery.
Compatible iPhone 15 Pro Max model numbers
This cell fits A2849, A3105, A3106 and A3108. They are the same phone sold in different regions, so one cell covers all of them.
It does not fit other iPhone models, because each uses a cell of a different size: the iPhone 15 Pro uses a 3274 mAh cell and the iPhone 15 Plus uses a 4383 mAh cell. Check the model number in Settings > General > About, or use Apple’s guide to identifying your iPhone.
How to fit the iPhone 15 Pro Max replacement battery cell only
For technicians. Work on an ESD-safe bench, and never lever against a lithium cell: a punctured cell can catch fire.
- Prepare the bench. A temperature-controlled soldering station, precision screwdrivers, plastic picks and fine tweezers.
- Open the phone and disconnect the battery. Unplug the battery connector before touching anything else inside.
- Remove the old battery. Release its adhesive slowly and lift it out without bending or puncturing the cell.
- Take the IC board off the old cell. Note which tab is positive and which is negative before you separate them.
- Solder the IC board to the new cell. Match the polarity exactly, then insulate the joints before the cell goes back in.
- Fit and test. Seat the cell on the adhesive supplied, reconnect it, check the phone boots and charges, then close it up.
Battery Health is read from the data stored on the IC, and that data comes across with it. Technicians who want the readings to start fresh use a battery programmer, which is not supplied with this cell.
If you would rather hand the job over, GA Tech NZ offers in-house iPhone 15 Pro Max battery replacement, and our repair tools range covers the bench kit.
Who this cell suits
Repair shops and technicians. A way to replace the cell while the phone keeps its original battery IC, for customers who care about what Settings shows.
Refurbishers. A fresh cell on the phone’s own IC, without a new part appearing in Parts and Service History.
Not for first-time repairs. Without micro-soldering experience, choose a complete battery instead.
What is in the box
- 1 x iPhone 15 Pro Max replacement battery cell
- Battery adhesive strips
The IC board is not included: it transfers from the old battery. Tools and a battery programmer are not supplied.
Warranty and returns
Supplied with a 6-month warranty against manufacturing defects in the cell. It does not cover physical damage, punctures, or damage caused while soldering or fitting.
Change-of-mind returns are accepted on unopened parts in new, unused condition within 7 days of delivery, in line with our terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What does cell only mean?
It is the lithium-ion cell on its own, without the battery’s IC board. You keep the phone’s original IC and solder it onto this cell, which is why iOS carries on reading the battery the phone already had.
Will iOS flag the battery as Unknown?
No, provided the original IC is transferred undamaged. iOS reads the battery through its IC, and because the phone keeps its own IC, Parts and Service History does not show a new part.
What will Battery Health show after the swap?
Battery Health comes from the data stored on the IC, and that data comes across with it. Technicians who want the readings to start fresh use a battery programmer, which is not supplied with this cell.
Do I need to solder?
Yes. The IC board has to be soldered onto the new cell, so this part is for technicians with micro-soldering experience. Otherwise, the Standard or Pairing Ready iPhone 15 Pro Max battery fits without soldering.
Is the iPhone 15 Pro Max cell the same as the iPhone 15 Pro cell?
No. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes a 4422 mAh cell and the iPhone 15 Pro a 3274 mAh cell, each built for its own phone, so the two are not interchangeable.
Is battery adhesive included?
Yes. Battery adhesive strips come with the cell.
Which iPhone 15 Pro Max models does it fit?
Model numbers A2849, A3105, A3106 or A3108. Check yours in Settings, then General, then About.
Is this an Apple original battery?
No. The cell is aftermarket. The only original part is the IC you transfer from the phone’s old battery.
What warranty comes with it?
6 months against manufacturing defects in the cell. Physical damage, punctures and damage caused while soldering or fitting are not covered.
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