Cell Only, Standard or Pairing Ready: which to choose
All three replace a worn iPhone XR 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 |
|---|
| What you get | Bare cell, no IC board, adhesive included | Complete battery with its own new IC |
| Your original battery IC | Soldered onto the new cell | Replaced |
| Parts and Service History | Reads as your original battery | “Unknown” |
| Battery Health | Comes from the data stored on your original IC | Shows a percentage from iOS 18 |
| Skill needed | Micro-soldering | A standard battery swap |
| Best for | Keeping the phone reading the battery it already had | A straightforward, lower-cost swap |
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 iPhone XR battery fits as a standard battery swap.
About the iPhone XR replacement battery cell only
This is a replacement lithium-ion polymer cell for the iPhone XR, 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 XR was released in 2018. At 2942 mAh it sits between the iPhone XS (2658 mAh) and the iPhone XS Max (3174 mAh) in the iPhone XS and XR line-up. The iPhone XR is opened from the screen side, so the display comes off before the battery can be reached.
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 XR Replacement Battery – Cell Only specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Product type | Replacement battery cell, supplied without an IC board |
| Capacity | 2942 mAh |
| Rated voltage | 3.79 V |
| Charging cut-off voltage | 4.35 V |
| Energy | 11.16 Wh |
| Chemistry | Lithium-ion polymer |
| Compatible model | iPhone XR (A1984, A2105, A2106, A2107, A2108) |
| 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.
Compatible iPhone XR model numbers
This cell fits A1984, A2105, A2106, A2107 and A2108. 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 XS uses a 2658 mAh cell, the iPhone XS Max uses a 3174 mAh cell and the iPhone 11 uses a 3110 mAh cell. Check the model number in Settings > General > About, or use Apple’s guide to identifying your iPhone.
How to fit the iPhone XR 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 XR 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 XR 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 iPhone XR battery fits without soldering.
Is the iPhone XR cell the same as the iPhone XS cell?
No. The iPhone XR takes a 2942 mAh cell and the iPhone XS a 2658 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 XR models does it fit?
Model numbers A1984, A2105, A2106, A2107 or A2108. 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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