Update: Apple has now made the same change to AppleCare for Mac.
Apple has made a small but welcomed change for those that have AppleCare+ for iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, adding improved coverage for defective batteries. Previously Apple’s terms for the extended warranty offered coverage for batteries that retained less than 50% of Apple’s quoted specs. But with the updated terms, Apple will have you covered for batteries that retain less than 80%.
If during the Plan Term, you submit a valid claim by notifying Apple that (i) a defect in materials and workmanship has arisen in the Covered Equipment, or (ii) the capacity of the Covered Device’s battery to hold an electrical charge is less than eighty percent (80%) of its original specifications…
For AppleCare+ customers with batteries holding less than 80% of their original capacity, Apple will offer to repair or provide a replacement unit.
For Apple Watch, AppleCare+ extends coverage on the Watch and Watch Sport models to two years, up from the one year complimentary warranty that comes with the device. It also gives users up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage subject to a $69-$79 fee. The pricey $10,000+ Apple Watch Edition models, however, get coverage extended to three years with accidental damage fees costing $1000.
AppleCare+ for iPhone or iPad costs $99, while Apple offers a bundle for Apple Watch and iPhone starting at $149. AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Edition costs $1,600.
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How do I determine my battery’s current capacity, relative to when it was new? How does a Genius determine when a battery’s reduced capacity is sufficient to warrant a replacement?
iCopyBot is the only way I know checking your charging cycles without Jailbreaking.
http://www.icopybot.com/blog/check-ipad-iphone-battery-charge-cycle-count-without-jailbreaking.htm
The Apple store can run a quick diagnostic.
AppleCare phone support can also.
You can use something like coconutBattery to check the capacity. No need to jailbreak, it uses Apple’s API to get the battery info. Just connect it to your Mac and you can see the stats:
http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/
There has never been an indicator in the apple diagnostics for 50% of a battery. The support systems they use have never limited battery support to 50%.
For at least the past 4 years, Apple has, for the most part, been doing what the so called updated terms describe. AppleCare also includes coverage for consumed batteries (having used more than 520 cycles of charge) while the limited warranty doesn’t.