While some people like the ‘closed case’ design of Apple’s flagship products, the charm tends to wear off after your battery stops holding a charge. Even the most sealed of PC laptops still allow for battery replacement, even if it requires a pretty steep dismantling. So, what should you do if you, for instance, need an iPad Mini battery replacement? To start, you should understand everything that needs to go into your decision-making process.

First, it’s best to accept that what you thought you’d have to do to preserve your warranty - sending it in to Apple - may not be what you actually want. You see, if your battery fails in your iPad Mini, replacement isn’t actually what you get out of your $99 service fee. Instead, Apple has deemed it more efficient to simply send you a new device entirely. While this may sound better in some ways, the hitch is that it will come with none of your personal data. Instead, you have to back that up yourself via iTunes. Depending on how bad your battery situation is, this might not be an option.

The next thing to consider is your warranty. Doing any work on an Apple product will void your warranty entirely unless you do it through Apple themselves. Even something that seems as simple as an iPad Mini battery replacement, no matter how effectively a technician can perform it, will render your warranty completely null. Going through a third party to replace the battery may or may not be an option then, depending on how badly you value your warranty. If you already have a voided warranty, this doesn’t apply to you. If your device is under warranty but only rarely used, you may not need it as a lifeline. However, you may want to reconsider seeking third-party maintenance if it is a crucial device for your work, education, or day-to-day life.

Finally, you should think long and hard about whom you trust with your device. Not everyone who advertises on the telephone poles around town necessarily knows what they’re doing, and more importantly, they don’t necessarily have your best interests in mind. Trusting your device to someone means trusting your data to them, and that usually isn’t the wisest option. Even if you’re just trying to get the most out of your iPad Mini, a battery replacement leaves your device vulnerable to whoever does work on it. It’s best to go with a firm large enough to have resources, but small enough to have a trustworthy reputation. iDemiGods is a good example; they’re staffed by customer service-focused individuals and all in all make themselves easy to communicate with, which makes it significantly easier to work with them.

If you’re not ready for a dying battery to decide that your Apple product has given up the ghost, you have alternatives to replacement. However, replacing the battery alone is a little more complicated. Make sure you do your due diligence and consider all the factors before committing to a decision.