Chosen Solution
I open my computer drawer and found my old iPhone 6s (replaced and barely used 1.5 years ago) swollen with the screen popped off from a bulging battery, poor thing. I quickly ordered the ifixit battery replacement kit to get the old battery out of there and safely disposed of. I don’t really plan to use the 6s and mostly just want to keep it stored long term. My question is, now that I have the old battery out, should I install the replacement battery only for it to sit in storage? or should I just reconnect and close up the phone with no battery, and keep the ifixit battery wrapped up and ready w/ the tools and instructions stored in the same box as the 6s so I can install the fresh battery if/ when I pull out the phone to reminisce? Thanks for any advice!
The battery does have a shelf life. A bulging battery usually indicates over charging, using device while charging, and/or using “gas-station quality” charging cables/bricks. If you plan on keeping the phone long term, there is no harm in installing the battery and periodically turning it on to allow the battery charge to dissipate, then charge it to at least 50% and shut the device down. Just like any other rechargeable battery, like a car battery, start it up once in a while. Leaving the battery in the packaging or in a phone without powering it on and charging/draining, will reduce its shelf life.
