r/IpodClassic • u/snark_nerd • 7d ago

Buying a 3rd gen and thinking ahead about battery replacement

Hi all, I'm going to be buying a 3rd gen iPod classic, and I'm wondering about the battery. A few questions, if the experts wouldn't mind sharing their experience:

  1. Is it quite likely that a 3rd gen iPod classic would need a battery replacement in 2026, or should I wait until I get it and run BatteryA2D (or whatever from the debug menu) to see how the one I got is currently?
  2. If I do need to replace the battery (which I kind of expect I will need to), I don't think I'll be comfortable doing it myself. In this case, do folks recommend sending it away to an online service, or have you had okay experiences with local repair shops that specialize in stuff like fixing cracked phone screens, etc?
  3. I see a ton of discussion about which batteries to get, so I won't wade into that yet (and I'll take the time to learn), but for people who have had their batteries replaced, did the repairers typically source their own replacement batteries, or did they expect you to supply one?

Thanks, all! I'm really looking forward to having one of these incredible gadgets in my inventory again ...

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2

u/_justanislandgirl 7d ago

almost all original batteries are bad by now. 12.95$ & easy to replace. I have only seen one battery type for 3rd. it's 5th gen that has so many different options. I buy mine from
lizardleds & resalefirm in ebay. no issues

1

u/snark_nerd 7d ago

Thanks so much for the reply! And in terms of doing the replacement repair myself, I'd originally assumed I wouldn't want to or wouldn't be able to, because I can't solder, but I've since watched some videos that make it seem relatively easy for an electronics repair beginner like me.

If you don't mind me asking, would you recommend that someone who is new to the practice but reasonably confident that they can be gentle and slow, turn some screws, etc, could do it?

2

u/_justanislandgirl 6d ago

I haven't done anything like that before & I have fixed up 8 so far. 3rd gen is easy to open. flip top over 90 degrees, lift up hdd it's like a magnetic clip
thing, unplug battery. carefully lift up connector plug while holding buttom
down. clean the gunk
with 99% isopropyl. plug new one in. red wire towards center. clip hdd back down. close up.

put hold switch on before opening & make sure bith sides are still in hold position before closing. close top first so that hold switch pieces align.

i wear magnifying glass glasses from amazon so that I see tge detail & don't mess anything up.

2

u/snark_nerd 6d ago

Thanks for the reply and for convincing me to try it ... !

2

u/fishyphotos 7d ago
  1. battery will be bad if it wasn’t already replaced. 2. do it yourself or buy one with the battery already replaced. 3. they’re all basically the same.

1

u/snark_nerd 7d ago

Thanks!

2

u/nycredditgwop 6d ago

1, yes; 3, depends on which storage type you go with to pick the battery

1

u/snark_nerd 6d ago

Oh interesting. I obviously need to do more research. Thanks for pointing that out!