The battery in your iPhone or Apple Watch is a precious resource, and it becomes more precious as your devices age and their batteries begin to lose capacity. One solution to this problem is to buy an aftermarket replacement battery, look up an iFixit guide, and crack your phone or tablet open yourself. If you've paid for the AppleCare and AppleCare+ extended warranty programs, though, we've got good news.

Apple will now replace any battery covered by AppleCare+ once it drops below 80 percent of its original capacity, as outlined in refreshed AppleCare+ documents spotted by MacRumors late last week and reported on other sites today. Previously, a battery had to drop to 50 percent of its original capacity to be eligible for replacement under AppleCare+, limiting its helpfulness to all but the heaviest users and those with defective batteries. Macs covered by the standard AppleCare agreement can also have their batteries replaced if they drop below 80 percent of their original capacity, as outlined in a footnote here.

AppleCare+ can be added to an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Apple Watch at purchase or within 60 days of the purchase date. AppleCare for Macs can be purchased at any point during the computer's standard one-year warranty term.