realme criticized over battery swap fees

realme is facing criticism from users on X over a gap between the company’s consumer-friendly branding and its after-sales repair rules for batteries. The dispute centers on realme’s own support pages, which say genuine batteries and other spare parts can only be replaced at official service centers, rather than sold for self-installation. The same India support page lists out-of-warranty labor charges of 350 rupees for mobile repairs that consume parts, alongside the battery price itself. The complaints were amplified by posts arguing that a company cannot claim to support repair rights while blocking users from buying and fitting a battery on their own. ### What exactly are users objecting to? X users objected to two linked policies: restricted access to genuine batteries and a separate installation charge. The criticism was aimed at the idea that a battery replacement is treated as a service-center job by default, even when the customer may only want to buy the part. The posts argued that “right to repair” should include the option to obtain parts without mandatory paid installation, according to the social media discussion referenced in this story. (realme.com) realme’s India spare-parts page supports the core of that complaint. The page says counterfeit batteries can create safety risks and then states that genuine batteries and other spare parts “can be only replaced in realme official Service Center.” The same page lists out-of-warranty labor charges for mobile repairs at 350 rupees when any part is consumed, and says those charges are exclusive of taxes. ### What do realme’s own support pages say? realme’s India support site directs customers toward official channels for repair, booking and status checks. (realme.com) The service-center page tells users to find a nearby center and schedule a repair there. The warranty page says the final warranty status is subject to inspection and verification by a realme service center. An older warranty-conditions page also says repairs or replacement under warranty are to be carried out by authorized service personnel only. The company also offers send-in repair. realme’s pickup-and-drop page says the device will take 48 to 72 hours to be repaired once received by the delivery partner, although logistics time can vary. That page adds that two-way free courier applies only to in-warranty cases. ### Why does the labor fee matter if the battery itself is available? The 350-rupee labor line matters because it sits on top of the spare-part price in out-of-warranty cases. realme’s page separates labor from parts and says the listed charges are for labor only. (realme.com) For a customer who wants a battery replacement after warranty expiry, the total bill can therefore include both the battery price and the installation charge, plus tax. That distinction is what turned a routine service-policy issue into a broader repair-access argument. (realme.com) Critics on X said the burden is not only the money but the requirement to visit or ship to an authorized center for a job that some users would prefer to perform themselves or through an independent shop, according to the posts cited in the card materials. realme’s published policy does not present a self-service battery purchase path on the support pages reviewed for this article. (realme.com) ### How does this clash with realme’s public messaging? realme’s public messaging in recent years has emphasized user feedback and brand experience. In a January 2024 open letter, Chief Executive Sky Li said the company had oriented its strategy toward user feedback “since Day 1” and said realme was focusing more broadly on the entire brand and product experience. The company’s India site also promotes a “Your Voice That Matters” section tied to software maintenance and support messaging. (realme.com) The current criticism does not show realme changing its battery policy, but it does show users testing that feedback message against a specific after-sales rule. The complaint is narrow and concrete: whether a customer can buy a genuine battery without being required to pay an official center to install it. ### Where can customers check the current policy now? realme’s India support pages remain the primary place to verify the current terms. The spare-parts page lists the service-center-only battery rule and labor charges, the service-center page lists booking options, and the send-in repair page describes turnaround and courier terms. (realme.com) As of May 18, 2026, those pages were live and publicly accessible on realme’s India website. (realme.com)