Representative photo. You receive the part named above.
iPod Classic 6th Generation 80GB / 120GB Thin Battery Replacement
New · Model A1238
$13.95
Also for the iPod Classic 6th Gen: Thick (160GB) $15.95 · See all
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We are not selling this part at the moment.
- Condition: new replacement part
- 1-year limited warranty · 30-day returns from delivery
- Free pry tool in the box
- Completed repairs aren't refundable. If a part we fitted fails within a year, we repair it again.
Questions about this part? Chat with us or email sales@imods.com.
Not sure what's wrong? Get your free repair quotePart details
About this part
Overview
Replacement battery for thin-case iPod Classic 6th Generation 80GB and 120GB models. Use this listing for MB029LL/A, MB147LL/A, MB562LL/A, or MB565LL/A after confirming order number, rear-case depth, and basic dock or storage checks.
Fitment snapshot
What Is Included
A swollen battery is worn out and no longer safe: stop charging it and replace it.
What this part might fix
Help pages, step by step, for problems this part might fix:
Fit and specs
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1238 |
| EMC | EMC 2173 |
| Condition | New replacement battery |
| Battery Capacity | Apple did not publish original capacity |
| Device Storage | 80GB / 120GB |
| Chemistry | Li-Ion |
| Voltage (Nominal) | 3.7V |
| Charge Voltage | 4.2V |
| Connector | Brown latch battery ribbon |
| Soldering Required | No |
| OEM Part | 616-0229 |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MB147LL/A | 80GB | Black | thin (0.41 in) | Yes— stock match | — |
| MB029LL/A | 80GB | Silver | thin (0.41 in) | Yes— stock match | — |
| MB565LL/A | 120GB | Black | thin (0.41 in) | Yes— stock match | — |
| MB562LL/A | 120GB | Silver | thin (0.41 in) | Yes— stock match | — |
| MC297LL/A | 160GB (Late 2009) | Black | thin | Yes— fits | Fits the Late-2009 thin 160GB (MC293LL/A / MC297LL/A); that model is sold under the iPod Classic 7th Generation (Late 2009) pages. |
| MC293LL/A | 160GB (Late 2009) | Silver | thin | Yes— fits | Fits the Late-2009 thin 160GB (MC293LL/A / MC297LL/A); that model is sold under the iPod Classic 7th Generation (Late 2009) pages. |
| MB150LL/A | 160GB | Black | thick (0.53 in) | No— wrong case depth | 2007 160GB thick models (MB145LL/A, MB150LL/A) use the thick battery 616-0232
|
| MB145LL/A | 160GB | Silver | thick (0.53 in) | No— wrong case depth | 2007 160GB thick models (MB145LL/A, MB150LL/A) use the thick battery 616-0232
|
616-0229 cell is listed for the slim-case iPod Video; that is a listing, not a measurement of your unit — order from the iPod Video battery page that matches your model. The deeper-case iPod Video (MA003LL/A, MA147LL/A, MA448LL/A, MA450LL/A) uses 616-0232.
Install and repair
Install Overview
Rather not open it? Choose We Fix It above: mail your iPod in and we fit it. Turnaround is typically 3 to 5 business days. 1-year limited warranty.
The battery connector's latch is delicate: pulling too hard, or on the wrong part, can pull the whole connector off the board. For a connector torn off in a DIY battery swap, our fix is a new logic board.
Case opening difficulty
The thin metal case uses tight clips and scratches easily at the seam. Start with thin plastic opening tools; avoid using bare metal as the first pry tool.
Brown battery connector latch
The brown latch is fragile. Lift it straight up about 1 mm with angled tweezers or a plastic tool; do not push sideways or pry on the white connector edge.
Ribbons under the battery
Headphone jack and Hold button ribbon cables run under the battery area. Disconnect and free the rear-panel ribbons before lifting the battery aggressively.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether my 6G Classic needs the thin or the thick battery?
Use order number and case depth, not color or A1238 alone. MB029LL/A, MB147LL/A, MB562LL/A, and MB565LL/A are the thin 80GB / 120GB models at 10.5 mm / 0.41 in. MB145LL/A and MB150LL/A are the 2007 160GB thick-case models at 13.5 mm / 0.53 in. Two batteries are listed with different capacities and part numbers, and a serial number can decode ambiguously — so identify the case, not the paperwork. Apple's figures are about 162 g for the thick 160GB and 140 g for the thin 80GB and 120GB; on a unit with a swapped back or new drive, trust the case depth: 10.5 mm thin, 13.5 mm thick. Refurbished units and swapped backs can carry the wrong markings, so the code printed on the cell you remove is the tiebreaker: 616-0467 is an iPod nano battery number. Classic replacement listings commonly use 616-0229 for the thin case and 616-0232 for the thick case; match the installed cell, connector and physical clearance rather than capacity alone. A battery that dies in minutes is the symptom the right replacement fixes — once it is the right one; a thick cell forced into a thin case stops the back seating.
Is the 120GB model a Late 2008 or 7th Gen iPod?
The 120GB (MB562LL/A, MB565LL/A, Late 2008) is a 6th Gen model, commonly called the 6.5 Gen; the 7th Gen is the Late 2009 thin 160GB (MC293LL/A, MC297LL/A). For battery fit it takes the same thin 616-0229 battery as the 80GB.
Does Apple still replace iPod Classic batteries?
No. Apple lists the iPod Classic among its obsolete products, and Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products — Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers cannot order parts for them. A battery replacement on a 6th Generation Classic is a third-party or do-it-yourself repair, which is what this listing is for.
Does this fit a 160GB iPod Classic?
No for the original 2007 thick 160GB Classic (MB145LL/A, MB150LL/A), which uses the thick 616-0232 battery. The later thin Classic takes this same thin cell, as the fitment table shows — order it from that model's own pages so the listing matches your iPod. On a modified player, identify the installed cell, connector and actual case depth before choosing a replacement.
Free diagnostic
Broken iPod? We can help.
Mail us your iPod and we will test it and send you a free repair quote. If you don't like our price, we will ship your iPod back at our expense.
How mail-in repair works
Order the free diagnostic
Choose your iPod. Add our shipping box and prepaid label if you need one.
Mail us your iPod
Pack it with your work order. No printer? Put a note in the box with your name, return address, email, order number and what is wrong.
Approve your quote
We test it and email your free repair quote. Most repairs are finished within 3 to 5 business days after you approve the quote.