Saying that the problem affects “a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices” sold between September 2012 and January 2013, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) said on Friday that it will replace the device’s battery free of charge if the battery experiences a sudden shortening of its ability to maintain a charge or if it needs to be charged more frequently than usual. The company said the affected iPhones fall within a “limited serial number range.”

In April of this year, Apple replaced a faulty sleep/wake button on some models of the same device.

If an affected phone has another problem — for example, a broken or cracked screen — that problem must be “resolved” before Apple will replace the battery. And unless the other problem is covered by a warranty, the repair is the iPhone owner’s responsibility. The battery replacement program does not extend the standard warranty on the iPhone 5 and provides coverage until March 1, 2015, or two years after the first retail sale of the device, whichever provides longer coverage.

The program was rolled out in the United States and China last Friday, and Apple said it would be available in the rest of the world by August 29.

With the new iPhones expected to launch next month, maybe just living with the shorter battery life problem is an option on a phone that is now two years old. Just sayin’.

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