Is the battery cycle count stored on the battery or the device?


Question

I downloaded an app Phone INFO which shows a number of stats, particularly "Battery Discharge Cycles". I want to know if this number is being retrieved from the battery (i.e. it's just the number of cycles for the current battery) or the phone (i.e. it's the sum of the cycles across all batteries the phone has contained). In other words, if I insert a brand new battery, should I expect the count to drop to zero?



Context: I have a Samsung S6, which doesn't allow easily changing the battery. I went to a phone repair shop to have the battery replaced. I left it there for the day and did not observe the process of replacement. Now I suspect that I was scammed and the battery has not been changed. I want to confront the shop and use the cycle count (which is still very high) as evidence, so I'm checking my understanding first.


Answer

I cannot quote official documentation but I believe that you have not been scammed.


As per the discussion I had with developer of 3C Tool box pro here and the preceeding posts, it is clear that the charge cycle info is stored in the kernel and requires root to access it.



After investigating on a couple of devices, I found some kernel files that can provide the charge counter. On Samsung it is root-only, whereas on Pixel it seems open-bar


On Samsung it could probably load the existing charge counter (if rooted or access allowed) (Post 971)



There is no reason to believe they have modified the kernel files, especially on a Samsung device where rooting trips knox and the customer would be aware of root since some Samsung specific apps wouldn't work. Not worth the cost of a battery replacement.


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