Some Apple iPhone 5 have battery problems.

Owners of iPhone5 experiencing problems with the battery can have the power pack replaced for free if they bought the handset from Malta and the device is from the batch Apple says is defective.

Apply announced that “a very small percentage” of iPhone5 could suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently.

It said the affected devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fell within a limited serial number range.

Phone owners can check whether they are eligible by visiting www.apple.com/support/iphone5-battery/ and input the phone’s serial number. If their phone qualifies, they should then visit iCentre Service Bay, Pietá, which is Apple’s authorised service provider in Malta.

A spokesman for iCentre pointed out that, since Apple was reserving the right to restrict or limit repair to the original country of purchase, those who bought an iPhone5 eligible for battery replacement from abroad might have to go to the seller. He said that in such cases iCentre could try processing the claim to help customers but was not in a position to approve replacement.

Those who bought an iPhone5 eligible for battery replacement from abroad might have to go to the seller

Affected phones could also have been purchased from one of the main mobile service providers in Malta.

A spokeswoman for Go said that since the announcement involved a limited number of devices, the possibility of users in Malta being affected was remote. Should any of its customers experience difficulties with a device they purchased from Go, they should take it to one of its outlets and the company would take the necessary action, including following up the matter with the manufacturer.

A Vodafone Malta spokeswoman said the company was not an authorised Apple service provider. Its customers should therefore visit Apple’s website to see whether they were eligible for the free replacement and identify the local participating authorised provider, she said.