Replace Macbook Battery

browser on 22/06/2021 - 14:51
Last edited 22/06/2021 - 15:23

So Apple charges $299 to replace a Macbook battery. Can it be done cheaper and reliably?

It's a 6 years old Macbook but still works well, though to spend $300 for a battery to keep it going sounds crazy.

The Macbook is quite thin, so I can only imagine it's a small battery, would a PD power bank suffice?

Update: adding more information. It is a 2015 12" Macbook, A1534. From research the battery is A1527.

The laptop is usable when plugged in, and also reports 100% charged. When unplugged it shows a black screen with red low battery icon at the centre of the screen.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Hithere on 22/06/2021 - 15:05
    +2

    Here's how to replace the battery in your MacBook or MacBook Pro

    https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-to-replace-the-batte…

    • brendanm on 22/06/2021 - 17:18
      +1

      Not sure why you got negged, seems like a pretty good result for a low amount of money and time invested.

  • roonie on 22/06/2021 - 15:07

    We had ours done a few months ago. MBP on power most of the time so battery wasn’t an issue per se… until it went into go slow mode, effectively unusable. Apple quoted slightly more than 3rd parties but they were quick, presumably used genuine parts -and also replaced the kB surround (gratis) as it was cracked/deformed
    Looked at a DIY option but a. I found it intimidating and b. I still had to buy an expensive battery from someone, that may or may not be genuine. Rationalised that I wasn’t prepared to take the risk for $100.

  • Ghost47 on 22/06/2021 - 15:10
    +3

    If you have experience opening up electronics it’s pretty doable. Macfixit sell replacement battery kits with everything you need, and there are tutorials on YouTube.

    Is it a 2015 model? As in it’s the old chassis with the HDMI port? Generally guides will say you have to remove the motherboard for those models if you want to replace the battery (which is quite a bit of work) but you bypass that by removing the battery only by tilting the MacBook, applying the adhesive remover behind the battery cells (the tilt helps the liquid to run down through the adhesive) and using some string to saw away at the adhesive. If you take your time it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to replace the battery.

    Kits are around $160 or something so you’re saving some money by just DIY.

    Here are links to the Late 2013 - early 2015 13” kit and 2015 Late 2015 - mid 2015 15” kit. If you do buy ensure to double check your model number.

    • browser on 22/06/2021 - 15:24

      Yeah, 2015, model A1534.

      • Ghost47 on 22/06/2021 - 15:37

        Hmm not sure what that translates to in the “MacBookPro,##,#” nomenclature that the Macfixit website uses.

        You can double check in the system by going to About this Mac > More info > System report > Model identifier. It’s probably somewhere in between “MacBookPro,11,2” to “MacBookPro,11,5”.

        It can be an intimidating repair but if you take your time and make sure to categorize the screws correctly it’s an easy way to save some money.

      • Agret on 22/06/2021 - 16:29
        +1

        Here is the battery you need, I do computer repair as my job and this is where I get all my Apple parts. They are local (melbourne) so the postage is fast, no waiting for overseas order.

        https://www.broadwaycomputers.net.au/view/productdetails.php…

        These guys always have genuine parts for Apple, very trustworthy mob. They are based on the main st of Reservoir (Broadway) if you are in the area you can go pickup or just book it in for them to change it. Should be about $70 labor I believe.

        The battery is easy to change but you need to take your time. Takes about half-hr to 45min to get the battery out depending on how cooperative the glue wants to be. Get some high percentage alcohol and spray heaps of it under the battery packs and take your time levering each one out with a hard plastic spatula style thing. Might take a little over an hour to DIY.

  • crentist on 22/06/2021 - 15:13

    How crap is the battery that you need to change it?
    Is this one of the little 12 inchers? I have one, and I looked into changing the battery a while back. They cost about $50 from China, about $100 locally. Hopefully they're genuine but who knows. Then you have the work involved, which iFixit puts at 2-3 hrs, and "difficult".
    So if that's at $50/hr, adds up to $100 + $150 = $250. But no one could charge that much if Apple isn't much more, so maybe it'd be around $200.

    Cheapest would be to get one from China for $50 and DIY. Looks miserable, but if you can manage it you'll never need to pay for this kind of thing again.
    Power bank is a solid option though.

  • macca9123 on 22/06/2021 - 15:15
    +1

    I replaced the battery on my 2014 Macbook Pro after it swelled up. From memory I bought the battery and tools required from iFixit for < $150. The battery is quite a large proportion of the size of the device. It was a little daunting to pull apart the machine and risk breaking something, but I simply followed the guide and took my time. The hardest part is removing/dissolving the glue strips that are used to stick the battery down.

    A few years on and it still works. Opening it up also allowed me to blow out all of the dust, which also improved the performance because it wasn't overheating as quickly.

  • YRT on 22/06/2021 - 15:30
    +1

    I have the same model & DIY'd the battery change last year. It was a 1.5 hour job from momery, definitely doable with the right toolset.

    I just followed iFixit guide and let the battery drain properly. It wasn't super difficult, IMO easier than replacing iPhone batteries.

  • blonky on 22/06/2021 - 15:32

    You'll need the right screwdriver bits - I use the Xiaomi Wiha kit that pops up here sometimes around $20

    The battery can be bought from ebay and maybe amazon; I've paid $60 for macbook air batteries on ebay and only $25 for the same thing from amazon.

    I'd rank it medium-hard difficulty for the macbook 12 - there's quite a few small connectors to disconnect and the battery is glued in - two ways to remove are to heat the underside with a hairdryer or heat gun and slowly work the battery away with a credit card (I have done this method myself), or use alcohol or adhesive remover to dissolve the glue

    • nubzy on 22/06/2021 - 15:42

      I think this is the exact same as the Xiaomi Wiha, $27.95 at Jaycar https://www.jaycar.com.au/48-piece-screwdriver-set-with-carr… got one last week and it is a very good quality, handy bit of kit. Used it to repair my MX Master 2S but will come in handy for other things in future no doubt.

    • browser on 22/06/2021 - 15:59

      I have a set from bargain shop. :D

      Some of the torx are already rounded it seems, result from their last repair (AppleCare).

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 23/06/2021 - 13:53

        My 1st Apple Torx Screwdriver lasted about 8 screws. LOL

  • xt20 on 22/06/2021 - 18:06

    I replaced the battery for my 2012 Macbook Air in 2016. It's still going strong now. Battery purchased from eBay for $78 and included screwdriver set.
    I didn't feel the need to purchase a genuine battery as the Macbook was getting old anyway.

    • Ponsonby on 22/06/2021 - 18:44
      +1

      Similar story for 2010 Macbook - sourced battery in Melbourne in 2017, screwdrivers on eBay and instructions online. Less than an hour's careful work but no glue on battery in this case. Lots of dust removed - so now open it up every year or so for that reason

  • browser on 22/06/2021 - 21:30

    I think this is the video I need to follow, doesn't look like super complicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1fBtj7nfjg

    • Agret on 23/06/2021 - 02:05
      +1

      Jesus that guy is a savage, definitely be more gentle with the battery cells than he was. You don't want it catching fire. He bent the crap out of them. Get a bit wider spudger than his that you can wedge underneath the battery into the adhesive so you don't have to do that levering up thing he is doing. You really have to use a lot of force to get it under the cells due to how strong the adhesive is, get high percentage alcohol and spray it under the battery then leave it sit for a few min will make it a little easier to lever up but man they stick those suckers on tight. Good luck with the replacement.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 23/06/2021 - 13:52

        You can pick the alcohol up from Bunnings or Jaycar.
        Also, have a look at upgrading the SSD. I'd post a link to the SSD Adapter I purchased for $25, but the post it was in (below) was unpublished?

        • browser on 23/06/2021 - 14:15

          Thanks for the SSD idea.

          I still have a bottle of isopropyl alcohol purchased from the actual Dick Smith from way back, so that's covered. :)

      • jowu15 on 07/07/2021 - 20:10

        Great advice. I just have one question: would you put adhere first before you put a new battery in as Apple did but I did not see the guy in the video did. Thanks

  • browser on 23/06/2021 - 16:46

    Tools needed is just a T4 and T5 bit right? Are those plastic prying thingies required?

    • xt20 on 28/06/2021 - 15:15

      I don't recall needing it.

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