Teardown shows new 2015 MacBook Airs sticking with non-adhered batteries

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  • Reply 21 of 31
    linkmanlinkman Posts: 1,035member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by zroger73 View Post

     

    I had a MacBook Aluminum Unibody that experienced a swollen battery not long after the one-year warranty expired. I purchased a replacement battery from Amazon for just under $127.84. I blame the failure on the fact it was constantly plugged in and connected to an external monitor - I never "exercised" the battery.


    I just replaced the original battery and hard drive in my wife's mid-2009 15" MBP (battery was giving about 1.5 hours of use, hard drive full so went with a big SSD) this week. The Mac stayed plugged in 95% of the time. I don't think exercising the battery is a requirement. Battery was $99 from OWC.

  • Reply 22 of 31
    solipsismysolipsismy Posts: 5,099member
    joelsalt wrote: »

    Agreed - my battery in my MBP swelled up and made it impossible to push the track pad, which was very annoying (actually did it after only about 18 months)

    So you got the requisite parts replaced?

    linkman wrote: »
    I just replaced the original battery and hard drive in my wife's mid-2009 15" MBP (battery was giving about 1.5 hours of use, hard drive full so went with a big SSD) this week. The Mac stayed plugged in 95% of the time. I don't think exercising the battery is a requirement. Battery was $99 from OWC.

    Did you consider using an SSD and HDD in that MBP at the same time with a Fusion Drive setup? It's very easy to do and you get a lot more space with amazing speed.
  • Reply 23 of 31
    linkmanlinkman Posts: 1,035member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismY View Post



    Did you consider using an SSD and HDD in that MBP at the same time with a Fusion Drive setup? It's very easy to do and you get a lot more space with amazing speed.

    I thought about it. Got a 960GB SSD on sale for $315. I wanted the slightly better battery life, no worries about smacking the heads onto the platters when it takes high G's, and not having to sacrifice the optical (still using iDVD!). That amount of space will almost certainly take it beyond that laptop's retirement.

  • Reply 24 of 31
    joelsaltjoelsalt Posts: 827member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismY View Post





    So you got the requisite parts replaced?

     

    No I just left it.  Machine worked perfect except i couldn't push the trackpad, so i used tap-to-click

     

    Then just a few weeks ago someone spilled coffee on it and destroyed it anyway, effectively destroying the battery (holds no charge)

  • Reply 25 of 31
    solipsismysolipsismy Posts: 5,099member
    joelsalt wrote: »
    No I just left it.  Machine worked perfect except i couldn't push the trackpad, so i used tap-to-click

    Then just a few weeks ago someone spilled coffee on it and destroyed it anyway, effectively destroying the battery (holds no charge)

    Apple hasn't been as considerate in recent years than in the past when it comes to replacing batteries that have swollen when it's out of warranty, but I have had a lot of success in years past with having them do it. If this happens again I would at least take your machine in to see what they can do, and at least have it documented. For all you know there was a battery issue with a certain lot of batteries and you would have received a free replacement. One time they even replaced my trackpad along with the battery because of the pressure it had been putting on it even though I assumed the trackpad would be fine after the battery was replaced.
  • Reply 26 of 31
    joelsaltjoelsalt Posts: 827member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismY View Post





    Apple hasn't been as considerate in recent years than in the past when it comes to replacing batteries that have swollen when it's out of warranty, but I have had a lot of success in years past with having them do it. If this happens again I would at least take your machine in to see what they can do, and at least have it documented. For all you know there was a battery issue with a certain lot of batteries and you would have received a free replacement. One time they even replaced my trackpad along with the battery because of the pressure it had been putting on it even though I assumed the trackpad would be fine after the battery was replaced.



    That is good to know.  Of course, the nearest Apple store is about 600 km away from me - but my sister lives there so i visit from time to time.

  • Reply 27 of 31
    solipsismysolipsismy Posts: 5,099member
    joelsalt wrote: »

    That is good to know.  Of course, the nearest Apple store is about 600 km away from me - but my sister lives there so i visit from time to time.

    Yeah, that can make it more difficult.
  • Reply 28 of 31
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

     MacBook Airs sticking with non-adhered batteries

     

    I hope you intended this, because I love it.


     

     

    Hold yourself together, now. ;)

  • Reply 29 of 31
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Crowley View Post

     
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post



    The iFixit agenda of pushing for "repairability" doesn't fit with what most consumers do when their Apple products break. They aren't hobbyists, and they will never tinker with the innards of their hardware.

     

    Specialist website is specialist.  Shocker.

     

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

     

    I hope you intended this, because I love it.


     

    Pointing out a joke and highlighting how it is a joke really kills the mood.


     

     

    I didn't realise you were wooing TS; better luck next time.

  • Reply 30 of 31
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Originally Posted by Benjamin Frost View Post

    I didn't realise you were wooing TS; better luck next time.


     

    Whazzat? Who’s in love with me? Gotta warn you, ladies; I pray for death every day, so that job’s already taken.

    “… what, by death? You have the hots for the Grim Reapette?”

    No, I just hate myself too much for you to love. (there, that sounds profound or something)

  • Reply 31 of 31
    hmmhmm Posts: 3,405member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by zroger73 View Post

     

    I had a MacBook Aluminum Unibody that experienced a swollen battery not long after the one-year warranty expired. I purchased a replacement battery from Amazon for just under $127.84. I blame the failure on the fact it was constantly plugged in and connected to an external monitor - I never "exercised" the battery.

     

    Apple currently charges $129 for parts and labor to replace the batteries in the MacBook Air.

     

    I haven't owned a laptop other than Apple since 2008, but as of that time, a typical OEM replacement battery for a Toshiba, Dell, HP, etc. was typically $80-130 and they didn't last (either per charge or per lifetime) near as long as the batteries in Apple laptops.

     

    I'd have to say $129 for a genuine Apple battery including the labor to properly replace it and assume responsibility if they break something is a very fair price. I'm sure we all wish it was lower, but that's not out of line. I see "mom and pop" repair shops charging $60-100 an hour for labor these days.


     

    It varies depending on the model. Parts and labor at the Apple Store for mine ran $179. That was a cmbp. I had graphics issues a bit more than a month later, and they credited that toward depot repair. If you have multiple issues, depot repair is around $330. Battery service for the retina macbook pros runs $200 for the 15". I think the 13" is the same, but I'm not positive. I doubt repairs are a huge profit source for Apple. The third party facility has to actually make money on that repair.

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