Applecare & Battery Replacement

[lololoony]

Hi,

How does apple care for MacBooks work? Do they do a one-for-one as well?

I understand that a battery replacement without apple care will cost ~$300+, whereas a battery under 80% charge capacity is covered under apple care. In this case assuming I have apple care and i get my battery replaced, do I have to pay anything at all? I read that there is a service charge of $118, will this be applicable? In this case apple care + service charge = $400+ which doesn't seem quite worth it..

haha thanks for your help in advance guys

 

[tjkjean]

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/29/applecare-mac-batteries-80-percent/

 

[eric16]

if u can wait for the official Apple Store to open in Singapore in a couple of months time, you won't need to pay that extra service charge, u will just pay for the Apple macbook battery replacement fee. Did my macbook air 2011 battery service in Apple Store Hong Kong.

the extra service charge is payable to the authorised service centres to cover their overheads and operational costs, so just wait for the SG Apple Store to open if u want to save on the extra service charge.

 

[Arandalo]

Hi,

How does apple care for MacBooks work? Do they do a one-for-one as well?

I understand that a battery replacement without apple care will cost ~$300+, whereas a battery under 80% charge capacity is covered under apple care. In this case assuming I have apple care and i get my battery replaced, do I have to pay anything at all? I read that there is a service charge of $118, will this be applicable? In this case apple care + service charge = $400+ which doesn't seem quite worth it..

haha thanks for your help in advance guys

I tried asking ALab if they cover battery replacement for free under apple care and the staff told me no and instead mentioned 3 situations which they replace for free under apple care. First situation is that if the battery says replace now. Second situation is that if the battery doesn't hold 80% charge and is over 1000 charge cycles. In my head I was thinking like how does that even make sense? The staff is probably trying to smoke me. Third situation I couldn't recall but it's not if battery is unable to retain 80% charge under 1000 charge cycles.

On apple's website it states clearly that if a macbook battery is unable to hold 80% charge under 1000 cycles it should be covered free of charge under apple care.

Additional info: My late 2013 13" macbook pro retina had 500+ charge cycles just before my 3 year apple care expired and its charge capacity was around 5500/6330 mah (86.8%) so even if I wanted to replace the battery it didn't hit the requirement according to my calculations. I'm curious to know how does apple evaluate the battery percentage condition other than simple calculation so if anyone know please do share.

 

[morpheus2480]

if u can wait for the official Apple Store to open in Singapore in a couple of months time, you won't need to pay that extra service charge, u will just pay for the Apple macbook battery replacement fee. Did my macbook air 2011 battery service in Apple Store Hong Kong.

the extra service charge is payable to the authorised service centres to cover their overheads and operational costs, so just wait for the SG Apple Store to open if u want to save on the extra service charge.

When does the apple store open in SG?

 

[pricklepantz]

When does the apple store open in SG?

Heard it's gonna be 31 Jan.

He's right, I just replaced my mbpro 2012 battery in the US and only paid for the battery.

 

[athletic91]

Just got my macbook pro 13 non touch bar, notice while charging...
1 hand on the metal case i fell some static vibration
2 hands on the medal case i dont feel it anymore.
Googled it mentions about some grounding issue, anyone else experiencing?

 

[zitseng]

Just got my macbook pro 13 non touch bar, notice while charging...
1 hand on the metal case i fell some static vibration
2 hands on the medal case i dont feel it anymore.
Googled it mentions about some grounding issue, anyone else experiencing?

Interesting, I don't find a difference one hand or two hands, though I don't specifically have the non-TB.

The static issue can be solved by using a grounded power cord. Unfortunately I think now Apple doesn't ship that anymore (at least on the TB model, there's only the 3-pin plug, and that one isn't grounded).

 

[time2say]

anyone advise just buying battery online and DIY replace?
I got 2012 MBP and battery doesn't last but there is nothing else wrong with this machine

Still so much nicer than the horrible HP laptop I have

 

[szeli]

anyone advise just buying battery online and DIY replace?
I got 2012 MBP and battery doesn't last but there is nothing else wrong with this machine

Still so much nicer than the horrible HP laptop I have

I think there r a few shops in SLS specialising in selling battery. maybe u can try there...

 

[Crimson_FURY]

anyone advise just buying battery online and DIY replace?
I got 2012 MBP and battery doesn't last but there is nothing else wrong with this machine

Still so much nicer than the horrible HP laptop I have

Just bring to SLS mac repair shop (there are tons of them) and replace the battery. Done this twice over the years with 2 of my old MacBooks when they were 2-3 years old. Once battery swapped, it was like new again...9 hours battery life while doing light work on wifi. Cost was about $120 for MBP 13

 

[trento]

the battery is one of the easier components to diy and if sls charges about same price, let them do for u.

i just cleaned my 2012 mbp trackpad. it was jumpy and unusable. saw youtube and it was pretty easy.

my advice is a lot of mac stuff are actually possible to diy. unless warranty, no point sending in to A Lab to replace stuff.

esp with MBP 2012. my diy so far are add on ram, change ssd, add hdd to optical bay.

the latest models are less diy friendly and all u can replace is the ssd.

 

[chehjin]

I think there r a few shops in SLS specialising in selling battery. maybe u can try there...

Just bring to SLS mac repair shop (there are tons of them) and replace the battery. Done this twice over the years with 2 of my old MacBooks when they were 2-3 years old. Once battery swapped, it was like new again...9 hours battery life while doing light work on wifi. Cost was about $120 for MBP 13

you can half that if you are willing to purchase the battery from unicell and replace it yourself. probably a 10mins job for newbies.

 

[Arandalo]

Just bring to SLS mac repair shop (there are tons of them) and replace the battery. Done this twice over the years with 2 of my old MacBooks when they were 2-3 years old. Once battery swapped, it was like new again...9 hours battery life while doing light work on wifi. Cost was about $120 for MBP 13

Care to share which shop name?

 

[Arandalo]

you can half that if you are willing to purchase the battery from unicell and replace it yourself. probably a 10mins job for newbies.

How's the quality? Comparable to OEM?

 

[chehjin]

How's the quality? Comparable to OEM?

it is OEM, those repair shops also take from them wan la. they are wholesalers.

 

[Arandalo]

it is OEM, those repair shops also take from them wan la. they are wholesalers.

I see. Which macbook model did you replace the battery and how much did you pay to get from unicell?

 

[time2say]

unicell is online retailer?

I prob try a DIY job. Cant be too difficult - managed the SSD DIY upgrade before

 

[chehjin]

I see. Which macbook model did you replace the battery and how much did you pay to get from unicell?

2009 macbook pro, around $60? few years back, its better if you call them beforehand to check the price for the battery you are looking for. its better if you can quote them the exact battery model you are looking for as they deal with parts, telling them macbook 2013, etc not very help.

 

[Arandalo]

2009 macbook pro, around $60? few years back, its better if you call them beforehand to check the price for the battery you are looking for. its better if you can quote them the exact battery model you are looking for as they deal with parts, telling them macbook 2013, etc not very help.

Oh I see. Thanks for your input!