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Apple Exchanging Some 2012 and Early 2013 MacBook Pros Needing Battery Service With Newer Models [Updated]

So, when I put my Early 2013 on power-charge Coconut shows roughly 80.8% but when I run on battery with Logic Pro X and Saffari - it jumped all over the place as low as 40% to 78%. My cycle count is around 630 and whilst on battery it can turn off at 30% to 50% (randomly or when under load). Would this count as a fault or replacement?

I did have the service battery error message about a month ago and I spoke to Apple Support who jumped onto my machine remotely and confirmed it, but I didn't chase it up at the store.
 
barrett14 said:
I would take it to the store and see what they say.
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I just did exactly this to a London store - I've had the 'Battery service" message once that I got rid of with a recommended SMC reset. 460 cycles and hover anywhere between 83% and 76%. Anything CPU intensive drops it to 50% or less but it recovers afterwards.

They ignore built in health levels or coconut and run their own test software that gets booted externally. Mine showed spot on 81.1% repeatedly using *their* tools. He told me to come back if it gets to consistently below 80%. I wouldn't waste a trip if it sometimes goes above 80%
 
Andyf66 said:
I just did exactly this to a London store - I've had the 'Battery service" message once that I got rid of with a recommended SMC reset. 460 cycles and hover anywhere between 83% and 76%. Anything CPU intensive drops it to 50% or less but it recovers afterwards.

They ignore built in health levels or coconut and run their own test software that gets booted externally. Mine showed spot on 81.1% repeatedly using *their* tools. He told me to come back if it gets to consistently below 80%. I wouldn't waste a trip if it sometimes goes above 80%
Click to expand...

I think its still worth rolling the dice considering the massive upside.
 
cnj93 said:
Westfield Stratford by any chance? :) I have an appointment there on Friday, hoping to get a similar offer.
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Lakeside :) The guy showed me the information on his screen, it appears as a pop up. Takes a while to complete paperwork but got it all sorted in the end.
 
Sarlacc said:
Said F it and decided to head to one of my stores (Los Angeles) and get on the stand by list. Only took 15min of the estimated hour and a half.

They ran the test. Looked it over and now they are looking into how to do the swap as they haven't done here yet.

Cool.
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I'm also in LA, looking to do the swap. May I ask which store you went to?
 
bkends35 said:
Again, the late 2013-mid 2015 have the same thing except they're in stock. They must've just gotten unlucky w/ a supplier.
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That's one way to look at it. Another is if they didn't glue the battery in it would be a quick swap that was easy for the genius without swapping out an assembly that cost $750 -$1000 instead of just the battery at around $180
 
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Airplanepics said:
Lakeside :) The guy showed me the information on his screen, it appears as a pop up. Takes a while to complete paperwork but got it all sorted in the end.
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I was at Stratford WestField earlier and they seemed perfectly happy to do the swap if the battery was genuinely bad.
 
cammo427 said:
Let me preface this with the fact that I used to work at the other Apple Store in town (Leawood) but I genuinely don't think it changed anything with my visit.

I just got back from the Apple Store in Kansas City (Country Club Plaza) and am getting a replacement (presumably refurb 2015 same specs). I currently have the early 2013 and my battery was on the cusp. It tested at 82.75% through their diagnostics the first time. The genius (my old boss, so he was possibly more lax with me) said he wanted to run it again. I told him coconutBattery would say I'm below 80% when I'm not connected to power, so he went ahead and unplugged it from power. Ran the test and it failed this time.

He presented 3 options for me:
1. Pay $200 when new batteries come in stock.
2. Pay $200 for a new computer of equal value.
3. $1899 credit towards a new laptop.

I opted for option 2. He said it would be a 2015 maxed out retina when they come in stock. He also said the program was originally supposed to go until September but today is actually the last day. So if you think you might be eligible, go in today if you can!

I'll report back with what computer I actually receive.
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Just wanted to chime in on this. After diagnostic tests confirming my battery was below 80%, I was presented with the same three options with one exception. I was only offered $200 towards a new laptop. I'm sure the spec differentiation was the kicker. So chose to pay $200 for a new computer of equal value. The genius said it will probably be a new version of my same computer (8gb, 2.3ghz, 256gb).
 
cammo427 said:
He also said the program was originally supposed to go until September but today is actually the last day. So if you think you might be eligible, go in today if you can!

I'll report back with what computer I actually receive.
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From your experience, if the program finishes today, would a device left in with them today count or would they say by the time they have checked my device that the program is no longer in place? My device was left with them so wondering if I would be eligible.
 
cammo427 said:
He also said the program was originally supposed to go until September but today is actually the last day. So if you think you might be eligible, go in today if you can!
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I hope not! Have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow.
 
dlondon said:
From your experience, if the program finishes today, would a device left in with them today count or would they say by the time they have checked my device that the program is no longer in place? My device was left with them so wondering if I would be eligible.
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I would guess yours would still be eligible. What did they tell you specifically?
 
THE GROVE (LA)
Just thought I'd share my experience from this morning. I have a 2012 rmbp and my battery stats (service battery on) are: design capacity 75.9% & Cycle Count =416.

Scheduled an appointment, went in and told them I need to fix my battery cause the "battery service" was showing up. He ran their in-house diagnostic to confirm. Once that was set I was given two options: wait until Sept or pay the $199 and get a refurbished model equivalent to what I got. I wasn't given any options to upgrade, but then again I didn't ask. I should be getting a call from the Grove Apple Store Wednesday/Thursday.
 
cammo427 said:
I would guess yours would still be eligible. What did they tell you specifically?
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I checked in with battery issue but I mentioned that device gets hot since logicboard replacement. For some reason it was marked as safety concern and the authorisation says heat is issue but I asked them to check the battery too. The triage is free of charge so I guess I will know soon enough whether I'm eligible.
 
Just posting my experience for any fellow Canadian readers, after reading this forum.

I had a Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 15" Retina with Service Battery warning for awhile (didn't want to pay ~$350 CAD just for battery replacement), took into store and ran diagnostic. Battery can only charge 63%.

Option given was:
- Free Battery Replacement in September
- Free 15" Retina Display Assembly and Replacement (I had dead pixels and a scratch)
- Free Case Body Replacement (since enclosure also had scuffs and marks on it).

$0 for my Frankenstein, Plastic Surgury induced MacBook lol
 
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dlondon said:
I checked in with battery issue but I mentioned that device gets hot since logicboard replacement. For some reason it was marked as safety concern and the authorisation says heat is issue but I asked them to check the battery too. The triage is free of charge so I guess I will know soon enough whether I'm eligible.
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I'd bet if the battery fails any test, they'll offer the replacement. Unless of course some batteries come in out of nowhere. Good luck!
 
Jshclee said:
Just posting my experience for any fellow Canadian readers, after reading this forum.

I had a Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 15" Retina with Service Battery warning for awhile (didn't want to pay ~$350 CAD just for battery replacement), took into store and ran diagnostic. Battery can only charge 63%.

Option given was:
- Free Battery Replacement in September
- Free 15" Retina Display Assembly and Replacement (I had dead pixels and a scratch)
- Free Case Body Replacement (since enclosure also had scuffs and marks on it).

$0 for my Frankenstein, Plastic Surgury induced MacBook lol
Click to expand...

Where in Canada are you? I'm about to take mine in, in Vancouver.
 
*Warning!* This may be over. I just went in with my 15” 2012 rMBP and it seems the part is magically back in stock and they’re going to replace the battery plain old regular. :( :( :(

I’m in the US, VA.
 
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