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

DevNull0 said:
Has Apple said what they're going to do as far as battery service on the 2016/2017 MBP's? When the time come, will be be $200 for a new battery?
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https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service
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psynnott said:
Isn't the 2012 retina the first macbook to have a glued in battery?
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Doesn't matter. Comment still stands. They've long been swapping out old machines for new ones rather than repairing or even replacing batteries in many cases. This has long been their practice.
 
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Nice!! My rMBP falls right into this category. I need to go home and check to see if it qualifies. I'm afraid it won't because I try to be diligent about unplugging my laptop when it's not in use and I also don't use it enough for it to go through so many charge cycles. Fingers crossed though.
 
miniyou64 said:
Calling an Apple store over the phone to make an appointment?

Everytime I've tried to do that I get routed to central customer service.

I've never been able to reach an individual Apple Store directly.
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We can't book appointments over the phone in my store. Best is the Apple Support App or walking with waiting time.
 
OldSchoolMacGuy said:
https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service
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Doesn't matter. Comment still stands. They've long been swapping out old machines for new ones rather than repairing or even replacing batteries in many cases. This has long been their practice.
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Yes Apple will often replace devices entirely but that isn't their go to or standard policy, especially not within the last couple of years since policy has changed and they do more in store repairs. Replacement requires specific cases.

If you read the article, the key here is that these machines are being replaced INSTEAD OF standard policy which is only to replace the failed battery. Because the batteries of these specific models are constrained they have opened a NEW policy for these specific models to have them replaced. So it is news, especially for people who qualify.
 
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Whoa, in a weird coincidental way my MacBook Pro 13" mid-2012 non retina which right after bragging on it being "fault free" for almost 5 years on instagram, stopped charging just a few days after :(

Heading to the Apple Store tomorrow, as far as I know the MBP is perfectly working with what little charge it has left now with battery still at ~80% cycle. Does anyone know if magsafe adapter just gives out randomly? No more lights orange-green, and no charge either? It was working one morning, and at night just dead.

Hopefully it's just the adapter and nothing with the MBP itself, or am so screwed as at 5 years, am well past Apple care, and will have to choose between next gen iPhone or a functioning Mac :eek:
 
I had passed along a hand me down rMBP (original 2012 model) to a relative and it had battery problems last month. I brought it in for them and they did just this. They charged me $200 for the battery replacement but said the top panels (which the battery mounts to) were back ordered for two months so I could either wait and get that unit repaired when the panel became available or take a 2015 or later refurb model with same or better specs. They did run a diagnostic on the machine to validate the battery needed service before doing this and I had to wait about a week for the replacement model to arrive. The replacement is a fully loaded rMBP (just like the old one was) but 2015 vintage. It's refurbished and came with a one year warranty and was also able to have Apple Care purchased on it (beyond the one year warranty it came with regardless). I was quite happy with how Apple stood behind the machine and addressed the situation despite their own supply constraints on replacement parts.
 
Pbrutto said:
Reddit guy is full of ****, sorry folks....there is more to his story or he is just a pathological liar.
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psynnott said:
nope.

Happened to me too.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mid-2012-mbp-retina-obsolete.2050201/
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So let me get this straight. If you have an old computer with a bad battery you get a new one free ($200 is free). Sorry guy, I’m not saying I don’t believe you personally, but you think Apple will keep this up? No way after they figure out people know about their “free replacement for all”. I know they have good service, but this is ludicrous.
 
Pbrutto said:
So let me get this straight. If you have an old computer with a bad battery you get a new one free ($200 is free). Sorry guy, I’m not saying I don’t believe you personally, but you think Apple will keep this up? No way after they figure out people know about their “free replacement for all”. I know they have good service, but this is ludicrous.
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Yes, that is what happened to me. 2012 replaced with a 2017 touchbar for $200. I totally agree though, this replacement programme will be pulled very very quickly now.
 
psynnott said:
Yes, that is what happened to me. 2012 replaced with a 2017 touchbar for $200. I totally agree though, this replacement programme will be pulled very very quickly now.
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Yeah, guess what I have in my house? A 2012 MBP with a battery that needs to be replaced. Was getting ready to sell it, looks like my sale price is about to be inflated. Wonder how many hours I have till they cancel this silly plan.
 
Pbrutto said:
So let me get this straight. If you have an old computer with a bad battery you get a new one free ($200 is free). Sorry guy, I’m not saying I don’t believe you personally, but you think Apple will keep this up? No way after they figure out people know about their “free replacement for all”. I know they have good service, but this is ludicrous.
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just echoing psynnott, happened to me too. 2012 2.6ghz, 16gb, 512gb with GT650m swapped out for brand new 2017tb base model with 512gb storage for the princely sum of 200 quid. turnaround time was about 3 weeks.

and once again to psynnott the OP in a thread on Macrumours where I stumbled across this, THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!
 
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sgadher said:
just echoing psynnott, happened to me too. 2012 2.6ghz, 16gb, 512gb with GT650m swapped out for brand new 2017tb base model with 512gb storage for the princely sum of 200 quid. turnaround time was about 3 weeks.

and once again to psynnott the OP in a thread on Macrumours where I stumbled across this, THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!
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Exactly the same happened with the same spec 2012 and received the same 2017 model you got as well thanks to the thread Psynott started. Thanks again!
 
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Just picked up my 2017 MacBook Pro.. had an early 2013 mac with a cracked screen.. paid $199 plus tax on Friday.. they called me today to come pick up my machine

For the nonbelievers. Check the model number
 

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sgadher said:
just echoing psynnott, happened to me too. 2012 2.6ghz, 16gb, 512gb with GT650m swapped out for brand new 2017tb base model with 512gb storage for the princely sum of 200 quid. turnaround time was about 3 weeks.

and once again to psynnott the OP in a thread on Macrumours where I stumbled across this, THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!
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Did you do this in store ? I wonder if over the phone will work
 
thisisnotmyname said:
This isn't a regular practice. You got lucky and the employee who made that call may have lost their job.
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i think a lot of Apple employees are going to lose their jobs in that case. A cursory glance at the number of people doing this on Reddit suggests the numbers in the hundreds..........
 
Milsy68 said:
Exactly the same happened with the same spec 2012 and received the same 2017 model you got as well thanks to the thread Psynott started. Thanks again!
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Yep. Exact same model and specs I got as well. My turn around was 3 days. I went in Friday night. Got mines today...
 
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I have a late 2013 retina, 15-inch macbook pro with battery issues, do you think this will be eligible?
 
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I remember when my BTO 2012 Classic 15” had an issue and (being newly purchased) warranted a retail exchange, that the store did not have. I was due to fly to Europe and needed an exchange ASAP.

A senior executive rep authorized the replacement with the newly released 2012 Retina 15” and since the store only had the ‘Maxed’ out version, I was given that! Christmas came way early that year!!
 
I have a retina, 15-inch, late 2013 macbook pro, do you think there would be similar battery constraints? My battery is showing a cycle count of 379 and 40.3%.
 
Some day...an American will come up with a battery for iPhone and Laptops that will over 36 hours without recharging...he will become RICH and all the issues around short battery life will be gone.
 
DavsDue said:
I have a late 2013 15" retina with 0,81% and over 1000 cycles Why am I not included? And btw the fans are running like 24/7 and always as hot as a oven?!
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Applefan1784 said:
I have a retina, 15-inch, late 2013 macbook pro, do you think there would be similar battery constraints? My battery is showing a cycle count of 379 and 40.3%.
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Because the late 2013s have a different top case which is in stock. Did you read the article?
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zaphodb3 said:
I wonder if I'd be able to slip my mid-2014 model in there :D I've been bad with the battery, it's already well over 1000 cycles.
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Nope. Did you read the article? They are out of top cases which is unique to the mid 2012/early 2013 models. Everything else they replace as normal.
 
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DocMultimedia said:
My mid 2012 MacBook Air has been saying "Service Battery" for the past few months. Shows just 306 cycles. Still runs for most of the day on the battery, so I've been ignoring it. Hoping to wait for a new Pro next fall.
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I'm in the same boat as you! (I think I have a 2012... somewhere around that date, maybe a little newer)

I only used mine once or twice every couple months (thanks iPhone/iPad!) but was a little confused the other day when I noticed a service battery with about 260 to 300 cycles (can't remember exactly and I'm at work right now) on it. I leave it plugged in and closed all the time and like I said, don't even use it more then a handful a of times every couple months...

I doubt Apple will do anything for us? Right?
 
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