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

Well, I walked in with a base 2012 Macbook Pro Retina and walked out with the $2800 version of the 2017 Macbook Pro. I had to pay the $200 battery repair fee, and $400 for the difference between the base model ($2400) and the $2800 version.

I had the opportunity to get this repaired several months ago but passed. I am glad I got lucky!
 
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AbraRob said:
I have a Early 2011 MacBookPro with a battery issue. It holds 65% of capacity and it has 200 cycles. Would it qualify?
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Sadly no, the 2011 Macbook Pro has a removable battery. The constrain appears to be with 2012 Top cases, according to the article anyway.

It might also be worth checking this page: https://checkcoverage.apple.com/
If they haven't already, the 2011 models will be entering "vintage" status soon.
 
Does anyone know if this top case shortage applies globally or just in the US?
 
Wow. I think this is worth my time as I have an early 2013 rMBP. Already dealing with the peeling finish on the display and GPU overheating causing kernel panic issues. I'm at 74% design capacity per the tool and the system report (as well as my battery indicator) says "service battery". Thats like 3 reasons I need to make a genius bar appointment pronto. Don't think I can afford to say "I dont have time" anymore.
 
dwhittington said:
Wow. I think this is worth my time as I have an early 2013 rMBP. Already dealing with the peeling finish on the display and GPU overheating causing kernel panic issues. I'm at 74% design capacity per the tool and the system report (as well as my battery indicator) says "service battery". Thats like 3 reasons I need to make a genius bar appointment pronto. Don't think I can afford to say "I dont have time" anymore.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah - I actually bought the original rMBP which also had the GPU overheating issues. So I took it to the Apple store and a water pipe burst while the unit was in for service, which is why I have this 2013 model which was provided by Apple as compensation for the loss.

Apple has provided great service along the way. It's crazy how many issues I've had with the new unit and not taken it in.
 
"A section called "Health Information" lists the battery's cycle count, which should be under 1,000, and condition, which should say "Service Battery" or equivalent."

Think you mean above 1,000.
 
my laptop is the mid 2012 macbook pro retina 15 inch... the battery has over 684 cycles.. however, it has been dying quicker than when i bought it. Can I still ask for a battery replacement??
 
Anyone in Australia have luck?

My laptop is at 84% but the battery is just ****. Doesnt day SERVICE though, just Notmal. Might still try as I wouldn't mind a new battery. If they can't replace the battery, what do they say? Simply buy a new laptop?
 
I had the "Service Battery" warning a couple different times on my mid 2012 retina MBP. It has since gone away, but the battery is still pretty sketchy compared to when it was new. The laptop will turn off at anywhere from 5% to 30% battery remaining. I have 550 cycles. Thinking I'm going to see if mine qualifies for a new battery replacement (or laptop replacement preferably).
 
Wow wow wow.

I have a 15" mid-2012 rMBP and I'm just reading about this. I have way over 1,000 cycles (1,200), and Design Capacity at 45.2%. The thing has just been saying "go change me now" for the past year or so. I guess I'm in for a visit at the Apple Store?

The only question that I'd have is whether or not this would run in France. I've read that it is widely spread in the US, as well as a few spots in Europe (UK, Germany), I was just wondering if that'd be the case for Azerty top cases as well. I've been thinking about changing my rMBP for quite a while now, since it is starting to be old (a few keys are slower to respond now, it has some wear there and there, and the battery just properly died a while ago), so this sounds like an opportunity but wanted feedback from someone in France.

If I go there and my best case scenario is I get a 2015 15" rMBP, I'd still be ecstatic about this. I have a dedicated GPU and from what I see on the refurb in France, only 2015 rMBP with discrete graphics are available.

Crossing my fingers that the shortage is global and azerty top cases are impacted.
 
Anyone tried this in Hong Kong? My battery design capacity is fluctuating between 81.5-82.7% according to coconutBattery. Wonder if it's worth a shot.
 
I've read first hand reports of new machines being given to owners of older MacBook Pros only because the battery was in need of changing.

The downside is you'll lose the SD card slot, legacy USB-A port, glowing Apple logo on back, bigger battery, and better keyboard. But perhaps the upside may be that the antiglare coating on the 2017 machines won't come off over time. I've not yet read reports of that yet, even though I myself can sadly confirm it does happen even on the 2015 machines (sold in 2016).
 
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why does the battery need to be <1000 cycles to qualify? mine is at about 1500 but is close to 60% of capacity! Anyone have experience getting a newer model to replace a battery with 1k+ cycles?
 
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barrett14 said:
Well, I walked in with a base 2012 Macbook Pro Retina and walked out with the $2800 version of the 2017 Macbook Pro. I had to pay the $200 battery repair fee, and $400 for the difference between the base model ($2400) and the $2800 version.

I had the opportunity to get this repaired several months ago but passed. I am glad I got lucky!
Click to expand...
I have the same rMBP from 2012 with a totally used up and deflated battery :(
What did you tell them in order to get that new one for only $600 extra? I'd like to do the same for the 2017 MBP's with Touch Bar.

Thanks!
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treimche said:
I had the "Service Battery" warning a couple different times on my mid 2012 retina MBP. It has since gone away, but the battery is still pretty sketchy compared to when it was new. The laptop will turn off at anywhere from 5% to 30% battery remaining. I have 550 cycles. Thinking I'm going to see if mine qualifies for a new battery replacement (or laptop replacement preferably).
Click to expand...
In the exact same boat! I have the same issues with my mid 2012 rMBP. I have a genius appointment at the local apple store so I hope they can make it happen! crossing fingers...
 
While I do have a mid-2012 15" MBP with a "Service Battery" health and only 350 recharges, I think I will pass. Later models (after 2014) no longer have an NVIDIA GPU, yet I need to code using CUDA and Optix. Unfortunately, the OpenCL based ray tracers don't match the performance of Optix, so getting a later model MBP might actually be a downgrade in my case.
 
Pbrutto said:
Reddit guy is full of ****, sorry folks....there is more to his story or he is just a pathological liar. There is just simply no way that Apple would just say “we’re gonna charge you 200 and give you a 5 year newer computer” for just a battery. Perhaps a year or two newer, but no way...
Click to expand...

I'm in Australia and I got my 2012 MBP replaced with a late 2016 model with touch bar for the cost of a battery (AUD 289).
 
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iapplelove said:
Ahh right gotcha! I'm kinda glad I chose the classic over the first gen retina way back in 2012. Machine still performs flawless
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I have a 2012 15" cMBP too, it's been a great laptop. All I have done to it is upgrade the slow hard drive with an SSD and this thing still is still really fast. Battery still lasts me hours as well. I am very happy I bought this rather than the retina. Although I do wish it had the screen.
 
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