Apple No Longer Replacing Some MacBook Pros Needing Battery Service With Newer Models

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

True, I think the question of "Do Apple executives read MacRumors articles?" has finally been answered: Yes! Amazing to see them close up this opportunity a mere two days after it was first reported (the original Reddit post and discussion in the MacBook Pro area here goes back longer, though).

Just as well, as it seems the battery in my Mid 2012 Retina MacBook Pro wasn't warn out enough to qualify. Even so, I am lucky to get 3 and a half hours on a charge (full brightness)...

This doesn't in any way mean they read these articles. The original article likely caused tons of 2012 MBP owners to go in and try to get a new machine. Apple tracks such returns/exchanges and notices this huge increase. There's zero need to read this site to see the outcome on their end.

 

[mbaturin]

The comment anger here seems a little silly. If you didn't even know about the replacement option until the Macrummors article, then how can you be mad at the Macrummors article? If the article alerted Apple and ended the program, you're still better off. If you knew beforehand, you were already taking advantage of this program. If you didn't know until the article was front page news, you had a small window to make it happen. But without the article, you would have just gone on fine never knowing this option existed.

Congrats to everyone who got an updated machine. I think it's awesome this option even existed. Nice move Apple.

I completely agree with this. I'm not at all mad since I only went in finally because I saw the article. Yes, I knew my battery has needed service for a while, but I was living with it fine and didn't want to pay the $200. I went in to either get a new machine or free new battery. Since neither was offered, and a $200 battery replacement was, I decided to hold off. My 342 cycle battery is at 78%, good enough for now.

The issue is that a lot of us are waiting for replacements that we were offered and it is likely that they'll stop them because of articles like these getting out. So yes we were in the window and only found out through the forums, but we won't be getting new machines.

Have you heard officially that those who got in during the window are not going to have their replacements honored? I doubt that will happen. Apple strikes me as a company who will keep their promises.

 

[theCraigLaw]

Have you heard officially that those who got in during the window are not going to have their replacements honored? I doubt that will happen. Apple strikes me as a company who will keep their promises.

Again, as I said in an earlier post - people in the Reddit thread in the UK are already seeing their replacements cancelled as the batteries can now be replaced within 2 weeks - with the same cost.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Thanks MacRumors. You took an internal discussion on your forums where people had genuine battery issues and getting nice goodwill gestures and opened it up and gave it massive attention (with other tech sites copying your articles), attracting the attention of chancers and Apple themselves. Really - what was the need?

the need for ad money.

 

[mbaturin]

Again, as I said in an earlier post - people in the Reddit thread in the UK are already seeing their replacements cancelled as the batteries can now be replaced within 2 weeks - with the same cost.

I guess I can see the upgraded machine orders being cancelled, but for those who opted for the waived $199 fee for the battery replacement in lieuof waiting, I can't imagine Apple is going to call them up and say "Just kidding! You owe us $199 now!" However, I believe you're talking about the upgraded machine so all I can say is hopefully it won't happen to you! Good luck.

 

[Sarlacc]

The issue is that a lot of us are waiting for replacements that we were offered and it is likely that they'll stop them because of articles like these getting out. So yes we were in the window and only found out through the forums, but we won't be getting new machines.

The issue is you're being a ....... about something you feel your entitled to getting, but because other people went to also take advantage of the program at the time, you may no longer get yours. So, you're getting all huffy and blaming Macrumors over it.

You're being nothing more than selfish.

Fact is every '12 and '13 rMBP is well out of warranty by now. So, if anyone went to get a battery replaced they would be paying for it. This isn't a situation of "people really in need" as others have stated. Everyone is in the same boat. Older model computers with batteries nearing end of life.

I took my laptop to the apple store last year to finally get the battery replaced and they wanted $400 at the time...$300 if I sent in to apple.

I wouldnt have known about this program or the battery now being $199. So, I went in yesterday because of it, and I was told I was getting a CRU.

Now, I haven't received a call yet...and if Apple does call and they reverse the course on me getting a newer machine for a hell of a price...oh well, I tried and was too late. Nothing in my life changes. I was never owed anything in the first place.

 

[MCR1234]

Again, as I said in an earlier post - people in the Reddit thread in the UK are already seeing their replacements cancelled as the batteries can now be replaced within 2 weeks - with the same cost.

What Reddit thread was that?

 

[mbaturin]

The issue is you're being a ....... about something you feel your entitled to getting, but because other people went to also take advantage of the program at the time, you may no longer get yours. So, you're getting all huffy and blaming Macrumors over it.

You're being nothing more than selfish.

Fact is every '12 and '13 rMBP is well out of warranty by now. So, if anyone went to get a battery replaced they would be paying for it. This isn't a situation of "people really in need" as others have stated. Everyone is in the same boat. Older model computers with batteries nearing end of life.

I took my laptop to the apple store last year to finally get the battery replaced and they wanted $400 at the time...$300 if I sent in to apple.

I wouldnt have known about this program or the battery now being $199. So, I went in yesterday because of it, and I was told I was getting a CRU.

Now, I haven't received a call yet...and if Apple does call and they reverse the course on me getting a newer machine for a hell of a price...oh well, I tried and was too late. Nothing in my life changes. I was never owed anything in the first place.

Agree with everything except the fact that the 2012 batteries are nearing end of life. The spec given was 1,000 cycles not x amount of years. I guess the way of the world is that warranties last for a certain amount of time, or in the cases of cars, a certain amount of miles, whichever comes first. So my (what I'll consider to be) faulty battery causing my MacBook Pro to shutdown when showing 40%, will cost me $200 whenever I decide to pay it. Oh well.

 

[theCraigLaw]

What Reddit thread was that?

One that was posted today that the replacement programme is ending

 

[Sarlacc]

Agree with everything except the fact that the 2012 batteries are nearing end of life. The spec given was 1,000 cycles not x amount of years. I guess the way of the world is that warranties last for a certain amount of time, or in the cases of cars, a certain amount of miles, whichever comes first. So my (what I'll consider to be) faulty battery causing my MacBook Pro to shutdown when showing 40%, will cost me $200 whenever I decide to pay it. Oh well.

Sometimes mine shuts down at 30-40% as well, sometimes not. Its because its end of life, and my guess it has more to do with software than hardware reading accurately. Or a combination of the two. Also matters what Apps you're running when it happens.

Its a LiIon battery...just because it might not have as many cycles as another comparable model based on use, doesn't mean the battery's life hasn't been decreasing over the years regardless.

With a car...if you go buy a 5 year old car from a dealer, with the original battery, you are more than likely going to be replacing it soon. Standard wear and tear.

 

[DevNull0]

Agree with everything except the fact that the 2012 batteries are nearing end of life. The spec given was 1,000 cycles not x amount of years. I guess the way of the world is that warranties last for a certain amount of time, or in the cases of cars, a certain amount of miles, whichever comes first. So my (what I'll consider to be) faulty battery causing my MacBook Pro to shutdown when showing 40%, will cost me $200 whenever I decide to pay it. Oh well.

FWIW, my 2011 battery is at 89% with 580 cycles. And I've used this machine 8+ hours a day for over 6 years. With 4x the stock ram and an after-market HDD and SSD. I'm just careful to stay plugged into power as much as possible when using it.

All the more reason though I don't like the 2016/2017 that more or less forces you to use it off power.

 

[mbaturin]

Sometimes mine shuts down at 30-40% as well, sometimes not. Its because its end of life.

Its a LiIon battery...just because it might not have as many cycles as another comparable model based on use, doesn't mean the battery's life hasn't been decreasing over the years regardless.

With a car...if you go buy a 5 year old car from a dealer, with the original battery, you are more than likely going to be replacing it soon. Standard wear and tear.

Makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[petemill]

...the 2016/2017 that more or less forces you to use it off power...

How do you mean?

 

[theCraigLaw]

The issue is you're being a ....... about something you feel your entitled to getting, but because other people went to also take advantage of the program at the time, you may no longer get yours. So, you're getting all huffy and blaming Macrumors over it.

You're being nothing more than selfish.

Fact is every '12 and '13 rMBP is well out of warranty by now. So, if anyone went to get a battery replaced they would be paying for it. This isn't a situation of "people really in need" as others have stated. Everyone is in the same boat. Older model computers with batteries nearing end of life.

I took my laptop to the apple store last year to finally get the battery replaced and they wanted $400 at the time...$300 if I sent in to apple.

I wouldnt have known about this program or the battery now being $199. So, I went in yesterday because of it, and I was told I was getting a CRU.

Now, I haven't received a call yet...and if Apple does call and they reverse the course on me getting a newer machine for a hell of a price...oh well, I tried and was too late. Nothing in my life changes. I was never owed anything in the first place.

I agree with you in that I was never owned anything in the first place - however I do not agree nor do I appreciate being called selfish when its not my fault that I was being offered a free machine and because of websites publishing a good will gesture like as if it's some sort of free grab to encourage chancers - I'm not gonna get it any more - so it's very disappointing and makes me angry towards websites like MR for publishing it.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

... Yes, I knew my battery has needed service for a while, but I was living with it fine and didn't want to pay the $200. I went in to either get a new machine or free new battery. Since neither was offered, and a $200 battery replacement was, I decided to hold off. My 342 cycle battery is at 78%, good enough for now...

I may be wrong, but...

If you own a mid-2012 MBPr, and decide not to take on the $166+tax battery replacement, your window for this upgrade will close by 1Q2018, as this model could be declared EOL with all Apple service/part repairs stopped. (1Q2018 marks the end of its five-year life-cycle.)

It seems to me that this replacement is a no-brainer, with an all new keyboard, trackpad and top shelf, for those that want to keep the machine a tad longer.

 

[GoodWheaties]

Haven't seen this much bitching on here in awhile. Good 'ole Macrumors.

You would think they were all farmers lol.

 

[mbaturin]

I may be wrong, but...

If you own a mid-2012 MBPr, and decide not to take on the $166+tax battery replacement, your window for this upgrade will close by 1Q2018, as this model could be declared EOL with all Apple service/part repairs stopped. (1Q2018 marks the end of its five-year life-cycle.)

It seems to me that this replacement is a no-brainer, with an all new keyboard, trackpad and top shelf, for those that want to keep the machine a tad longer.

Interesting. I didn't realize that. You have a point. The machine I have was originally purchased as a work machine, but has since been retired as such and is now more or less a personal machine of mine. It was nearly top of the line when it came out. I should get this fixed while I still can. The machine still runs very smoothly.

 

[nvmls]

People pissed off at macrumors, seriously? hilarious, MR has been very professional by posting the information accordingly, apparently Apple didn't know a Mac related site would share this information, therefore cancelling the program within two days! how great is that service eh? voice your feedback here: qq_more@apple.com.

One would think, the new TB macbook profit would be sold out by now, bearing by Phil's record pre-orders statement but hey, even funnier the people who payed 3k for it and now other consumers got it for $200 battery replacement charge, and some appreciate their "work ethics" lol.

 

[glitched79]

Interesting. I didn't realize that. You have a point. The machine I have was originally purchased as a work machine, but has since been retired as such and is now more or less a personal machine of mine. It was nearly top of the line when it came out. I should get this fixed while I still can. The machine still runs very smoothly.

I have essentially the same system and it still works fine, aside from the battery. Only thing we're missing from the newer systems is 802.11AC WiFi (we have 802.11N), but "N" is perfectly fast enough for most applications.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

That was fast and makes me wonder.

 

[shastada]

So has there been any report of someone being offered a replacement today (the 26th) or no?

 

[nvmls]

Seems the program will be back once the backordered glue arrives.

 

[glitched79]

I'd also like to point out that many older MacBook Pro Retina owners were quick to bemoan the new "Touch Bar" MacBooks, but they'll happily accept one as a replacement for an older MacBook Pro Retina that many would argue is superior.

 

[Rudy69]

They called me yesterday to confirm my replacement that should happen next week (and charge my credit card). They better not back down.... the computer had some other issues (random shut downs etc) so i don't really just want a replacement battery

So they just charged my credit card for the replacement now....Hopefully I'm still getting it.

I was in the store on the 24th (before the article). The computer has been in and out of the store this year but they can't fix it (and it's not under warranty) so I'm really hoping I'm still getting a new one

 

[dlondon]

Apple didn't need to offer newer replacements on machines that were 5 years old. They could have just said that they don't have stock and told people to wait. They didn't even need to offer a free battery replacement for those who waited until September. It was a good gesture by them that perhaps has backfired.

Many people would not have known about the replacement program had MacRumors not published it. The article probably prompted people who had been thinking about getting the battery sorted, to finally do it. Other people my have decided to check to see if there was a problem (and then thought they would try it) and those who were simply trying their luck.

My device has had issues since the logic board was replaced and the article prompted me to get it sorted after I discovered the battery was also below capacity. My device is 5 years old and I wouldn't waste the fee on getting the battery replaced (I'd rather put it towards a new machine). The offer a free machine was great so I decided to go to the store. I hadn't planned to take the device in but I saw the article and thought I could either get the battery fixed for free or get a newer machine for free. I wasted time and travel but it was worth a try.

The people I feel slightly sorry for are those who may now miss out because of the publicity but, ultimately Apple were under no obligation to give away newer devices. I suspect Reddit and the number of people getting replacements, prompted Apple to prioritise the supply chain before MacRumors published their article. Ultimately, a number of people did get newer devices, some only because MacRumors published it. The ones that didn't, like myself, it's disappointing but that's life sometimes.