I have a 1.6GHz Revision A MacBook Air, I just relised that it only has 53% capacity left and it recommends that I change the battery soon. I have purchased the extra AppleCare on this MacBook Air, but my question is will the AppleCare cover the battery replacement?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AppleCare and Battery Replacement
- Thread starter three
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
lucifiel
macrumors 6502a
ayeying can probably answer you better than I could on this, but to my knowledge it seems that the normal warranty will cover the battery so long as it's malfunctioning.
Since it's Rev A, i'm not sure if 53% is abnormally low considering its age...I suppose there's no harm in asking/talking to the geniuses at the stores.
This is one of the early revision A's, ordered right as it was introduced. Don't know if that helps...
lucifiel
macrumors 6502a
ayeying
macrumors 601
From what I understand (and from what a genius person told me):
For the MacBook Air (All revisions), the battery cycle is rated for 750 cycles and still maintain at least 80% health.
If you don't have 750 cycles and are under 80% health, you should be able to get a free replacement.
But you didn't mention your cycle count, that would really be the breaking point if you can get a free replacement or not.
For your AppleCare thing... quote from Apple's site:
The defect really means, health dropped before reaching the rated cycle count.
For the MacBook Air (All revisions), the battery cycle is rated for 750 cycles and still maintain at least 80% health.
If you don't have 750 cycles and are under 80% health, you should be able to get a free replacement.
But you didn't mention your cycle count, that would really be the breaking point if you can get a free replacement or not.
For your AppleCare thing... quote from Apple's site:
The defect really means, health dropped before reaching the rated cycle count.
ayeying
macrumors 601
By that account, you should be able to go into the apple store and get a free replacement. You're well below the 750 mark and your capacity is under 80%.
In fact, I'd love to hear what happens.
I'm under the impression that, for MacBook Airs, the threshold for cycle counts is 300. In that, if you have 300 or more cycles on your battery, you won't be eligible for free battery replacement, but you can always pay $129 for them to install a new battery.
The newer computers that have 7-hour battery have a 1000 cycle count threshold, but if your computer doesn't have a 7- or 8-hour battery, the threshold is 300 cycles.
Please keep us posted and let us know which is true!
I'm under the impression that, for MacBook Airs, the threshold for cycle counts is 300. In that, if you have 300 or more cycles on your battery, you won't be eligible for free battery replacement, but you can always pay $129 for them to install a new battery.
The newer computers that have 7-hour battery have a 1000 cycle count threshold, but if your computer doesn't have a 7- or 8-hour battery, the threshold is 300 cycles.
Please keep us posted and let us know which is true!
Mine is at 93% after 126 cycles... at this rate I won't make 750. When I purchased it, I asked if they covered the battery, and they said that since it's not a user-replaceable part they do cover it. Let us know how it goes!
Battery facts
I don't think the above statement is correct. I believe its 300 cycles - which equates to roughly one full cycle a day for a year. Additionally, the figure of 80% is 50%.
Op: let us know how you get on. I think what the OP has is a battery thats been used & is performing as expected under the wear & tear etc.
F
I don't think the above statement is correct. I believe its 300 cycles - which equates to roughly one full cycle a day for a year. Additionally, the figure of 80% is 50%.
Op: let us know how you get on. I think what the OP has is a battery thats been used & is performing as expected under the wear & tear etc.
F
SwitchingtoMAC
macrumors member
I believe that anything over 350cycles is considered consumed through average use you can take to any service provider there is a diagnostic they can run on the battery to determine if its under warranty or not
ayeying
macrumors 601
No, it's 750 as stated by Apple, not me.
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html said:
I have emailed the main tech at our local Apple reseller, I'm going to see what he says and probably take it in to get the battery replaced.
ayeying
macrumors 601
Please keep us informed. My battery, last time dropped to less than 50%, after a calibration it seems to fixed it but I'm not sure how long it'll last. I'm at 420 cycles and its only at 86% health now. It's not even 6 months yet lol
He replied back and he told me to bring it in for testing. He also mentioned that the battery in the revision A is only made to last 300 cycles, I highly doubt that.
Vikz
macrumors regular
Yes that is true. Internal apple docs for techs state that all non unibody macs batteries are cover for 300 cycles; and yes that includes the air in those 300 cycles.
OP show them the page where it says about 80% of batt after 750 cycles if they say no to the repair. maybe the will chat with apple engineering in order to give you a free replacement
ayeying
macrumors 601
The Air, even rev A is technically a "Unibody". The site doesn't say which revisions has the 750 cycle battery, so I'd just use Vikz' suggestion and show them the page.
MacModMachine
macrumors 68020
I have a question about Apple Care in general. I'm planning on purchasing the new 27-inch iMac for X-mas. I don't have an Apple store close by, so if i were to buy the iMac and when it breaks, how does Applecare go about fixing it? Do they come pick it up? Do I ship it out? Or do I have to travel to the closets store to drop it off?
They can send you a box to ship it to the depot. OR you can go to an authorized service center.