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How expensive it is to repair post-2015 MBP after expiration of Apple Care+?

Repairing cost of post-2015 MBP after expiration of Apple Care+

  • Below $300

    Votes: 1 8.3%

  • $301-$500

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • $501-$1000

    Votes: 4 33.3%

  • $1001-$1500

    Votes: 2 16.7%

  • $1501-$2000

    Votes: 1 8.3%

  • $2001-$3000

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • $3001-$4000

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Over $4000. Better to buy a new one.

    Votes: 4 33.3%
  • Total voters
    12
H

hajime

macrumors G3
Original poster
Jul 23, 2007
8,219
1,431
Hi, given that components are not user upgradable and the design of post-2015 MBP, in general how expensive it is to repair a post-2015 MBP after expiration of Apple Care+?

Besides the keyboard which hopefully does not apply to MBP 16", what are the most common components that need to be repaired and how much are they? How soon will those replaced components fail again?
 
This is literally impossible to say, since it depends entirely on what is wrong. I would think battery replacement might be the most common after keyboard issues. I have heard that it is around $200, but others have said that they were quoted a lot more due to the need to replace the top case as well.
 
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^^^Agreed. When my late 2013 15-MBP had trouble after 3.5 years, they replaced everything but the screen for about $600. While the initial estimate had been for replacing much less than that for the same price, I was pleasantly surprised. But I've heard stories of prices all over the map. And yes, I believe the battery is about $200 from Apple. Check ifixit, but it is a very complicated replacement.
 
I was using a 2010 MacBook Pro and 2011 Air when that broke till I got this 16 in. Can I expect to get the same longevity from this 16in?
 
At least for now if you have issues with the 2016-2019 butterfly keyboard it’s no cost to replace them under the repair program. And I think a keyboard replacement replaces the battery as well.

How long is the keyboard repair program active?
 
mightyjabba said:
This is literally impossible to say, since it depends entirely on what is wrong. I would think battery replacement might be the most common after keyboard issues. I have heard that it is around $200, but others have said that they were quoted a lot more due to the need to replace the top case as well.
Click to expand...
Because my MBP model was deemed likely to experience keyboard failures, I was able to get free keyboard + battery + lower case replacements from Apple. However, I believe this program is due to lapse in October 2020 and only applies to 2016 and 2017 MBP with touch bars.
 
Strangedream said:
Because my MBP model was deemed likely to experience keyboard failures, I was able to get free keyboard + battery + lower case replacements from Apple. However, I believe this program is due to lapse in October 2020 and only applies to 2016 and 2017 MBP with touch bars.
Click to expand...

All MacBooks from 2015-2019 with butterfly keyboards are eligible for repair:

Keyboard Service Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro - Apple Support

Keyboard Service Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro
support.apple.com

And according to this article:

9to5Mac said:
All Mac laptops with butterfly keyboards are now eligible for Apple’s program and are covered for up to four years after the original purchase. Apple said it is also shortening the repair time, which previously could take a week.
Click to expand...
 
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Battery and keyboard replacements are relatively cheap. Anything that has to do with the motherboard, where everything is soldened to, is super expensive. Also liquid damage basically means buy a new laptop.
 
hajime said:
Hi, given that components are not user upgradable and the design of post-2015 MBP, in general how expensive it is to repair a post-2015 MBP after expiration of Apple Care+?

Besides the keyboard which hopefully does not apply to MBP 16", what are the most common components that need to be repaired and how much are they? How soon will those replaced components fail again?
Click to expand...

I don't understand your survey. You can not put one label on the repair costs, because all machines are not the same and machines fail differently. Extrapolating on that premise I fail to see the logic of your question.
 
Definitely the most common component as stated is the battery. Everything else is a crapshoot. Although in my experience a well cared for computer lasts 7+ years, usually just needing a new Hard Drive. As there is no hard drive. Unless there is a design defect in the 16". I'd expect it to hold up for 10+ years outside of a battery replacement.

Although you could burn out the SSD. Which takes a whole lot of writing nowadays or using too much capacity leaving little remaining memory for constant pagefiling.
 
I try and sell my MacBooks once the AppleCare is up, as repair costs are pretty much the average price between upgrading your MBP to the latest one (in terms of it's sale value difference and getting a new one).
 
AndyMacAndMic said:
I don't understand your survey. You can not put one label on the repair costs, because all machines are not the same and machines fail differently. Extrapolating on that premise I fail to see the logic of your question.
Click to expand...

I am trying to decide if I should invest too much on top model including 64GB RAM or just get a base model with 32GB RAM upgraded. So, if the RAM or SSD have problem after Apple Care +, it will be a replacement of the entire motherboard which one should spend the money to buy a new machine instead?

Can't we replace the battery ourselves by just taking out the screws at the bottom of the MBP 16"?
 
hajime said:
I am trying to decide if I should invest too much on top model including 64GB RAM or just get a base model with 32GB RAM upgraded. So, if the RAM or SSD have problem after Apple Care +, it will be a replacement of the entire motherboard which one should spend the money to buy a new machine instead?

Can't we replace the battery ourselves by just taking out the screws at the bottom of the MBP 16"?
Click to expand...

Current MacBook Pros are very difficult to repair. Most times, if there's something wrong with a component on the logic board, Apple simply replaces the whole logic board.

AFAIK nothing within the MBP is really user-serviceable
 
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