Is it possible an eBay $700 Macbook 2017 12" Retina - i5 has only 1 battery cycle ?

[4sallypat]

So I decided to pick up a second 12" rMB just in case my first gen 12" 2015 Macbook ever decided to quit.

eBay's seller did not have a stellar feedback but since I had some sense of safe purchase for 30 days, I picked up a space gray 2017 i5 12" rMB for $700.

I didn't expect much because of the complaints of this seller.

The laptop arrived with the original box, charger & USB-C cable.
It was almost flawless without signs of any abuse or heavy use - almost like new without any of the normal corner dents, scratches or bent hinges.
But it did have a single very small shallow dimple on the lid but it was faint and nothing to worry.

The Macbook did a successful reformat using internet recovery so at least there was no firmware passcode or DEP/MDM enrollment.

I downloaded Coconut battery and found it had only 1 battery cycle !
The laptop appears to have been built in 2018.
Using Apple's service/warranty lookup, the serial number did not give any info - not even a valid date of purchase...

Is this possible for a 1 year old Macbook with only 1 battery cycle ?

Can the battery cycle be reset by the user/owner/reseller ??

 

[CAlfonso51]

Hey there, I use coconut battery (same as the screenshot on your picture on the left) on my 2018 MacBook Pro and whatever the top bar % reads, the app reads. I saw the top of the screen says 94% and the coconut shows on their screen 89.5%. I assume about 5% degradation annually with normal use. My computer has a similar manufacturing date as you can see in the first screenshot but my battery was replaced and the cycle count reset (3rd screenshot).

I think you can safely assume that the battery has 6-7% degradation.

Don't take my word for it just an observation.

OR this person is smart and took a picture the day they got the computer.

 

[4sallypat]

Hey there, I use coconut battery (same as the screenshot on your picture on the left) on my 2018 MacBook Pro and whatever the top bar % reads, the app reads. I saw the top of the screen says 94% and the coconut shows on their screen 89.5%. I assume about 5% degradation annually with normal use. My computer has a similar manufacturing date as you can see in the first screenshot but my battery was replaced and the cycle count reset (3rd screenshot).

I think you can safely assume that the battery has 6-7% degradation.

Don't take my word for it just an observation.

OR this person is smart and took a picture the day they got the computer.

My 2019 Macbook Pro also has a discrepancy too..

 

[chrfr]

So I decided to pick up a second 12" rMB just in case my first gen 12" 2015 Macbook ever decided to quit.

eBay's seller did not have a stellar feedback but since I had some sense of safe purchase for 30 days, I picked up a space gray 2017 i5 12" rMB for $700.

I didn't expect much because of the complaints of this seller.

The laptop arrived with the original box, charger & USB-C cable.
It was almost flawless without signs of any abuse or heavy use - almost like new without any of the normal corner dents, scratches or bent hinges.
But it did have a single very small shallow dimple on the lid but it was faint and nothing to worry.

The Macbook did a successful reformat using internet recovery so at least there was no firmware passcode or DEP/MDM enrollment.

I downloaded Coconut battery and found it had only 1 battery cycle !
The laptop appears to have been built in 2018.
Using Apple's service/warranty lookup, the serial number did not give any info - not even a valid date of purchase...

Is this possible for a 1 year old Macbook with only 1 battery cycle ?

Can the battery cycle be reset by the user/owner/reseller ??

View attachment 911516

Given that all these computers have the faulty butterfly keyboard design, it may just be that the keyboard was replaced, which would also get you a new battery.

 

[CAlfonso51]

The battery is part of the top case that would make sense. What I was trying to show was that the design capacity you showed me is 96% that's fine what I was referring to was that the computer said it was 94% charged but the coconut showed it was only 89% charged or whatever. I don't know I just wanted to give feedback. My battery was changed as a result of the keyboard replacement also.

 

[funkiejack]

Agreed, this is likely a new battery from keyboard replacement program since these 12" rMB had a notoriously tough time with the keys getting stuck given the low travel. Mine is in for service right now, and looking forward to the new battery as well.

 

[4sallypat]

Well thanks to all of you, that makes the most sense!

What a wonderful forum.

 

[rafforama]

Well thanks to all of you, that makes the most sense!

What a wonderful forum.

Switching out the keyboard only replaces the battery on Macbook Pro's of the bad keyboard era. The 2015-2017 12" Macbooks would keep the same battery in a keyboard repair.

 

[chrfr]

Switching out the keyboard only replaces the battery on Macbook Pro's of the bad keyboard era. The 2015-2017 12" Macbooks would keep the same battery in a keyboard repair.

Good point. I forgot the battery is glued onto the bottom on those. The battery still could have been replaced for any number of reasons, of course.

 

[KPOM]

Well thanks to all of you, that makes the most sense!

What a wonderful forum.

On a side note, the logic board on my 2017 MacBook needed to be replaced about a year ago (I was getting mysterious crashes that the Apple Store couldn’t figure out, so they erred on the side of caution). As a bonus, I got a brand new battery. I’m guessing something similar occurred with the one you bought. Oddly enough, I’ve had no issues with the butterfly keyboard.

 

[4sallypat]

On a side note, the logic board on my 2017 MacBook needed to be replaced about a year ago (I was getting mysterious crashes that the Apple Store couldn’t figure out, so they erred on the side of caution). As a bonus, I got a brand new battery. I’m guessing something similar occurred with the one you bought. Oddly enough, I’ve had no issues with the butterfly keyboard.

Sounds like mine had the same work done because as I look at the finish - the display lid shows wear while entire bottom looks like it is new - even the keys are brand new with that matte feel like my newest 16" MBP keys.

I have never had an issue with my trusty reliable older 2015 rMB keyboard so that reassures me that this newest 2017 with the butterfly keys will still go strong.

Does anyone know if the 4 year extended Apple warranty on butterfly keys extend to these 12" units as well ??

 

[chrfr]

Does anyone know if the 4 year extended Apple warranty on butterfly keys extend to these 12" units as well ??

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

 

[mj_]

Of course it does. It includes every single Mac ever sold with a Butterfly Keyboard, from the 2015 MacBook to the 2019 MacBook Air. Every. Single. One. I've had my 2017 in twice for a keyboard replacement already.