Is this a swollen battery?

[coldwaves]

I noticed that my laptop wobbles on the table. First thought that the table is deformed. But the laptop wobbles on other tables too. I took out the bottom. The bottom cover actually sits flat on the same table. This is how the battery looks like. Is this considered a swollen battery?

The model is mid 2015 MBP with Retina display. I bought it in May 2018 so it is out of warranty. Checked series number and Not part of the recall. Battery has 55 cycles and battery life is normal.

 

[Analias]

Yes. The far left cell looks normal, the rest are swollen.

 

[coldwaves]

Yes. The far left cell looks normal, the rest are swollen.

I just got in touch with Apple Support through their online chat. I told them the battery is swollen. Customer service says Apple will cover the battery repair. No question asked. They will mail me a box, in which I ship the laptop to them for repair.

I will put an update here as the repair progresses.

If you also have swollen battery issue, it might be worth checking with Apple support even if the series number is not part of the swollen battery recall program.

 

[Codeline]

It looks swollen to me also, was it bulging the case? I had the battery replaced by Apple on my 2015 MBP without question & it has a far lower cycle count than my new one. Hope you get repaired quickly.

 

[coldwaves]

It looks swollen to me also, was it bulging the case? I had the battery replaced by Apple on my 2015 MBP without question & it has a far lower cycle count than my new one. Hope you get repaired quickly.

Mine was purchased in May 2018. Battery has 55 cycles.

It is not that visible but the laptop does not sit flat on tables. When I took the bottom case out, the lower right corner was definitely under tension to pop out. So it is bulging against the case but is not bad enough to damage the bottom case, screw, or trackpad yet.

Since all Apple stores are closed now, it needs to be sent in for repair. Apple support says expecting a shipping box within two business days.

 

[fyrfyter33]

Mine was purchased in May 2018. Battery has 55 cycles.

It is not that visible but the laptop does not sit flat on tables. When I took the bottom case out, the lower right corner was definitely under tension to pop out. So it is bulging against the case but is not bad enough to damage the bottom case, screw, or trackpad yet.

Since all Apple stores are closed now, it needs to be sent in for repair. Apple support says expecting a shipping box within two business days.

Just be aware that it may take 4 days. Due to all the shipments going on, most companies are running about 2 days behind what they normally would as far as shipping times go.

 

[coldwaves]

Just be aware that it may take 4 days. Due to all the shipments going on, most companies are running about 2 days behind what they normally would as far as shipping times go.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I would imagine that shipping could be slower these days. Last time I had a MacBook Pro shipped for repair, it was very quick and only took four days in total (I gave the laptop to a nearby Apple Store, two days from store to depot, one day for repair, one day from depot back to store). We will see how fast the repair goes this time. Luckily, I have a spare 2009 Thinkpad to use when my Mac is away.

It seems I am unlucky with MacBook Pro. My first MBP was a 2011 model and it has the GPU issue. That was recalled later and repaired by Apple. My second MBP is an early 2013 model. That was fantastic. I used it for five years without any issues. My latest one, this mid-2015 model, has the battery issue. I bought this in 2018 because I don't like the butterfly keyboard and I want to keep using my Thunderbolt displays.

Although a broken computer is frustrating, I have to say that Apple's customer service has been great.

 

[simonmet]

Crazy that the battery has failed with so few cycles, but I guess it’s a known problem. At least they’re covering it, and so they should when it was sold with a capacity of 1000 cycles.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Crazy that the battery has failed with so few cycles, but I guess it’s a known problem. At least they’re covering it, and so they should when it was sold with a capacity of 1000 cycles.

I don't think the amount of cycles are relevant, it's the age of the battery. It's defective nonetheless, but the battery is a minimum of 2 years old. The machine was purchased about 2 years ago, but batteries can be 6+ months old before the machine is built. The battery in my MacBook is 4 months older than my computers manufacturers date, which is 2 months before I purchased it.

 

[coldwaves]

Just be aware that it may take 4 days. Due to all the shipments going on, most companies are running about 2 days behind what they normally would as far as shipping times go.

Just got the box yesterday and shipped it to Apple repair facility in Houston TX today. Apple uses FedEx Priority Overnight for shipping. As you suggested, the shipment arrives late, but only for one day. Considering all the extra volume of shipping these days, only one day late is pretty good.

 

[jerryk]

I don't think the amount of cycles are relevant, it's the age of the battery. It's defective nonetheless, but the battery is a minimum of 2 years old. The machine was purchased about 2 years ago, but batteries can be 6+ months old before the machine is built. The battery in my MacBook is 4 months older than my computers manufacturers date, which is 2 months before I purchased it.

It's a 2015 model, purchased in 2018. That is 5+ years old batteries. Not to surprising they are starting to fail. Nice of Apple to cover it.

 

[deeddawg]

Just got the box yesterday and shipped it to Apple repair facility in Houston TX today. Apple uses FedEx Priority Overnight for shipping. As you suggested, the shipment arrives late, but only for one day. Considering all the extra volume of shipping these days, only one day late is pretty good.

FWIW in case you're curious:

I had a swollen battery and flashing touchbar replaced in my 2018 MBP15 last week, still covered under AppleCare+

Apple received it in Houston before 7am Thursday, performed the repairs and shipped it back out the same day. Received it Friday at lunchtime.

 

[coldwaves]

It's a 2015 model, purchased in 2018. That is 5+ years old batteries. Not to surprising they are starting to fail. Nice of Apple to cover it.

To be clear, the MacBook Pro is a mid 2015 model. It was purchased new in 2018 when Apple still sells that model. Based on the series number, the laptop was manufactured by Quanta in the 19th week of 2018. The battery of course had to be manufactured before the laptop was assembled, but I doubt the battery was made in 2015 and sit there for three years before it is used in the laptop.
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FWIW in case you're curious:

I had a swollen battery and flashing touchbar replaced in my 2018 MBP15 last week, still covered under AppleCare+

Apple received it in Houston before 7am Thursday, performed the repairs and shipped it back out the same day. Received it Friday at lunchtime.

Thanks for the info. That was a fast turnaround! I would be happy if I can get it back early next week.

 

[coldwaves]

FWIW in case you're curious:

I had a swollen battery and flashing touchbar replaced in my 2018 MBP15 last week, still covered under AppleCare+

Apple received it in Houston before 7am Thursday, performed the repairs and shipped it back out the same day. Received it Friday at lunchtime.

My timeline turns out to be the same as yours. I dropped off the computer to FedEx on Thursday morning, package arrived at the Houston facility early morning on Friday, repair was done and computer was shipped out late afternoon on Friday using UPS Next Day Air, and the package arrived at home on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, the apartment building door bell was broken (I wondered why the driver did not ring the bell and later realized that the culprit is the door bell) and I missed the delivery (require signature confirmation). I will have to get it on Monday. Overall, Apple's repair turnaround time is super fast.

 

[radus]

MacBook Pro 2018 (July) 15" i9 -- yesterday, I will bring it to an authorized repair center tomorrow. BTW 36 cycles, condition good ...

 

[coldwaves]

View attachment 909487
MacBook Pro 2018 (July) 15" i9 -- yesterday, I will bring it to an authorized repair center tomorrow. BTW 36 cycles, condition good ...

This looks very swollen and not very safe to continue using. I hope Apple or the authorized repair center can get it fixed quickly for you.

 

[Fishrrman]

radus wrote (with pic):
"MacBook Pro 2018 (July) 15" i9 -- yesterday, I will bring it to an authorized repair center tomorrow. BTW 36 cycles"

Just wondering...
Are you one who kept the MBP "plugged in with the charger" almost all the time?
And... almost never took it OFF the charger?

If the answer is yes... I reckon that had a lot to do with the battery swelling up.

 

[coldwaves]

I got the computer back today. In the repair note, it says that the parts replaced are top case with battery.
[automerge]1588001067[/automerge]

radus wrote (with pic):
"MacBook Pro 2018 (July) 15" i9 -- yesterday, I will bring it to an authorized repair center tomorrow. BTW 36 cycles"

Just wondering...
Are you one who kept the MBP "plugged in with the charger" almost all the time?
And... almost never took it OFF the charger?

If the answer is yes... I reckon that had a lot to do with the battery swelling up.

The answer for me is yes. I have a Thunderbolt Display that my MBP is connected to most of the time. I do occasionally take it off to use the battery but not very often. Maybe I should do that more often in the future.

 

[radus]

Well brought the Macbook pro to an Apple Repair Center.
They could not repair it and they did not take it because sending to an other Repair Center is "to dangerous".

The Apple Service - Phone Advisor suggested an other Center with a time slot on thursday.

Good night for people depending on one Apple product by profession ... .

 

[coldwaves]

Well brought the Macbook pro to an Apple Repair Center.
They could not repair it and they did not take it because sending to an other Repair Center is "to dangerous".

The Apple Service - Phone Advisor suggested an other Center with a time slot on thursday.

Good night for people depending on one Apple product by profession ... .

That's bad. I contacted Apple Support through online chat and told the representative that I had a swollen battery. The representative directly asked for my address, email, and phone number to set up a repair order. Maybe you can try another support person to see if they can set up a repair order so you can mail your laptop to the Apple repair facility to fix it. They use overnight shipping so you should be able to get it back within a week.

 

[radus]

That's bad. I contacted Apple Support through online chat and told the representative that I had a swollen battery. The representative directly asked for my address, email, and phone number to set up a repair order. Maybe you can try another support person to see if they can set up a repair order so you can mail your laptop to the Apple repair facility to fix it. They use overnight shipping so you should be able to get it back within a week.

May be it is just a problem with the German Apple Handelsgesellschaft G.m.b.H.. Could it be different in your country ? Where are you from ?

 

[coldwaves]

May be it is just a problem with the German Apple Handelsgesellschaft G.m.b.H.. Could it be different in your country ? Where are you from ?

I am in the US. I can see that safety regulations regarding battery shipping could be different in different countries.

 

[radus]

I am in the US. I can see that safety regulations regarding battery shipping could be different in different countries.

Nevertheless it is time for me to rethink if Apple / MacBook Pro is the best Solution. Now I use a MacMini 2018 i7 - my emergency replacement machine.

I need to work with linux, windows and osx.
But I can live without osx by replacing 2 apps with their windows counterparts.
May be my next laptop is a Dell or Lenovo booting w10 / linux with 24h online support (together with our companies next 5 PC's).

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

My opinion is that keeping the MBP plugged into a charging source continuously is what caused your problems. Even Apple now seems to be recommending that laptops NOT be left on continuous charge.

My suggestion:
at least 2 or 3 times a week, take it OFF charging, and "run the battery down" to about 30% power. Then... reconnect it.

One more thing (and I know it's considered controversial):
At night, POWER OFF the MBP, and DISCONNECT the charger from power.

That's my advice and I'm stickin' to it.

 

[coldwaves]

Nevertheless it is time for me to rethink if Apple / MacBook Pro is the best Solution. Now I use a MacMini 2018 i7 - my emergency replacement machine.

I need to work with linux, windows and osx.
But I can live without osx by replacing 2 apps with their windows counterparts.
May be my next laptop is a Dell or Lenovo booting w10 / linux with 24h online support (together with our companies next 5 PC's).

I like Thinkpad. When my MBP was in the repair facility, I used my 11 year old Thinkpad T400 as a backup. It is certainly slow but I can do basic things without much problem on it. There are also nice specifically designed Linux laptops on the market. One of my colleagues moved from a 13" MacBook Pro to a System 76 Galago laptop and likes it a lot. It is very well made.