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MacBook Pro 2018 swelling

M

mcmara

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 21, 2018
12
12
Is my MBP 2018 (2.9GHz 32GB) about to explode? See what I just noticed today:


IMG_1338.jpeg

IMG_1331.jpeg

IMG_1330.jpeg


I have most of the time the MBP connected to its charger, closed and used with an external monitor and keyboard/mouse.
Is my case unique or are there other reports of MBP2018 swelling after one year of use?
 
You need to have Apple check it out as soon as possible. Appears to be your battery swelling. That can cause damage to the keyboard and other components.
 
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Going in tomorrow, thanks for the reply. Yes, there are cases related to swollen batteries, but most of them are relative to different hardware (MBP2015, etc.). Could not find substantial examples of swollen MBP2018 (yet).
 
mcmara said:
Is my MBP 2018 (2.9GHz 32GB) about to explode? See what I just noticed today:


View attachment 874102
View attachment 874103
View attachment 874104

I have most of the time the MBP connected to its charger, closed and used with an external monitor and keyboard/mouse.
Is my case unique or are there other reports of MBP2018 swelling after one year of use?
Click to expand...
I have been there too.
I am glad I discovered my battery swelling 2 days before my warranty expired!
 
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Nope, you're not the first. My 2018 MBP was just serviced for the same thing. I was out of warranty, but they replaced it (battery and top case) for free anyway. I posted about this on another thread.
 
Fishrrman said:
Bad battery.
Let us know how you made out at the Genius Bar.
Click to expand...

It's in. Top case, keyboard and trackpad need to be replaced. Bottom case probably, given the amount of pressure. According to the Apple technician I spoken with, the probability of getting battery swelling is quite low with this line of 15 inch MBP.
 
kryptticAZ said:
Nope, you're not the first. My 2018 MBP was just serviced for the same thing. I was out of warranty, but they replaced it (battery and top case) for free anyway. I posted about this on another thread.
Click to expand...

After reading the thread you are referring to, I went ahead and "ruler-tested" another MBP 15 inch (2016 model) that I use at the workplace (owned by my employer). Guess what I found?

IMG_1339.jpg


My work machine is also (slightly) swollen!
I did not realize it before because all the 4 feet still touch the flat desk surface.

Anyone else dare to ruler-test your own MBP?
 
I discovered one of my battery cells had started swelling when I took the bottom off to clean it out for dust on monday this week, delivered it for repairs on tuesday, estimated to have it back on friday.

New top case with keyboard and battery, free of charge even though outside Apple's warranty, I'm happy I noticed it before any damage was done to other components, also MBP 2018.
IMG_0317 (1).jpeg
 
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What a surprise... Has anyone seen swollen battery from other battery vendors than the one in the photo?

How many charge cycles your battery has and what MacOS and CoconutBattery say about battery condition?
 
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So few charge cycles but still health that low??? Aren't these supposed to last 1000 charge cycles while still at usable range (80% I think)?
Does it really report battery condition normal in OS menu?
Have you been keeping charger plugged for long times? Based on the charge cycles looks like you have used it also on battery quite a lot.

Mine is based on my current reading getting about the same amount charge cycles or just little more in a year and I practically use mine on battery almost always, just charge it full and then unplug it within 0-2 hours after full. I decided to do so because I noticed that MBP is missing the important feature of limiting battery charge percentage to around 60% to 80% when keeping it plugged in all the time. Did I miss the adjustment (is it buried somewhere in the OS) or haven't they really yet implemented such feature? I noticed that many Lenovo, ASUS and similar brand have had that feature for years already.
 
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They are supposed to last 1000 cycles and still keep above 80% from what I've read earlier, I have used iStats for some years to monitor battery health, shows same numbers as CoconutBattery in my experience.

Mine is used mainly docked at my desk to a TB3 dock with external monitor, but I also bring it with me on the go when it's needed.

That swelling is probably the reason for low battery health though, I previously had a 2016 MBP and it was used in a similar way with 2% loss of health trough a year with 150 cycles.
 
OK, so sounds like you don't keep it plugged in unusual long times then. How often you run it on battery usually?

Your 2016 model seemed to have more linear sensible sounding battery health at 150 charge cycles. I'm not sure are the batteries as good these days as they were few years ago... I did not find statement for battery charge cycle rating for my MBP 2019 13" model, so I'm not sure is it still 1000? Many other brands have these 300-500 charge cycle batteries.

Did you see any other alarming signs in the monitoring apps than low health? Unusual high temperature or sudden FCC drops/or just battery charge level drops under load?
 
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I run it on battery every other day or so, but probably 80% docked. Didn't experience any problems at all, just been wondering why my battery health cycled between 88% and 92%.
 
OK, so you must use your machine quite a lot based on the charge cycles even keeping it docked for 80% of the time. Anyway, still you have used it on battery so often that should not be an issue. Interesting to hear you saw FCC (health) fluctuating like that, so they must be related. My MBP 2019 I got in 4 months ago has been doing that more or less since it was brand new. I haven't dared to peek in yet as I really hate the idea of needing to send new machine to service already, but I've been worried about those FCC fluctuations always.

You did not see any malformation in the lower chassis like "belly getting fatter" or trackpad getting uneven/harder to click or palm rest area bulging? I guess there is some room left in the chassis so little swelling like that probably does not show yet without removing the bottom plate.
 
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I caught this before it started pushing on the chassis and bottom plate itself, if it had gone longer, that probably would have happened. I usually open my laptop every 6-7 month for removing dust.
 
Mine is in a state. 2018 max spec MBP. Already had the motherboard replaced, and now this. Battery swollen so much the back case is popping out and can’t close the lid. Runs stupid hot even when no tasks running I live on a small island so can’t get this in to an Apple store till near the end of the month :/
3F722A3C-FDF8-4F5B-861C-8BFC79552399.jpeg
 
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MakeTheMostOfLife said:
Mine is in a state. 2018 max spec MBP. Already had the motherboard replaced, and now this. Battery swollen so much the back case is popping out and can’t close the lid. Runs stupid hot even when no tasks running I live on a small island so can’t get this in to an Apple store till near the end of the month :/ View attachment 877314
Click to expand...
Apple authorised resellers repair it for free if it's still under warranty.
 
lolmbp2011 said:
Apple authorised resellers repair it for free if it's still under warranty.
Click to expand...

Thanks. After the logic board went I got Apple care. There is one on another island which takes a days travel each way and they will take weeks to fix it. Popping home to London soon, and turn around time will be much faster from an Apple store ;)
 
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