New MacBook Pros Have Battery Pull Tabs for Easier Do-it-Yourself Battery Replacements, Says iFixit

[Yr Blues]

No…SSD has not since 2016, DRAM since 2012.

In terms of user friendliness, the 12" PowerBook is still my favorite … esp. the sculpted keyboard.

 

[ericwn]

Oh wow! People will save up so much money just by doing it themselves.

I’m surprised, Tim Cook didn’t announce…

“We are thrilled to announce new battery tabs with the new MacBook Pro line up. It will keep your battery at 100% at all times. We think, you are going to love it.”

Yup because Apple has always been about self service for their notebook machines in the last 20 or so years. This will make it easier for their repair staff on the first place and that’s certainly the bigger gain for them.

 

[me22]

I think Apple doesn’t officially offer parts to anyone but their authorized repair people. So, the part you’re getting is either “acquired via ‘other’ means” or just labeled Apple Certified without actually being certified. There have been other parts where, once swapped, the OS will inform you that it’s not an Apple Certified part. Which, if it’s your own, well, duh, you don’t care you knew it when it was put in.

So... You don't have an example of Apple products popping up warnings for self-repairs with actual Apple parts.

'Other' means would be places like iFixit (the company that provided the info for this article). They sell the parts and provide instructions for the repairs.

Ok, but where will you get the batteries from?

Again, iFixit. Or Amazon if you search for the same part numbers and read the reviews.

I've replaced both screens and batteries on both Macs and iPhones myself for years and never had an issue with warnings or quality.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So... You don't have an example of Apple products popping up warnings for self-repairs with actual Apple parts.

If you want to know, you can google it. Or search iFixit. NOT hard to find.

'Other' means would be places like iFixit (the company that provided the info for this article). They sell the parts and provide instructions for the repairs.

You can’t get Apple Certified parts from iFixit because they don’t legally have access to Apple Certified parts. If they do claim to sell you Apple Certified parts, then they got them through “other than legal” means.

Just because I can get someone that works in a bank to acquire a few hundred dollar bills from work and provide me with that legal tender doesn’t mean that the way I received it is legal

 

[DeepIn2U]

This is great. In the past, it's taken up to 5 days for my Macbook Pro battery to be replaced, which is way too long. So having user replacable battery once again is much more convenient for the owner

This is one of those hits that keeps getting better.

Before we celebrate let us see what the replacement battery costs are and if Apple is THE only source. Therein lies the true savings or benefit , if any, of this news. If Apple is the only source it's very possible it could take longer than 5 days just to source a replacement battery.

 

[DeepIn2U]

In the US, other countries are not so lucky. Last year I was quoted $600 by an Apple Authorized Service Provider to replace the swelling battery of a 2013 MacBook Pro. Ended up getting an iFixit kit and paid around $100, but using solvent to replace a battery shouldn't even be considered and it definitely wasn't a fun experience

Honestly I have to give credit to Apple regarding swelling batteries ... so minimal compared to what we're now seeing with other manufacturers like HP, Lenovo, even Dell.

 

[AdamJD]

THIS may actually sell me on the MBP instead of waiting for a Mini update. I've had to replace my Mac-2014 MBP battery every year and a half or half or so going back for 3 or 4 batteries due to BLOATING. Is bloating even an issue on more recent machines or just lifespan?

 

[bgillander]

I can’t wait for the day that computer laptops have easily removable batteries so that they are easy to switch out. Imagine such a day! When technology reaches a point where we, the consumer, can switch out batteries ourselves! Alas, technology still has a long way to go, thus we are in the situation we are in until science can come up with a better way….

Is that sarcasm? Or can I interest you in a 2006 MacBook Pro 15”?

2006 MacBook Pro Battery Removal

Hard to believe anyone would need a video for that, but it is funny to watch today. When my battery swelled well past warranty, the fix was to buy a new battery at the Apple Store, and I didn’t even have to refer to this video to replace it!

 

[anthorumor]

Oh wow I am actually loving this MBP more and more. Good for hand me downs with new battery.

 

[aibo82]

There will surely be a Terminal command to get rid of this. Someone will find it and it will leak.

Not if they implemented it into the T2 chip and it’s a hardware lockout, and only apple has the tool to disable it.

It wouldn’t surprise me apple are getting very uptight about diy repairs!

 

[Orange Bat]

Is that sarcasm? Or can I interest you in a 2006 MacBook Pro 15”?

2006 MacBook Pro Battery Removal

Hard to believe anyone would need a video for that, but it is funny to watch today. When my battery swelled well past warranty, the fix was to buy a new battery at the Apple Store, and I didn’t even have to refer to this video to replace it!

Yes, it was sarcasm. And it obviously didn’t work, LOL! It always seems strange to me that laptops and other devices had replaceable batteries, but have lost the capability over time. Apple used to have replaceable batteries, but now we have to live with computers just losing battery power over time then taking them in Apple and paying them to replace them. It’s a backwards step. Even with this easier-to-replace battery one still has to take the machine apart to replace the battery rather than having a simpler solution, like a removable panel. With Apple making thicker laptops it now begins to feel more of a money grab than ever.

 

[svish]

Did not expect this. This will make it much easier for those who would like to replace the battery by themselves. It might also help in keeping these devices longer.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yes, it was sarcasm. And it obviously didn’t work, LOL! It always seems strange to me that laptops and other devices had replaceable batteries, but have lost the capability over time. Apple used to have replaceable batteries, but now we have to live with computers just losing battery power over time then taking them in Apple and paying them to replace them. It’s a backwards step. Even with this easier-to-replace battery one still has to take the machine apart to replace the battery rather than having a simpler solution, like a removable panel. With Apple making thicker laptops it now begins to feel more of a money grab than ever.

Well, I mean everything every company does is a money grab. And, realistically, the vast majority of people buying a MBP today can likely see 10 or more good years with their original battery (someone earlier indicated they were getting good battery life from a 2010 system and the tech/integration with the hardware is FAR better than in 2010).

 

[MacBH928]

So... You don't have an example of Apple products popping up warnings for self-repairs with actual Apple parts.

'Other' means would be places like iFixit (the company that provided the info for this article). They sell the parts and provide instructions for the repairs.

Again, iFixit. Or Amazon if you search for the same part numbers and read the reviews.

I've replaced both screens and batteries on both Macs and iPhones myself for years and never had an issue with warnings or quality.

so 3rd party batteries?