MB 1,1-7,1 Repeatedly receiving slightly curved/swollen replacement batteries for 2006 MacBooks

[victor.muc]

Hi everyone,

I have several 2006 MacBooks and MacBook Pros and have been trying to replace the old batteries. However:

• For my black MacBook 2006: I ordered 4 different batteries (Amazon, eBay, different sellers). All arrived with a slight curve/warp.
• For the MacBook Pro 17” (2006): I ordered 2 batteries: both arrived slightly curved and pushing up the trackpad.
• For the MacBook Pro 15” (2006): I ordered 3 batteries in a row, same issue.

All batteries were advertised as new. However, each one shows a slight curvature, which makes me suspect internal swelling.

I’ll add some photos for reference. (Please ignore the dust on my shelf 🤠)

Questions:

1. Is it common for replacement batteries for early 2000s MacBooks to arrive slightly warped/swollen?
2. Is this a sign of bad quality cells or are those batteries sitting in the warehouse for 10 years?
3. Is it safe to use a slightly curved battery if it fits but bulges the case slightly? I think the answer is no but maybe I’m missing something.
4. What alternatives do y’all recommend?

I’m aware that most third party batteries for these models aren’t premium quality, but I’m honestly surprised that every single unit arrived deformed. Can quality control really be this bad, or is this just unavoidable at this age?

Interestingly, I also bought two replacement batteries for my 2009 MacBooks and both arrived in excellent physical condition. Can a difference of just three years in model age really have such a noticeable impact on battery condition and availability?


Thanks!

 

[CooperBox]

In my experience with laptops, a bulging battery (even slightly) is evidence of one or more defective cells. They may function but as you've already found, one risks pressure being exerted on the underside of the trackpad which will lead to erratic movement of the curser followed by total failure. I've never purchased batteries from Ebay, one may be ok with a highly recommended reseller, but I've read of many battery scams too.
I've purchased several macbook batteries from Amazon, but caution is advised, cheap is usually synonymous with 'nasty' and I've preferred to pay a liitle more from sellers with a high rating and who offer return warranty if defective. Also check out the Amazon user reviews - not always foolproof but often gives an added feeling of safety. I've been using an Xinglt model of after-market battery in a MacBook Air and after 10 months of use it still retains a reasonable level of charge.

 

[BradleyinDC]

They are probably new in the sense they haven't been used, but they were probably manufactured a decade and a half ago.

 

[victor.muc]

In my experience with laptops, a bulging battery (even slightly) is evidence of one or more defective cells. They may function but as you've already found, one risks pressure being exerted on the underside of the trackpad which will lead to erratic movement of the curser followed by total failure. I've never purchased batteries from Ebay, one may be ok with a highly recommended reseller, but I've read of many battery scams too.
I've purchased several macbook batteries from Amazon, but caution is advised, cheap is usually synonymous with 'nasty' and I've preferred to pay a liitle more from sellers with a high rating and who offer return warranty if defective. Also check out the Amazon user reviews - not always foolproof but often gives an added feeling of safety. I've been using an Xinglt model of after-market battery in a MacBook Air and after 10 months of use it still retains a reasonable level of charge.

Thank you! And yes, that’s exactly why I’m hesitant to use them. Even slight swelling can eventually turn into a fire hazard, and as you mentioned, can also damage the trackpad over time.

The issue I’m running into is availability. In Germany, there simply don’t seem to be any "premium" replacement options for 2006 MacBooks on Amazon or eBay. I’m more than willing to pay a higher price for better quality, but there doesn’t appear to be a higher quality "tier" available at all.

I carefully chose listings with the best reviews, but I’m starting to wonder whether either the reviews are artificially inflated or buyers simply aren’t aware that even minor bulging is not normal and may indicate a safety issue.

I suspect the latter.

I’ll take a look at Xinglt as well!

 

[victor.muc]

They are probably new in the sense they haven't been used, but they were probably manufactured a decade and a half ago.

I suspect the same. I was honestly surprised they’re still being sold at all.

 

[weaztek]

I had a 2007 MBP. The OEM battery swelled, then when I replaced it, Apple wasn't making batteries for it so I went third party. That too swelled.

The 07 was able to run without a battery inserted, with the power cord. I did that for a few years until last year when I replaced it.

 

[atarixle]

my 2 cents on batteries: MacBook A1181 batteries all seem to be bad quality. They all fail soon, they all hold a charge of three hours or less when they work perfectly. So they are bad by design.
But I had never swollen by arrival batteries yet - I ordered my last A1181 battery like back in 2016 or 2017 - that seem to be another time. Since then I had luck with some batteries that came with other "as-is" or "for-parts" MacBooks. The one I am just typing on has a not-swollen which holds a good charge of 1h43 or so (status: replace soon!). And I got a pretty well working black replacement battery (glossy, so defo 3rd party) found in a "non-working" ebay-MacBook.

Recently I bought a replacement battery for a MacBook7,1, and one for a MacBook5,1 ... both came in pretty good quality housings, and fitted perfectly in the devices. They also hold a decent charge (I don't know what Apple's intended battery-runtime used to be). So both, the 7,1 as well as the 5,1 now are perfect for working with battery only - something I barely do with an A1181 (MacBook1,1 ... 5,2).
iBook: I got five iBooks. My G3 came with a nearly dead battery, I replaced it with something from ebay back in 2010. This battery I put into a G4 in like 2012, and put the G4 battery into the G3. Both still work great.
I got me a 14" G4 from 2004 in 2024. The device seemed to not have been turned on for like ten years considering the files dates, but the battery still works greatly.
I got me another 14" from 2005 in 2024, same story, but the battery is dead.

PowerBook 12": good luck finding a battery at all!
PowerBook 15", MacBook Pro 15", MacBook Pro 17" ... all the same: you get cheap wobbly batteries only, but they kinda work, and if you're in luck they hold a decent charge for quite some time, but then they're only purpose is for not throttling the Intel processor for being on cord only (and may be take the laptop from one room to another).

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Hi everyone,

I have several 2006 MacBooks and MacBook Pros and have been trying to replace the old batteries. However:

• For my black MacBook 2006: I ordered 4 different batteries (Amazon, eBay, different sellers). All arrived with a slight curve/warp.
• For the MacBook Pro 17” (2006): I ordered 2 batteries: both arrived slightly curved and pushing up the trackpad.
• For the MacBook Pro 15” (2006): I ordered 3 batteries in a row, same issue.

All batteries were advertised as new. However, each one shows a slight curvature, which makes me suspect internal swelling.

I’ll add some photos for reference. (Please ignore the dust on my shelf 🤠)

Questions:

1. Is it common for replacement batteries for early 2000s MacBooks to arrive slightly warped/swollen?
2. Is this a sign of bad quality cells or are those batteries sitting in the warehouse for 10 years?
3. Is it safe to use a slightly curved battery if it fits but bulges the case slightly? I think the answer is no but maybe I’m missing something.
4. What alternatives do y’all recommend?

I’m aware that most third party batteries for these models aren’t premium quality, but I’m honestly surprised that every single unit arrived deformed. Can quality control really be this bad, or is this just unavoidable at this age?

Interestingly, I also bought two replacement batteries for my 2009 MacBooks and both arrived in excellent physical condition. Can a difference of just three years in model age really have such a noticeable impact on battery condition and availability?


Thanks!

The batteries I order from OWC have never had this issue and I've probably ordered at least a dozen laptop batteries over the years from them. Have you used them before or only other sellers?

I am currently using an OWC battery in my White MacBook 2008 that I bought about a year ago and it's been working awesome without any issues whatsoever...and it wasn't too expensive either.

🙂

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[atarixle]

Can we make a suggestion there? They named the white MacBook (A1181) the wrong numbering: 1,2 ... 5,1 (correctly itis 1,1 ... 5,2).