Swollen battery Macbook Pro 15" 2015

[Martius]

So, today I want to my local Apple service center to clean internals of my laptop (for the first time), because the fans sounded little weird and after the service, they told me, that part of my battery is a little swollen and that they recommend me a replacement. Ok, I said, how much is a replacement for this kind of battery – "ehm about $300-350 dollars (6000-7000CZK)" they said. I visited about 3 other services centers and the price range for the battery replacement went from about $250 to f***ing $600. And of course, the service takes somewhere between 7 to 14 days.

Why don't I have Apple Care you ask? Because you can't get Apple Care in Czech Republic, not even from the official online Apple store.

I have been caring about my laptop the best I could, I used only original charger, once a month I let the computer to get to around 10-15% to exercise the battery a little bit. I never let the computer to run at full speed for a longer period of time. My battery has 211 cycles (the computer is 7 months out of 2 years warranty).

Yet I have swollen battery. Planned obsolescence at its best. Does anyone have similar experience? 200 cycle swollen battery?

Just wow! I think this is my last Macbook Pro, hope it will last until 2020 after the battery replacement.

The thing is that when you buy a Leica camera (which used to be /for me/ an equivalent brand to Apple in terms of being "the most premium brand" of some kind of product), you pay a lot of money not just for the tech, but also for the longevity. Of course the Leica camera could fail even after one year, but it just doesn't happen. What scares me the most that in computer industry right now there is not a single company that would produce a long living devices. Maybe Apple never was a brand like that, but I know much more people that were using their pre-retina MBP for more than 3 years, than the people that were using rMBP for longer than 3 years, so I think the Apple used to be closer to produce really long-living devices than other manufacturers. And you know what is the most "green" device you can build? The one that lasts 2x longer than other devices. That "green ecofriendly" Apple thing is just a pure marketing.

I was thinking what's the best way how to use Apple devices in 2018 in my country.
(I mention pricing in this post)

1. You need to have 2 devices of the same kind (2 Macbooks, 2 iPhones), so you don't care if the one is in service, because it happens a lot and if you are not in the US or another bigger country, you don't get replacements. The service usually takes between 1 to 3 weeks.

2. Sell the device immediately after the warranty expires. In EU countries it's usually 2 years. Or you can buy extended warranty, which Apple premium resellers here in Czech Republic are selling around $200 per year (max. 2 years, so you get 2+2). And you can also buy 2 years of premium warranty which covers accidental damage (+$500 for two years) – which is a must, because you now: accidents happend.

I'm a developer, I don't need super-fast processor or GPU, but I need a lot of RAM, bigger screen and having a bigger SSD is also nice.

So if I follow those steps I will replace my MBP battery for around $350 and buy the new MBP 15" 2018 (the base 2.2 with 512GB SSD / 32GB RAM) which is $4200 (plus $900 for the extended warranties). But I won't do that. In 2020 I'm gonna buy different laptop brand and used Leica M9 and have a nice time with both devices

The frustration is real. Sorry for whining.

 

[jakontil]

About swollen battery, do you feel its shorten when used?
I don’t care bout it being swollen, as long as it stands my daily activities...

Don’t get me wrong, i completely understand how u feel bout paying premium and getting in return )

Lucky i dont have a fan that need to check and only
To find my battery macbook early 2016 swollen )

But even the M10 isn’t as reliable... with its bells and whistles bout failed iso dials, so i gues it’s entirely relying on luck...

 

[Martius]

About swollen battery, do you feel its shorten when used?
I don’t care bout it being swollen, as long as it stands my daily activities...

Don’t get me wrong, i completely understand how u feel bout paying premium and getting in return )

Lucky i dont have a fan that need to check and only
To find my battery macbook early 2016 swollen )

But even the M10 isn’t as reliable... with its bells and whistles bout failed iso dials, so i gues it’s entirely relying on luck...

Thank you for your reply.

I don't feel its shorten at all. Maybe like 10-15%. When it was new it lasted like 6-7 hours, now its maybe 5-6 hours (I mostly use browser / IDE / terminal + sometimes image editor). When I check the battery in that Apple system info window, it's says it's ok. And on daily basis, my laptop is almost always connected to charger (75-80% of time I'm using it).

But of course I'm scared, because that guy said something like: "if it will not sit on the desk flat, you know the chasis is bend and you have to replace it..."

 

[jakontil]

Yeah i think still normal, i probably won’t replace it though

But not sure if it gets bigger / swollen will effect aesthetically or worse, pressing the logic board etc...

 

[Martius]

Yeah i think still normal, i probably won’t replace it though

But not sure if it gets bigger / swollen will effect aesthetically or worse, pressing the logic board etc...

He told me so, that it could break the logic board etc. I believe people (maybe too much), so they might just want my money, because you know – I went there to get the computer cleaned from inside, which is like a task I could do at home, which made me looking dumb in their eyes.

But I believe they were not lying.

 

[hallux]

I've seen the effects of a swollen battery on a MBP, I would consider getting the service. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than a replacement machine and some would say you have one of the best models available.

I have been caring about my laptop the best I could

My battery has 211 cycles

I'll be honest, these statements are contradictory. using the laptop while plugged in much of the time is actually NOT properly caring for the battery. Some will say that the optimal charge level to maintain on the battery is between 20% and 80%. I replaced the battery in my 2012 this Spring and ever since I try to run on the battery a few times a week, running it down to 50% or so.

 

[Martius]

I've seen the effects of a swollen battery on a MBP, I would consider getting the service. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than a replacement machine and some would say you have one of the best models available.

I'll be honest, these statements are contradictory. using the laptop while plugged in much of the time is actually NOT properly caring for the battery. Some will say that the optimal charge level to maintain on the battery is between 20% and 80%. I replaced the battery in my 2012 this Spring and ever since I try to run on the battery a few times a week, running it down to 50% or so.

Suprisingly for me, what you are saying is something what a technician in one of the local Apple service center said to me today. He said that the batteries in a laptop are meant to be used as batteries in a mobile phone. You charge it, unplug it, use it and charge it again when you have like 20-30% for example. He said that nowdays a lot of people use their laptops the same way they use desktops (like me) and most of the time the laptops are in a charger and that is ruining the battery the most. And that people should run on the battery every day.

So you are right, I took my lesson from it.

BTW: I ordered an official repair at that service center I mentioned, because it's the only one that said to me, that Apple is replacing those swollen (defective) batteries for lower price than it would cost if I just wanted to replace battery that is working ok. Other service centers offered me the official repair for about $600-700. Official repair = complete top cover replacement. What a bloody steal!

Those european prices are nuts!

 

[_Kiki_]

Suprisingly for me, what you are saying is something what a technician in one of the local Apple service center said to me today. He said that the batteries in a laptop are meant to be used as batteries in a mobile phone. You charge it, unplug it, use it and charge it again when you have like 20-30% for example. He said that nowdays a lot of people use their laptops the same way they use desktops (like me) and most of the time the laptops are in a charger and that is ruining the battery the most. And that people should run on the battery every day.

So you are right, I took my lesson from it.

BTW: I ordered an official repair at that service center I mentioned, because it's the only one that said to me, that Apple is replacing those swollen (defective) batteries for lower price than it would cost if I just wanted to replace battery that is working ok. Other service centers offered me the official repair for about $600-700. Official repair = complete top cover replacement. What a bloody steal!

Those european prices are nuts!

that's not true, I have 8 years old gaming laptop, used almost all time plugged in to the charger, battery health is still around 90%

also my MacBook Pro 15 2016 it's almost all time plugged in to the charger, battery has only 3 cycles and it's like brand new

when the laptop is plugged in to charger is using power from the charger not from the battery, using laptop plugged in to the charger won't ruin the battery

the easiest way to ruin the battery is using the laptop in extreme conditions (high humidity, extreme high/low temperatures etc.)

 

[Martius]

that's not true, I have 8 years old gaming laptop, used almost all time plugged in to the charger, battery health is still around 90%

also my MacBook Pro 15 2016 it's almost all time plugged in to the charger, battery has only 3 cycles and it's like brand new

when the laptop is plugged in to charger is using power from the charger not from the battery, using laptop plugged in to the charger won't ruin the battery

the easiest way to ruin the battery is using the laptop in extreme conditions (high humidity, extreme high/low temperatures etc.)

Yeah my battery also "looks" quite healthy after 3 years: 200 cycles, 87% of the capacity (hardware check shows it's ok), yet it is swollen. So who is right? That guy who told me this seems to be quite experienced Apple technician. Here in Middle Europe is quite nice weather: not so hot, not so cold, average humidity). I move my computer only between my office and my home. Never left it in a hot car, never left it on sun. Really took care about it... never dropped etc.

 

[teeejay]

My 2 cents. The analogy to Leica is wrong imho.

I believe that in nowadays consumer oriented world functioning eletronics are based purely on luck not on their price tags.

Had 2012 MBPr (dead pixel spots), 2016 MBPr w/Touchbar (new display due to the horrendous back-light bleed, had a call from service, that logic board has to be replaced too due to loose antenna connector), iPhone 4 (speaker not working) all of those issues out of the box.

With PC - Evga 780 Classified (went through 3 cards, each of the had ugly coilwhine) and I could continue.

As we are producing more and more products in large numbers, the fault % is incredibly high.

 

[jerryk]

My 2 cents. The analogy to Leica is wrong imho.

I believe that in nowadays consumer oriented world functioning eletronics are based purely on luck not on their price tags.

Had 2012 MBPr (dead pixel spots), 2016 MBPr w/Touchbar (new display due to the horrendous back-light bleed, had a call from service, that logic board has to be replaced too due to loose antenna connector), iPhone 4 (speaker not working) all of those issues out of the box.

With PC - Evga 780 Classified (went through 3 cards, each of the had ugly coilwhine) and I could continue.

As we are producing more and more products in large numbers, the fault % is incredibly high.

Agreed. Also Leica sells thousands of cameras. Apple sells millions of MBPs, and there is no epidemic of swollen batteries in the 2015 MBPs. Also a battery has a finite lifespan. It is a wear component with 800 cycle limit.

 

[patchedreality]

I had a swollen battery in my 2013 15" MBP last year, and Apple agreed to fix it for free, even though it was out of warranty.

 

[JPack]

Suprisingly for me, what you are saying is something what a technician in one of the local Apple service center said to me today. He said that the batteries in a laptop are meant to be used as batteries in a mobile phone. You charge it, unplug it, use it and charge it again when you have like 20-30% for example. He said that nowdays a lot of people use their laptops the same way they use desktops (like me) and most of the time the laptops are in a charger and that is ruining the battery the most. And that people should run on the battery every day.

It’s very true and unfortunately, not many people are aware of it.

For example, Apple introduced charge management for iPad in iOS 11.3 because there were many reports of swollen batteries in iPads used as display units and those being charged long term in carts. Li-ion will last the longest if you keep the charge between 80-20%.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208710

 

[Martius]

I had a swollen battery in my 2013 15" MBP last year, and Apple agreed to fix it for free, even though it was out of warranty.

Good for you but I'm afraid that it's possible only via real Apple stores. There are only Apple Premium Resellers in my country and they are greedy and very unfriendly.

 

[bobbie424242]

I currently have a badly swollen battery in my 2014 model: touchpad does not work anymore and case is deformed (not flat on a table). And the lid cannot be closed entirely anymore.
I have an appointment at a genius bar in a few days and I hope it'll go well. My machine was also always plugged to charger for years in clamshell mode and the battery almost never used (14 cycles!).
Whatever comes from my visit to the Apple Store, my next purchase will be a middle finger to thin laptops and will be a bulky Dell workstation where I can replace the battery myself in 3 minutes. Ultra thin is antagonistic to durable.