Why you should never buy cheap replacement batteries

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

I travel 8 months of the year around the world with my 2017 MacBook.
I also have my late 2009 MacBook which I take with me at times when I prefer to leave my new one at home.
The original Apple battery lasted an amazing 6 years with 2500 cycle counts on it! It kind of made me realise the quality that Apple demands from its component suppliers.

Sadly, Apple could not supply a replacement battery due to my MacBook being 6 years old and I was forced here in the UK to buy from Amazon. I bought a SLODA battery due to its decent reviews at £45.
At first the battery lasted for 4 hours on a charge - slightly less than the original. At 12 months old, it dropped to less than 2 hours and then fell to 25 minutes. At 23 months old, it is now completely useless. It's warped and have pushed out my lower case panel etc.

I messaged the company vis Amazon and today this is the message that I received...

"Deeply sorry for the inconvenience, we sincerely apologize. But as you can see we offer replacement batteries at a price much lower than original ones, and the battery life is shorter than Apple battery too, that's the maximum we can offer, hope for your kind understanding.
Wish you a nice day!

SLODA Power Service"

This has got to be the most non existent customer service ever. I guess that i'm lucky that the battery did not explode.

Does ANYONE know of a decent battery that I can buy here in the UK please? Does Amazon really allow its sellers to behave like this?

 

[EugW]

Yes, this is par for the course for 3rd party MacBook batteries. However, for old MacBooks, buying used OEM batteries isn't any better, because, well, they're used. So it's just something we have to deal with.

For my old white 2008 MacBook, just days after I put it back into circulation with Linux after replacing the thermal paste, the battery started bulging. So, I bit the bullet and bought a 3rd party battery. It was bulging right out of the box. Nice. Amazon didn't even want it back, and just gave me a refund, so I had to take it to the hazardous waste dept. at the dump.

Got another 3rd party battery and it's been OK, but who knows how long this one will last.

BTW, replacing the thermal paste on that old MacBook4,1 helped significantly.

 

[frou]

MacSales/OWC do actual quality batteries (NuPower range) but it's a hassle to import from the US.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Yes, this is par for the course for 3rd party MacBook batteries. However, for old MacBooks, buying used OEM batteries isn't any better, because, well, they're used. So it's just something we have to deal with.

For my old white 2008 MacBook, just days after I put it back into circulation with Linux after replacing the thermal paste, the battery started bulging. So, I bit the bullet and bought a 3rd party battery. It was bulging right out of the box. Nice. Amazon didn't even want it back, and just gave me a refund, so I had to take it to the hazardous waste dept. at the dump.

Got another 3rd party battery and it's been OK, but who knows how long this one will last.

BTW, replacing the thermal paste on that old MacBook4,1 helped significantly.

Thank you EugW. I guess it shows how good that original ones were. SAMSUNG I believe!
I've learnt that Amazon really will allow any old crap to be sold through their platform. A very very hard lesson learnt!

I'll go with the Duracell one as that is at least from a very respectable battery company here in the UK.

IF, I keep my lovely 2017 MacBook over 5 years, i'll order the OEM battery and keep it safe before Apple discontinue it! Hopefully by then, I may have a new MacBook with ARM technology
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MacSales/OWC do actual quality batteries (NuPower range) but it's a hassle to import from the US.

Thank you for your advice buddy. Appreciated!

 

[Riwam]

Yes, this is par for the course for 3rd party MacBook batteries. However, for old MacBooks, buying used OEM batteries isn't any better, because, well, they're used. So it's just something we have to deal with.

For my old white 2008 MacBook, just days after I put it back into circulation with Linux after replacing the thermal paste, the battery started bulging. So, I bit the bullet and bought a 3rd party battery. It was bulging right out of the box. Nice. Amazon didn't even want it back, and just gave me a refund, so I had to take it to the hazardous waste dept. at the dump.

Got another 3rd party battery and it's been OK, but who knows how long this one will last.

BTW, replacing the thermal paste on that old MacBook4,1 helped significantly.

I never opened my MB 4.1 more than taking the removable battery which allows to change the 2.5" HD and add RAM.
Is reaching to the processor to replace the thermal paste hazardous and complicated?
When I hold my MB 4.1 in my hands the upper left part of the base case becomes very unpleasantly hot. The fan works almost all the time but I learned to accept both inconveniences for an over 10 years old computer.
I assume the hot spot is the place where the 2.4 MHz CPU sits.
I wonder if replacing the thermal paste can reduce the unpleasant heath but I confess I am afraid to have to dismantle the MB 4.1 and doing so break something
I believe in "if ain't broken don't repair it" and I cannot honestly say it is broken.
Would you elaborate on your procedure to replace the thermal paste please?
Thanks in advance!
Ed

 

[EugW]

I never opened my MB 4.1 more than taking the removable battery which allows to change the 2.5" HD and add RAM.
Is reaching to the processor to replace the thermal paste hazardous and complicated?
When I hold my MB 4.1 in my hands the upper left part of the base case becomes very unpleasantly hot. The fan works almost all the time but I learned to accept both inconveniences for an over 10 years old computer.
I assume the hot spot is the place where the 2.4 MHz CPU sits.
I wonder if replacing the thermal paste can reduce the unpleasant heath but I confess I am afraid to have to dismantle the MB 4.1 and doing so break something
I believe in "if ain't broken don't repair it" and I cannot honestly say it is broken.
Would you elaborate on your procedure to replace the thermal paste please?
Thanks in advance!
Ed

It’s not exactly easy but if you are meticulous and go slowly, it is manageable. You need the right tools though.

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/76366/Changing+cooling+paste+on+MacBook+Core+2+Duo

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Core+2+Duo+Heat+Sink+Replacement/524

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Apply+Thermal+Paste/744

 

[burpootus]

Lots of Macbooks have battery issues. You are buying a "cheap" battery when you buy a Macbook, only the price isn't cheap. My early 2016 Macbook threw a service battery warning at 161 cycle counts, out of warranty though.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I have also had bad experience with third party batteries, so when my son's 2008 MBP battery died I tracked down a genuine unopened Apple MBP original replacement, a single item sale on Amazon. "Forensic" examination of the battery compared to the old one convinced me it was a genuine Apple one. At first it seemed OK but health level fell away rapidly after a year. Coconut battery showed it as being six years old, so must have been forgotten on a shelf somewhere and degraded due to lack of use.....either that or a very good fake, but why would a fake report itself a six years old?

Lesson: genuine Apple batteries for old models may not be any good!

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Lots of Macbooks have battery issues. You are buying a "cheap" battery when you buy a Macbook, only the price isn't cheap. My early 2016 Macbook threw a service battery warning at 161 cycle counts, out of warranty though.

Not really. The new MacBooks have a complete new style of batteries and sadly, they just don't seem to be that efficient and maybe not very well designed. If anything, it's proving a learning curve for Apple.
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I have also had bad experience with third party batteries, so when my son's 2008 MBP battery died I tracked down a genuine unopened Apple MBP original replacement, a single item sale on Amazon. "Forensic" examination of the battery compared to the old one convinced me it was a genuine Apple one. At first it seemed OK but health level fell away rapidly after a year. Coconut battery showed it as being six years old, so must have been forgotten on a shelf somewhere and degraded due to lack of use.....either that or a very good fake, but why would a fake report itself a six years old?

Lesson: genuine Apple batteries for old models may not be any good!

Ouch Mike! I guess sitting on a shelf for 6 years will age a battery!

 

[raymanster]

I've not tried yet, but the iFixit Europe store sell replacement batteries.

https://eustore.ifixit.com/en/home/