Question: MacBook pro3rd battery in 3 years. Why?

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Level 1

(6 points)

Notebooks

Question: MacBook pro3rd battery in 3 years. Why?

MacBook Pro 13 inch 2017 Nov. First battery failed after 15 months with 73 cycles. Had to pay for replacement. The replacement battery failed this week with 132 cycles. Similar symptoms. Computer shutting down at 40-50% battery charge then battery fails. Is this gonna happen to my 3rd battery.

I am correct in thinking that 1.5 years battery life is not the norm. Can’t be. Right. No company would sell a laptop with a battery with a life span of only 1.5 years that can’t be rep.aced by the owner and has to be replaced by the maker. Especially when it is incorporated into the Keyboard which means that the keyboard has to be replaced also. It’d be stupid. Right!

2 bad batterys? I doubt it so perhaps it’s the way I use my Mac. I mostly use it in clamshell mode connected to a monitor and hard drive for backups. When I have used my Mac without the power supply I rarely if ever use it for more than 2 hours running the battery down to about 40%. Certainly never to zero. Overnight I usually leave it in sleep and disconnect the power supply.

So can anyone tell if there something in the way I am using it that’s killing the batteries? I ask because I do not want to have to pay for another battery replacement in another 1.5 years time.

Thanks

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Sep 8, 2020 3:32 AM

Reply

Answer 1

kaz-k

Level 8

(36,964 points)

Desktops

Sep 8, 2020 3:48 AM in response to kiwao In response to kiwao

Hi,

Have you tried resetting SMC? Not sure it could help your problem, though.

Sep 8, 2020 3:48 AM

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Answer 2

kiwao

Level 1

(6 points)

Notebooks

Sep 8, 2020 3:57 AM in response to kaz-k In response to kaz-k

Thanks for your reply. Yes I did and you are right to be doubtful because it didn’t help.

Sep 8, 2020 3:57 AM

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Answer 3

kiwao

Level 1

(6 points)

Notebooks

Sep 8, 2020 4:25 PM in response to kiwao In response to kiwao

Wow. One reply. From the response or should I say lack of I can assume that I am using my Mac normally. Batteries have a life span rating of 1000 cycles or 3 years under normal use. Yet both my batteries have failed well before this. Isn’t there some regulation relating to the performance of products. Shouldn’t products perform to a reasonable standard in relations to the specifications set by the manufacturer regardless of warranty.

These two Batteries one failing at 73 cycles and the other at 132 cycles fall way below the manufacturers spec so I do not think that I should have to pay.

Now I would like to discuss this matter with Apple support but because I do not have a warranty I cannot contact them on their support sight.

Can anyone provide a link to a number so that I can speak to someone regarding this matter?

It would be much appreciated

Sep 8, 2020 4:25 PM

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Answer 4

babowa

Level 9

(64,488 points)

iPad

Sep 8, 2020 4:46 PM in response to kiwao In response to kiwao

Here is their corporate address - ask for Customer Relations either via phone or snail mail:

Sep 8, 2020 4:46 PM

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

(107,760 points)

macOS

Sep 8, 2020 5:19 PM in response to kiwao In response to kiwao

I don't know why you aren't getting a more reasonable service life from your Mac's batteries.

If there is a clue, this might be it:

When I have used my Mac without the power supply I rarely if ever use it for more than 2 hours running the battery down to about 40%. Certainly never to zero.

It is not necessary to obsess about a Mac's battery to such a degree, and it may even be counterproductive. It obviously strays far from anything resembling a scientific method, but my experience is such that the less a user pays attention to his or her Mac's battery, the longer they last. The converse also holds true.

Same for iPads and iPhones. They all use the same battery technology and it's reasonable to expect a similar service life from them. Five years is about right, seven years at most. You're an outlier.

Keep your Mac cool. Don't use cases, "skins" or the like, and never cover the keyboard with anything but your fingers. Read About Mac notebook batteries and Keep your Mac notebook within acceptable operating temperatures.

Isn’t there some regulation relating to the performance of products.

Statutory relief exists in the EU.

Sep 8, 2020 5:19 PM

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Question: Q: MacBook pro3rd battery in 3 years. Why?

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Question: MacBook pro3rd battery in 3 years. Why?