Genuine Apple Replacement Battery MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

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Level 1

4 points

Genuine Apple Replacement Battery MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

With the pandemic and all the lockdowns, I haven't been able to get my Battery replaced in my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) A1398. And I can't be without my machine for weeks.

As an IT professional with 35 years experience, I am fully cognizant of the issues in replacing the "glued-in" battery. I also trained Service Techs for a decade at the local College.

My machine has the original SMP battery as delivered. I want to order a new, genuine Apple replacement, and install it myself.

The local Apple Store (Conestoga Waterloo) is closed. Ontario is currently in lockdown due to COVID-19. They had advised that they don't do the replacements there, they had to send it away, and cycle time was weeks.

Please provide clear instructions for ordering the part (A1494) for delivery, here in Canada, so that I can replace the battery myself.

Posted on Apr 22, 2021 10:34 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Community+ 2026

Level 9

71,552 points

Apr 23, 2021 5:36 PM in response to joe4227

Apple does not sell parts to anyone other than Authorized Service Providers. Plus Apple does not sell just the battery to their AASPs. Your best option is to find an AASP who actually performs the repairs themselves as you may be able to negotiate with them to order the part ahead of time if you are willing to pay them up front (you would need to pay about $400 US because if you don't show up for the repair the AASP will be out that much money for the part -- you should get a partial refund/credit once the repair is finished -- the part is about $160 US when it is ordered for a battery repair, but costs about $400 US if a defective part is not returned to Apple so an AASP will only do this if they are paid up front so they don't lose any money -- you would be amazed how many people never show up).

If the Apple Store or AASPs don't perform the actual repair themselves, then they will mail the laptop to an Apple mail-in repair depot. I know in the US that typically takes several days to a week on average, but it can vary depending on shipping delays or other COVID related issues. In some regions you can mail the laptop to the Apple mail-in repair depot yourself.

Does your laptop qualify for the Battery Recall?

https://support.apple.com/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall

I highly recommend an official Apple battery repair since the quality of third party Lithium-ion batteries is extremely poor even when purchased from a reputable vendor such as iFixIt or OWC.

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Answer 2

alx1xla

Level 1

30 points

Apr 22, 2021 11:36 PM in response to kaz-k

Whoa?! Seriously? The battery was replaced once under Apple Protection Plan. It should be more than a year now.

Just to confirm, do you see anything weird here...

I truly appreciate you taking the time to help me. Thank you so much.

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Answer 3

joe4227 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2021 11:34 PM in response to HWTech

Re: the recall program - This is what I get:

" The serial number you entered is not eligible under this program because either:

It's not in the affected serial number range.
Our records show that your device has already been serviced as part of this Program."

This system has never been serviced. Based on what I had read aboyt the recalls when they were first announced, it *should* have qualified. Seems Apple have closed that door.

The other part is pretty much what I have come to expect.

I have used Apple products as well as PC's since the Apple ][. Long a fan of their design and usability, not so much their corporate "policies"!

I will confirm with the Apple store, as suggested above, but fully expect what HWTech said above to be the result.

We'll see what happens.

Given the fact that Apple basicly "screwed up" by gluing the battery in to begin with, one would hope that they'd be willing to sell a long-time client a new one without the rigmarole. However, I fully realize that they are not the user-friendly leading company they once were...

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