I have a MacBook Pro 13' should I change it or just get battery service?

JasmineBras wrote:

I have a macbook pro 13' (early 15) and my battery needs servicing. Beside the battery message, my mac is in really good condition. Since my mac is aging, would it be more cost effective to buy a newer mac or to just get the battery serviced?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Since your Mac has fast connections (USB 5 Gbps) and fast WiFi (802.11ac) and it is in good shape, if it runs to your liking and you have enough internal storage, you could continue to use it, although it is limited to Monterey so in several years you may find it doesn't provide all the capabilities you might want. (Some software may require a later MacOS soon, some already do in fact.)

I replaced a battery in a 2013 MacBook Air for $79.75 the cost for a compatible battery from OWC plus $55 labor for the task. This battery has twice the capacity as the original one, so it lasts twice as long. I used an Apple Certified Service Provider -- Apple itself won't do work on older Macs like yours but their certified third party providers often will and the cost is very reasonable, in my experience.

A new Mac laptop similarly equipped would cost about ten times the above so if your Mac is working well, I would stay with it. The 2013 laptop I have is still working fine, my only complaint is that it is limited to Big Sur because it is so old.

anitaandjoe wrote:

Could you kindly tell me who the certified Apple provider is? I have exactly the same question. I do have a new MacBook Pro, but i love my older 2013 one still. I am surprised Apple does not service it anymore, i had it done once before...is that still okay?

You can find the Apple Authorized Service Providers at the Apple web site:

Apple Repair and Repair Status Check - Official Apple Support

There was one just a few km from my home. I brought my laptop and the replacement battery (which I had ordered in advance from a company called OWC, and it had been shipped to me) to the AASP and left the laptop there for about an hour, and when I returned it was all done. I also had them install a new larger SSD (also from OWC) at the same time. That 2013 MacBook Air is still running fine. The main issue with it now is that it is on MacOS Big Sur and cannot be upgraded to a later MacOS any more. So far it runs everything that I need. We bring it on trips sometimes, it is small and light but still very sturdy (I think it is sturdier than the new laptops, which I also use) and if something were to happen to it, it would not be the end of the world, so to speak, because it's provided a lot of good use over 11 years.

Consumer Reports magazine suggests that when the cost to repair an APPLIANCE {refrigerator, washing machine, etc} exceeds HALF the cost to buy new, you should buy new. They are NOT considering the rate at which computers age.

least expensive MacBook Air starts at about US$999. (presuming you do NOT edit videos daily)

cost to replace your battery is about US$250.

P.S. If it were my main computer, I would have used the need for a repair on such an old machine to get a new one! The new laptops are pretty fast and nice. But I ended up refurbishing it because I liked the idea of a second laptop (in addition to the new main one I use) that could be taken around where I might not want to take my primary computer, e.g. when traveling or where size and weight were important to keep small.

The other consideration is,

"Does this Mac meet your needs? "

If it falls short in any way, will a selected newer Mac better meet your needs? if so, that tips the scale slightly toward replace.

Could you kindly tell me who the certified Apple provider is? I have exactly the same question. I do have a new MacBook Pro, but i love my older 2013 one still. I am surprised Apple does not service it anymore, i had it done once before...is that still okay?

...and it means not to have your computer available for a couple of days additionally, this might be a minor problem for some folks but a major one for others.