I have a late 2013 MacBook pro that needs a battery replacement. I wanted to find out people's thoughts on:
1/ It is very expensive to replace (CDN$500) and I'm wondering if I should put this money towards a new MacBook. Thoughts?
2 If I don't replace the battery will it keep working as long as it is plugged in? What happens if the battery completely dies?
TIA
You should definitely plan for a replacement laptop.
However, you can continue using this laptop using the power adapter until the battery condition worsens. The biggest concern as the battery ages & degrades is the possibility of the battery swelling. Otherwise you should be fine, just keep an eye out for signs of swelling (trackpad starting to lift or not function correctly....cursor moves or jumps, or the laptop no longer sits flat on the table/desk).
What happens if the battery fails completely? Hard to say since every battery is different. Some will just degrade and may perhaps no longer be seen by the system. As long as the battery's temperature sensor does not fail to communicate with the Logic Board & macOS, then you probably won't notice anything. With Retina model laptops, sometimes if the battery is having a problem or disappears, it may cause the laptop to run very slow because the CPU will only run at idle speeds (800MHz instead of 2Ghz+) even when under heavy load. If the battery's temp sensor is not available, then it will cause the laptop's fan(s) to run at high speed, plus the Retinal model laptop may run very slow. Plus the risk of the battery swelling does increase.
You definitely need to plan for a replacement even if you decide to continue using this laptop.
You should definitely plan for a replacement laptop.
However, you can continue using this laptop using the power adapter until the battery condition worsens. The biggest concern as the battery ages & degrades is the possibility of the battery swelling. Otherwise you should be fine, just keep an eye out for signs of swelling (trackpad starting to lift or not function correctly....cursor moves or jumps, or the laptop no longer sits flat on the table/desk).
What happens if the battery fails completely? Hard to say since every battery is different. Some will just degrade and may perhaps no longer be seen by the system. As long as the battery's temperature sensor does not fail to communicate with the Logic Board & macOS, then you probably won't notice anything. With Retina model laptops, sometimes if the battery is having a problem or disappears, it may cause the laptop to run very slow because the CPU will only run at idle speeds (800MHz instead of 2Ghz+) even when under heavy load. If the battery's temp sensor is not available, then it will cause the laptop's fan(s) to run at high speed, plus the Retinal model laptop may run very slow. Plus the risk of the battery swelling does increase.
You definitely need to plan for a replacement even if you decide to continue using this laptop.
The MacBook will work when plugged in, but there are other issues it could lead to. For one, it may be a safety issue if the battery becomes hot and starts to bulge and also the bulging battery will cause other hardware issues from the pressure on the keyboard and other internal components.
In my opinion, this is the time to upgrade your MacBook. There are many enhancements to the Silicon Macs and you would definitely notice a large speed improvement going from a 10 year old MacBook Pro. Instead of spending $500 on that one, just consider it as a $500 discount on a new one.
Perhaps you may find a good replacement new
owc battery for less than half the number cited..
MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Kits - 100% Apple Compatible
<https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/laptop-batteries/macbook-pro>
Website has details, includes instructions; & guarantees. Two of my
older Mac portables use these, and have been surprisingly effective.
(Units with retina display are more difficult to replace DIY; some
of us have/had hands-on learning with these tech experiences.
AASP who installed newertech batteries, or i fixit's, may do this.)
The 'internal drive/ main storage' may also be upgraded.
Upgrades Guaranteed to work with your Mac by OWC (guessed @ this)
https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/macbook-pro-retina-13-inch-late-2013-2.6-ghz
[And external storage might be a longer lasting option, for some models.]
everymac.com has info on the update/upgrade paths too; and most/all mac specs.
Where are you getting the CDN$500 replacement cost? At current exchange rate, the Apple cost to replace a battery is on the order of CDN$350
werdup Said:
"MacBook battery replacement: I have a late 2013 MacBook pro that needs a battery replacement. I wanted to find out people's thoughts on:[...]"
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Troubleshoot the Mac's Charge:
Save a Few. Rather than going about getting anew battery, or a new Mac, start with troubleshooting the charge.
Refer to the following....
A. Reset the SMC and your NVRAM:
(Applies to Intel-Based Macs Only) Sometimes when changes are made to the system(i.e. Updates), system configurations (i.e. for Power) become manipulated, technically. So, reset the SMC and NVRAM. Try performing each thrice. It may take sometime, being certain you have the time to perform these resets.
B. Try a New Charger:
C. A Few Links to Refer to for Power:
"Where are you getting that price? I called an authorized Apple repair store in Toronto. Battery+labour+tax".
One source: $200-$300. I usually see $249 as a quoted single price: https://www.macbookproslow.com/macbook-pro-battery-replacement-cost/
But prices do change.
Any given outfit can charge any price they can get away with. I'm just saying if you search the web, you won't find $500 for battery replacement by a reputable shop.
"werdup Said:
"MacBook battery replacement:The 'Service Battery' indication is on. [...]In short, there is no consistency"
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Then take this as a good reason to upgrade, to a newer, Mac model.
Consumer Reports magazine, when discussing repairs of Appliances like dishwashers, suggests that, when the cost to repair exceeds half the cost of new, you should buy new. Computers AGE-out MUCH more quickly than dishwashers.
The entry-level MacBook Air (provided you DON"T edit videos daily) is about US$999 in the US. [You may need more RAM that the default.]
MacBook Air (no fan, so it will slow down if you over-tax it) starts at US$999 for M1 version, and goes up to about US$200 for 16 GB RAM and US$400 for 1 TB drive. US$1599 with 16 Gb and 1 TB drive. M2 adds another US$100 for a US$1699 starting price.
MacBook Pro 13-in M2 (same as Air except adds Touch Bar and FAN starts for US$200 additional) at US$1299, and goes up to about US$1899 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB drive.
Where are you getting that price? I called an authorized Apple repair store in Toronto. Battery+labour+tax.
• The 'Service Battery' indication is on.
• If I use only the battery it will last 2- 3 hours max, however;
• Sometimes the computer turns off without a warning with 30-40% charge left.
• The battery most of the times charges to 100% but sometimes get stuck at 98-99% and the charger light stays orange.
• Sometimes it gives me a warning when it gets to 5%
• The charger cable insulation is broken but the wire seems fine. Used electrical tape to repair. Apple store it should be fine.
In short, there is no consistency
My Mac has 1TB SSD HD and 16GB of RAM. I would probably buy a similar MacBook so I'm looking at $4000.00 at least after tax.
MacBook battery replacement
