Best place to get replacement battery for MacBook Pro A1278 (Mid 2012 Model)

kahjot wrote:

I bought a replacement battery for my 2011 MacBook Pro from OWC (macsales.com). It’s an easy swap. You can find how-to videos on the OWC site. I don’t see why replacing a failing battery should be any more problematic than replacing the hard drive or the RAM.

I wouldn't say it's more or less problematic about replacing those things. However, this is one of the things where Apple seems to draw a line in the sand where they're saying "don't do it". 2.5" SATA and PC3-12800 SODIMMs are industry standards, and the whole idea around using them is interchangeability, the ability for computer manufacturers to buy commodity parts, and for the user to install commodity parts. The battery however is a proprietary, and the standards (that's 1000 charge-discharge cycle rating) may be higher for Apple OEM parts than for generic. I'm not too worried about the difference between "tier 1" SODIMMs from Micron, Samsung, Hynix, or Nanya. Even most aftermarket DIMMs using custom boards or chips that hide their source are generally pretty good these days. If it works, it works. Compliant memory isn't likely to work differently than any other compliant memory.

Apple also provides instructions for replacing RAM:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201165

Of course once Apple stops stocking A1322 replacement batteries at the end of their support cycle, what choice do have other than aftermarket? At least with the mid-2012 MBP it's an easy replacement.

For $40 I doubt it's anything up to Apple standards. Apple has specific standards where the batteries should have 1000 cycles in them before they're expected to have 80% remaining capacity. A lot of batteries are still only made to a 200-300 cycle standard.

I guess OWC and iFixit have their preferred aftermarket suppliers, but those cost close enough to what Apple charges, and that doesn't include the labor. On top of that, if you do it yourself then Apple probably won't touch it once they realize that there's an aftermarket battery in there.

Of course once Apple stops stocking these batteries (the mid-2012 is the last one to use them) you're probably going to have to go aftermarket. But I wouldn't recommend "lowest bidder" in any case. There are too many stories of batteries that had poor capacity and/or quickly lost capacity compared to OEM.

I would trust macsales.com - they are one of the most recommended here (and I've purchased a lot of different things from them).

If this is your model:

Batteries for MacBook Pro 13-inch (2009-2012) Non Retina

I would not recommend any $40 battery.

0pusX wrote:

Thanks. iFitIt seems to only offer aftermarket batteries for this model MacBook for $89.....might as well spend the extra $40 and get a quality OEM from Apple.

While it might make sense if you have a product that's no longer being supported, the mid-2012 MBP was actually one that was being actively sold by Apple until late 2016. So it's going to take a while before they stop providing support (I understand 5 years after it's last made by Apple). Taking off the cover, changing the drive/RAM, or doing something like removing the battery connector should be fine. But mess with the battery and Apple has an excuse not to service it any more because the battery isn't considered "user serviceable".

I'm actually kind of surprised that they managed to keep it in production for over 4 years. The most difficult thing would be getting supplies of an exact processor revision for that long. This was an extremely desirable machine for those who might want to do a little bit of tinkering. It was also remarkably easy to open it up. I was at an Apple Store looking at one of the brand new retina MBPs, but wasn't sure I could justify a new one given how well my mid-2012 MBP still works and my worry about an SSD that's fixed in place.

I bought a replacement battery for my 2011 MacBook Pro from OWC (macsales.com). It’s an easy swap. You can find how-to videos on the OWC site. I don’t see why replacing a failing battery should be any more problematic than replacing the hard drive or the RAM.

Not correct. The battery is as easily accessible as the hard drive and RAM - rated as "straightforward":

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_mid12_batt/

FWIW, this is my second one (same model), purchased last year as a refurb from Apple; with Applecare, it is covered until 2020. Not bad for a 2012. I bought it precisely because you can upgrade RAM, hard drive, and battery (that is the last model where the battery installs (snaps in/out) easily).

babowa wrote:

Not correct. The battery is as easily accessible as the hard drive and RAM - rated as "straightforward":

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_mid12_batt/

FWIW, this is my second one (same model), purchased last year as a refurb from Apple; with Applecare, it is covered until 2020. Not bad for a 2012. I bought it precisely because you can upgrade RAM, hard drive, and battery (that is the last model where the battery installs (snaps in/out) easily).

Yeah I believe it's pretty easy. I've seen the repair guide on iFixit and I've had the cover off. But then there's that big sticker that warns the user not to replace the battery (in 4 languages no less) along with text on the battery that says "Service only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider".

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012 Battery Replacement - iFixit

My issue would be whether or not having an obvious aftermarket battery in there means that Apple or an authorized servicer would refuse to service it or that it might at least be an issue. Before servicing, Apple requests that "unauthorized modifications" are disclosed as well as repair/replacement not performed by Apple. I've heard of some people who suggest that any RAM/drive replaced (even though it's user serviceable) be kept just in case Apple authorized servicing is needed.

I have recently changed a MacBook battery with Apple and was very happy.

Incidentally a new camera battery can cost the same.

I would not trust the cheaper battery.