Filed under: Macbook Pro
How much will it cost to replace your 17-inch MacBook Pro battery?
Apple posted details about how much it will cost to replace the battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro notebooks announced at last week's Macworld Expo.
The cost works out as follows:
- United States: $179
- Canada: C$219
- Europe: €179 (including VAT)
- United Kingdom: £139 (including VAT)
- Japan: ¥19,800 (including tax)
- Australia: A$299 (including VAT)
- China: 1498 RMB (including VAT)
Apple says batteries can be replaced and your laptop returned to you the same day if you make an appointment at an Apple retail store. Otherwise, mail-in replacement will take three to four business days after the unit arrives at depot.
Apple also says that battery replacement services may be available at your local Apple Authorized Service Provider, but the prices may vary from those listed on Apple's website.
Note that Apple claims these batteries will last three times as long as conventional laptop batteries (up to five years or 1,000 cycles), and any defects in the first year of ownership are covered under the existing warranty. It's not clear whether AppleCare would cover battery replacement during the extended warranty period if it wears out, since the battery is considered a consumable item. Jared points out in the comments below that AppleCare currently does cover batteries that wear our prematurely (before the rated number of charge cycles). Just FYI, you can check the cycle count of your battery via Apple System Profiler / "More Info" in About This Mac, by viewing the Power section.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
grull27 said 4:33PM on 1-13-2009
Who cares? That's 5 years from now. :D
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Matt said 5:08PM on 1-13-2009
Lots of people should. I took my Ti PowerBook to my local Apple Store a few weeks ago, and being just under six years old was told it they could no longer order the DC-In board that was required to get it working again.
From what I understand, if a computer's five years or older, Apple Stores can't get the parts to repair it. Not `the parts don't exist', but the parts are removed from the store's supply chain and are therefore not supported in store. I was given a list of AASPs that might be able to help; that was all that they could do.
If I was looking at buying a new 17" MBP, I'd like to know that I could get it sorted if the battery died in 5.5 years time. Without reassurance from Apple that I'd be able to get it serviced, I'd be very unlikely to lay down the cash to buy one.
Bror Jonsson said 5:51PM on 1-13-2009
So, didn't you get even more upset that the Apple Store didn't sell batteries to your Ti Powerbook? Did you actually ask Apple about how long they were going to stock batteries for the computer when you bought it? If not, why did this suddenly become an absolute necessity for you?
(Only checked The online store for Ti Powerbook batteries...)
required said 6:13PM on 1-13-2009
I thought the law was that manufacturers are required to have parts available for at least seven years.
Jared said 4:35PM on 1-13-2009
Batteries are currently covered under AppleCare if they don't last as long as they should. Which is to say, if they no longer hold a charge (or some other problem) before the average number of cycles, AppleCare will cover the replacement cost. I see no reason for that to change...
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Kai Cherry said 1:09PM on 1-14-2009
Batteries are not covered. Usage is not covered by Applecare, only defects. My wife recently tried to get a battery for her black macbook replaced and was told it isn't covered.
FYI.
Devon said 4:55PM on 1-13-2009
I have 2 batteries for my 15" MBP that are only about 1.5 years old. I use the laptop mostly off of power and have left the batteries in the computer for a while and not discharging them. They both have less than 50 charge cycles in this entire time and both are basically dead and useless. So now they come out with a computer where you can't remove the battery at all. I guess either they'll suffer the same fate as my batteries if you never unplug the computer, or, hopefully they've fixed this problem and these batteries will last for a full 4-5 years.
Personally I'm not holding my breath that these batteries will last as long as they say. After all mine is supposed to last 300 cycles but I guess if you don't discharge it enough it dies a slow death.
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Erik Abele said 5:12PM on 1-13-2009
You're not the only one... happened to me three times in the last couple of years - this time: 17 recharge cycles, age 18 month - discharged/recharged according to iCal file provided by Apple - no warranty... ouch!
Cheers,
Erik
slimjim said 5:26PM on 1-13-2009
If you want your batteries to last you have to change your behaviour. There are limitations to batteries such that you have to fully charge and discharge them regularly. As you say if you do not discharge them enough then they will not last 300 cycles. If you do then they will.
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
Blake said 4:57PM on 1-13-2009
I must say that this is not as bad as I thought it could be. A replacement battery is not that much less for removable batteries.
I do hope that the battery tech they used for this will trickle down to the smaller MacBooks.
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Mike said 5:09PM on 1-13-2009
Kinda off topic, but is there a set release date for this bad boy yet?
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Rémy said 12:45AM on 1-14-2009
It ships late January, so depending on your location I'd say it could be anywhere between Jan 25 - Feb 5. It's meant to come out at the same time as iLife '09, so wait for that and see where things are.
Greg said 5:16PM on 1-13-2009
What I want to know is that if I take this in to an Apple store or worse yet, mail it in, what guarantees do I have that my data will be secure? How do I know someone won't hunt down my photos or videos looking for porn?
Yes, I back my machine up and use a strong password to access my computer, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Apple's in house repairmen can't access my machine.
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mark said 5:25PM on 1-13-2009
you don't
assuming your machine works
backup the entire machine
do a factory install or restore before you send it in.
don't give them anything.
timejumperone said 5:58PM on 1-13-2009
For this reason (returning a Laptop full of personal data) is what Apple is counting on to "encourage" a laptop upgrade. Maybe a special discount on a NEW laptop. The new 2009 17" laptop should last until 2014. But the technology in a 2014 laptop will far exceed the current technology.
I hope Apple does this with ALL their Laptops. I would love to have a MacBook Air that lasts 8 hours between charges with a battery requiring 5 years before replacement (hopefully a Rev C). The concept of a laptop with a replaceable battery (as a preferred option) will go away as the floppy disk did.
h8rain said 5:17PM on 1-13-2009
How many charge cycles do the regular batteries have? 300?
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Doc Gonzo said 5:41PM on 1-13-2009
ANd that's another one nicely done Apple...
179€ or 179$ is a hell of a difference in price.
Why must we Europeans pay for the weak dollar?
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Victor said 6:12PM on 1-13-2009
Yet why must us brits pay for the weak GBP? =( Guess this credit crunch hurts us all.
balls said 6:35PM on 1-13-2009
Because your socialist governments like to charge massive taxes and tarrifs on imported goods.
If you don't like it, why don't you buy a European brand laptop...
Oh...
czPopi said 5:02AM on 1-14-2009
Yeah, still same old problem.. Why Apple can't understand that € isnt $? The difference is about 25% aganist dolar for me living in Czech republic!! This is the reason, why people from Europe buy their new Mac in US. If it would be same (ok, bit more expensive than in US - shipping), Europeans will buy their Mac here, but 25%?