2016 12" MacBook: Replace battery or upgrade?

[DaMax85]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2016 MacBook 12" (M3/8GB/256SSD) that has been a real warrior for me the past 4 years. Snagged it on an "Open Box Deal" through Best Buy during Black Friday deals so I got it for less than $1000 after taxes. For the past two months, I've been dealing with the "Service Recommended" notification under the battery menu. The battery 's health is now at 75% with a cycle count over 770. I've also noticed more heating issues. I've done the necessary troubleshooting including a clean reinstall and I still get the battery notification. Since it's clearly a declining battery, I'm wondering if it's worth paying for a new Battery through Apple or if it's time I just upgrade my machine. Apple.com's trade-in program will give me $260 for the machine as is (a new battery is $200). Not sure if it's worth investing more money into a 4.5 year old machine or if it's time to spring for a new laptop and trade in this laptop while I can to knock the price down a little.

I want something a little better at video editing (beginning FCX user), a bigger screen, and an extra USB-C port. Considering a new Air or Pro depending on what's announced at next week's Apple Event.

 

[jazz1]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2016 MacBook 12" (M3/8GB/256SSD) that has been a real warrior for me the past 4 years. Snagged it on an "Open Box Deal" through Best Buy during Black Friday deals so I got it for less than $1000 after taxes. For the past two months, I've been dealing with the "Service Recommended" notification under the battery menu. The battery 's health is now at 75% with a cycle count over 770. I've also noticed more heating issues. I've done the necessary troubleshooting including a clean reinstall and I still get the battery notification. Since it's clearly a declining battery, I'm wondering if it's worth paying for a new Battery through Apple or if it's time I just upgrade my machine. Apple.com's trade-in program will give me $260 for the machine as is (a new battery is $200). Not sure if it's worth investing more money into a 4.5 year old machine or if it's time to spring for a new laptop and trade in this laptop while I can to knock the price down a little.

I want something a little better at video editing (beginning FCX user), a bigger screen, and an extra USB-C port. Considering a new Air or Pro depending on what's announced at next week's Apple Event.

I’ve posted before, but I loved my 2015 12” MacBook, though it ran a little slow. But, the cost of a new battery, and liquid damage (thanks my kid has led me to abandon it due to repair cost. Heck, I even ran Big Sur Beta on it. But, at $700 Plus to repair it I must retire it. If predictions of the new and basic ARM Air/12” are true it does of course boils down to money vs. performance.

 

[Nick_P]

IMO, I'd sell it on ebay and put the money towards an M1 MacBook Air. That's what I'm thinking of doing with my 2016 12" MacBook. Except mine needs a new battery, it is completely toast, will not stay on for 10 seconds unless charged. I will either buy an ebay battery for $55 shipped, or sell it as-is stating the battery is completely dead.

 

[AustinIllini]

Upgrade. If you replace the battery, the rest of the computer may still be too slow to be worth it. It will just run slow for longer.

 

[DaMax85]

IMO, I'd sell it on ebay and put the money towards an M1 MacBook Air. That's what I'm thinking of doing with my 2016 12" MacBook. Except mine needs a new battery, it is completely toast, will not stay on for 10 seconds unless charged. I will either buy an ebay battery for $55 shipped, or sell it as-is stating the battery is completely dead.

Now the question is....8gb or 16gb of ram? This might be illogical, but it feels strange to buy a brand new mac with the same amount of ram as my old 12" MacBook. I run Final Cut X, which is apparently optimized on the M1. Hmm....

 

[EugW]

You want to use Final Cut on a bigger screen, and you want another USB-C port? Well you just answered your question.

With the M1 now released, it was a braindead easy question to answer. Get the M1 MacBook Air, preferably 16 GB. Final Cut performance on that machine will be in a completely different league. I love my 12" MacBook (2017), but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone for Final Cut.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

I bought Apple care for my 2017 mb 12 and had the same 76% battery at around 770 cycles. I also spilled a glass of water into the keyboard 1.5 years ago and mb wouldn’t turn on but eventually did after an hour as I tried to leak the water out. Apple replaced the battery and top case under warranty and let me know they found water indicator triggered all under warranty. I found using the Mac at 77% battery very usable. I’d say don’t install a new battery but instead use it as is and maybe get external PD battery if u really need portable power. If u love the 12, wait until the M1 release. If you don’t care for extra weight and want something now get the Air. If u wait it’s not like your mb will depreciate all that much. If all you do is some doc work on the go id even say keep the Mac and if it falls and breaks or gets stolen while travels, who cares. Again at 77% and service battery, I didn’t have a problem using the mb as it still lasted a few hours. If I was still doing a bunch of work travel like before, I’d keep mine due to not using a case and it falling. Didn’t use a case or bag.one handed carry. I’d have a problem letting it go for $250 if all I did was light typing, emails etc on the go.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

For anyone who is wondering how I spilled a whole glass of water into the MacBook, well it seems memory foam mattresses do tip glasses over unlike the ads show.