Out of warranty battery replacement at higher than 80%?

[asus389]

What is Apple’s policy on replacing batteries out of warranty before they show an alert in the menu bar? I was told by AppleCare over the phone (twice) that if I’m paying out of pocket they will replace a degraded battery even if it’s not down to 80% yet and showing the warning. Mine is at 84% but the battery life is 1/2 of when it was new.

Based on this, I went to the Apple store to pay out of pocket for replacement but the Genius Bar refused. They said that they won’t replace a battery until MacOS gives them an alert. I know this is the case for warranty replacement, but this isn't under warranty. I seem to remember them doing this before on a different laptop of mine a few years ago, but this time they wouldn't. Did the policy recently change?

 

[nigelbb]

If you want to pay full price for the battery they will take your money even if battery is at 100%. However if you want a discounted £/$199 battery they will only do that when it shows a warning & less than 80%.

 

[PaladinGuy]

From my experience, they will usually not replace the battery at any cost if it’s at 80% or higher on battery health.

 

[Audit13]

I'm in Toronto, Canada and the three nearest Apple stores refused a battery replacement in my watch, MacBook Pro, and iPhone if the battery health was higher than 80% unless their diagnostic tools indicate a replacement was needed.

 

[PotentPeas]

Huh. Haven't tried the MacBook, but in the last year I have replaced an iPhone battery that was still showing higher than 80% (out of pocket) at the Apple Store. They really tried to talk me out of it, but they did do it.

 

[Audit13]

Huh. Haven't tried the MacBook, but in the last year I have replaced an iPhone battery that was still showing higher than 80% (out of pocket) at the Apple Store. They really tried to talk me out of it, but they did do it.

I think one big reason Apple doesn't usually budge from the 80% rule for the battery is that the battery change includes the entire top case and keyboard.

 

[nigelbb]

From my experience, they will usually not replace the battery at any cost if it’s at 80% or higher on battery health.

A couple of years ago I took my 2015 15" MBP into the AppleStore in Cambridge here in the UK they would not change my battery for the discounted price of £199 because it was 81% but they offered to replace with a new battery/keboard/topcase for over £1,000 which I declined. I took the MBP back a few months later when the battery was reporting as requiring service & they replaced the battery/keboard/topcase for £199.

 

[posguy99]

I'm in Toronto, Canada and the three nearest Apple stores refused a battery replacement in my watch, MacBook Pro, and iPhone if the battery health was higher than 80% unless their diagnostic tools indicate a replacement was needed.

I paid Apple the $99 to replace the battery in my iP14Pro when the battery was at 85%. Had it done two days before my AC+ expired the second week of September so that if they ganked the phone, I'd get a replacement . I'll be keeping this phone for at least another year minimum (two years into the three year plan from VZW) so it was a worthwhile thing to do.

Only thing the tech said to me was "you're above 80%, you will have to pay for this replacement." I agreed, and it was done.

 

[JPack]

MacBook and iPad = Will decline to replace battery if above 80% because the work required is too much. Often involves sending it out to a depot.

iPhone = Will replace at any percentage. Process is quick and low risk, can be done in store.

 

[dukebound85]

MacBook and iPad = Will decline to replace battery if above 80% because the work required is too much. Often involves sending it out to a depot.

iPhone = Will replace at any percentage. Process is quick and low risk, can be done in store.

EXACTLY my experience I had yesterday.

My iPhone was at 84% health. They replaced for the 99 fee
My mbp was at 81% health. They denied me and wouldn't consider until under 80%

The frustrating part is the websites to get estimate on battery service makes NO mention of when they would deny this service, only that you may be eligible for free replacement ONLY if you have AppleCare and it is under 80%. Nothing about the out of warranty costs also being subject to this same rule despite them being ok with this for iPhones but no other products

 

[conmee]

I took my 2019 16-inch Intel MBP in to get a new battery today. No macOS message, but Coconut Battery app said it was 78.9% (377 cycles). Apple Store (in Nevada) ran diagnostics and their iPad tool said it was still at 82%. They said they’d change it for me for $649 plus $99 “labor.” Or I could wait until it goes down to 79% (according to macOS not some other app) then it would only cost $249. They said the main reason is because the entire top/keyboard/trackpad will be replaced, and want to discourage more frequently replacing the battery unnecessarily. He said if money is no object, he’d replace it for me today at the $649+labor price. I said I’ll wait until macOS gives me a battery service notification.

 

[arcite]

It's so absurd they have to replace all of that hardware just to change out a battery. A true design flaw.

 

[loby]

It's so absurd they have to replace all of that hardware just to change out a battery. A true design flaw.

Not just a design flaw. Don't you think they could design something more eco-friendly and replace at least the battery?

You would think....eco friendly...yeah right. Cost so much to change out a battery, you are better off buying a new product depending on what it is.

Environmental scam and word say... I would have hope to see Apple not make users have to buy a new device after the battery is done. Think of all of the waste in landfills.