OWC or Apple Replacement Battery?

[Peter Franks]

I’ll try my best. I have the OWC Nupower and it does not last any longer than an original new battery. I wouldn’t put too much stock into that claim. Related it the 65 watt spec, it’s definitely higher watt than OEM, but probably makes a small unnoticeable improvement.

I don’t think there is any correlation to the fans running and the battery other than the fans killing the battery sooner. If your CPU heats up because of intensive processes, then your fans kick in to cool the machine. Battery has nothing to do with it to the best of my knowledge. Batteries don’t give off heat while discharging.

Thanks for your reply. What you say does make a lot of sense, I don't know either why a poor battery would impact on the fans kicking in, but I did read a few times that it makes the machine work harder when battery is old. Just think it's an 8 year old MBP so isn't going to be tip top. Can't see what the original watt spec is on here. Just that it says 'replace soon' and cycle count 1871...

Re the 'OEM', it's £39GB versus the OWC which is over £100. Hence I think it's probably safer to buy the OWC.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Thanks for your reply. What you say does make a lot of sense, I don't know either why a poor battery would impact on the fans kicking in, but I did read a few times that it makes the machine work harder when battery is old. Just think it's an 8 year old MBP so isn't going to be tip top. Can't see what the original watt spec is on here. Just that it says 'replace soon' and cycle count 1871...

Re the 'OEM', it's £39GB versus the OWC which is over £100. Hence I think it's probably safer to buy the OWC.

Personally I would go with OWC. You know it will come with a recent build date. The cheapos claiming to be OEM are 3-4 years old.

With that cycle count, you will see an improvement. But you are right, it’s an old machine probably running the latest resource sucking OS.

 

[Peter Franks]

Personally I would go with OWC. You know it will come with a recent build date. The cheapos claiming to be OEM are 3-4 years old.

With that cycle count, you will see an improvement. But you are right, it’s an old machine probably running the latest resource sucking OS.

Thanks again, yes I will give them a whirl, I was on High Sierra, but went back to Sierra, Loads didn't work with HS, and it can't go any higher than them. I miss Snow Leopard

 

[TomClancy]

Hello guys. I made an account just to say that I'm on my second iFixit battery for my Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and it's not working anymore. iFixit refuses to replace it because it's out of warranty.

So I bought a NewerTech NuPower battery. We'll see how that goes.

Thanks for your help guys.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Hello guys. I made an account just to say that I'm on my second iFixit battery for my Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and it's not working anymore. iFixit refuses to replace it because it's out of warranty.

So I bought a NewerTech NuPower battery. We'll see how that goes.

Thanks for your help guys.

Yeah, I believe somewhere back in this thread I started a while ago I chronicle my ifixit bad experience with their battery. It dropped from 80% to 7% out of the box every time. They took it back as it was returned promptly but I would not trust there expensive battery over a $12 eBay battery.

 

[Peter Franks]

Wow, that's very telling that you both had problems with that battery. Can't be a coincidence.
How long have you had the NewTech?

 

[LarryJoe33]

Wow, that's very telling that you both had problems with that battery. Can't be a coincidence.
How long have you had the NewTech?

March 2018, when I started this thread.

 

[Eithanius]

Personally I would go with OWC. You know it will come with a recent build date. The cheapos claiming to be OEM are 3-4 years old.

With that cycle count, you will see an improvement. But you are right, it’s an old machine probably running the latest resource sucking OS.

OWC as in NewerTech batteries sold by OWC...?

The last time I had that it lasted me only 1 year before it started swelling. Just a week after warranty lapsed they won’t wanna replace it outright, instead they offer a small discount for new battery.

 

[LarryJoe33]

OWC as in NewerTech batteries sold by OWC...?

The last time I had that it lasted me only 1 year before it started swelling. Just a week after warranty lapsed they won’t wanna replace it outright, instead they offer a small discount for new battery.

Yeah, everyone has a battery story. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Eithanius]

Yeah, everyone has a battery story. Your mileage may vary.

Then what's the point of this thread...? Your mileage may vary...

 

[LarryJoe33]

Then what's the point of this thread...? Your mileage may vary...

Ummm....this does seem to be the point of the thread....many different experiences and perspectives with after-market brands, ebay batteries, Apple OEM leftovers since they don't make them anymore, good stories, bad stories, ....

The point is, there are good and bad retailers, bad batteries in a batch of known good ones, good ones in a batch of known bad batteries, etc.

What's your point? Is this thread supposed to be a definitive road map for everyone?

 

[Peter Franks]

Ummm....this does seem to be the point of the thread....many different experiences and perspectives with after-market brands, ebay batteries, Apple OEM leftovers since they don't make them anymore, good stories, bad stories, ....

The point is, there are good and bad retailers, bad batteries in a batch of known good ones, good ones in a batch of known bad batteries, etc.

What's your point? Is this thread supposed to be a definitive road map for everyone?

I'll say the 'point of this thread' is that it's informative to people like me who have never changed their battery in their MBP in over 8 years, But also the thread warns against certain brands to stay away from, so that's a help in itself. But it is a bit of a lottery if you want to maintain your old MBP as to what you will receive. For me, aside from the price of the new line of MBP, the lack of Magsafe, USB and the mad increase of costs for a 500GB which I'm now used to, warrants looking into batteries for the old model. I know it's not going to last forever, but every little bit helps. The same as I upgraded to SSD and more RAM, again, thanks to posts on this forum.

 

[Fishrrman]

I may have mentioned this already, but laptop batteries are like car batteries:

Replacements almost never seem to last as long as the factory-original one did.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I'll say the 'point of this thread' is that it's informative to people like me who have never changed their battery in their MBP in over 8 years, But also the thread warns against certain brands to stay away from, so that's a help in itself. But it is a bit of a lottery if you want to maintain your old MBP as to what you will receive. For me, aside from the price of the new line of MBP, the lack of Magsafe, USB and the mad increase of costs for a 500GB which I'm now used to, warrants looking into batteries for the old model. I know it's not going to last forever, but every little bit helps. The same as I upgraded to SSD and more RAM, again, thanks to posts on this forum.

We are on the same page Peter. I’ve done all the upgrades. My machine runs as fast as a new one. No retina but that’s fine but that’s about it. I’m running Mohave fast. Using it until it dies.

 

[Peter Franks]

We are on the same page Peter. I’ve done all the upgrades. My machine runs as fast as a new one. No retina but that’s fine but that’s about it. I’m running Mohave fast. Using it until it dies.

Spot on yes. I don't want to pay £1500UK for an entry level 128GB machine, which in theory won't be noticeably better than what I use now, and won't be a 500GB storage either. I know I'll have to at some point, but it can wait. Not bothered about 'touchbar' either. Did you do something to get Mojave on there? I am on Sierra, Went back from High Sierra which is where it stops on this model. Not a noticeable difference from S, just loads of progs stopped working for me on HS.

 

[fourthtunz]

Got "new" battery and installed it. Here is the comparison between my old battery and "new" battery.

View attachment 827472

"New" battery looks to be a genuine Apple battery and has 163 cycles on it and a capacity of 6702mAh out of 7150mAh, which is not bad for $20.
View attachment 827473

Hey where did you get your battery? and did you have to do anything but install it and charging it up to get it to work?
I bought this one..https://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-PS...var=563126825823&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
for my 2012 MacBook pro and it doesn't work..trying to find one that does..any advice?
Thanks!

 

[sportykid2332]

Jumping into this thread with my OWC experience....
I have a 15" late 2013 retina MBP. I decided to replace with an OWC/NewerTech battery almost a year ago. Since then, every 3-4 months, the battery status drops to "Replace Now". To OWC's credit, their support has sent me two replacements and I'm sending them some more system information to figure this out. Unfortunately, I'm starting to think there's something wrong with the mac itself. Curious if anyone has any ideas?

 

[Peter Franks]

Hey where did you get your battery? and did you have to do anything but install it and charging it up to get it to work?

Also curious as to the steps 'after' installing.
There's a load of videos telling you to calibrate after install. Anyone done this, and is it necessary when installing a 'new' battery, does it make a difference.

 

[Fishrrman]

sporty wrote:
"Unfortunately, I'm starting to think there's something wrong with the mac itself. Curious if anyone has any ideas?"

It's not the MacBook.
It's the battery.
Buy from someone else.

Having said that, computer batteries are kinda like car batteries.
The replacements NEVER last as long as did the factory-installed original...

 

[Peter Franks]

And the calibration measures? Anyone

 

[LarryJoe33]

And the calibration measures? Anyone

Sorry Peter, I can't remember the exact steps, but they are easy to find. My calibration involved running it to 10%, shutting the machine down completely, charging to 100%, running down to 7-10% and then fully charging without powering off. I believe that is the routine.

 

[Peter Franks]

Thanks Larry, I've found the steps online, I just wondered how important that is to the usage or if it makes no difference to anyone that's done it. Don't suppose it will hurt.

 

[chrfr]

Thanks Larry, I've found the steps online, I just wondered how important that is to the usage or if it makes no difference to anyone that's done it. Don't suppose it will hurt.

Battery "calibration" doesn't change how the battery works, it lets the computer learn how the battery works.

 

[Peter Franks]

Battery "calibration" doesn't change how the battery works, it lets the computer learn how the battery works.

Thanks, just so the percentage readings are vaguely accurate presumably.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Yeah Pete, I did the calibration things but I’m not quite sure they are necessary. Helps with the OCD though!