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lememoire

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 6, 2021
12
1
If there is any sign of swelling (bottom cover bulging downwards, trackpad bulging upwards), do not ignore it. Eventually swelling will damage the trackpad, then the MBP will be non-functional and the repair will more costly.
No signs of swelling but thanks for the advice.
 

lememoire

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 6, 2021
12
1
It’s a 7-year old computer. How long do you think a battery is supposed to last? I’ll be blunt…either suck it up and replace it or live with it and realize you need to keep it tethered to an outlet from now on as a result.
I never expected full capacity after 6.5 years but such a sudden warning isn't nice. I have cared about it. Thanks anyway.
 

Cassady

macrumors 6502a
Jul 7, 2012
568
205
Sqornshellous
I ignored mine for several months — and now have noticeable swelling, sadly. All still functioning, but on its last legs, no doubt. 14” MBP has been ordered, but they are having stock issues — so stop waiting.

Will unfortunately have to keep using my existing one until then. It has treated me well, so seriously considering getting it repaired — was a BTO with a 1TB SSD, which is nice.
 

Alpha Centauri

macrumors 65816
Oct 13, 2020
1,446
1,143
I ignored mine for several months — and now have noticeable swelling, sadly. All still functioning, but on its last legs, no doubt. 14” MBP has been ordered, but they are having stock issues — so stop waiting.

Will unfortunately have to keep using my existing one until then. It has treated me well, so seriously considering getting it repaired — was a BTO with a 1TB SSD, which is nice.
Def ASAP replacement before it damages the trackpad, deforms the case, or catches fire. Be then at least sellable or makes a nice backup comp for when the new one arrives (or needs repair).
Think I'm on my 3rd battery now for this mid 2009 MBP I'm typing on.
 

avalonpb

macrumors newbie
Jul 25, 2008
4
0
My mid 2015 MPB, purchased new in October 2016 by my former employer, is on it's way to get battery #3 installed at my cost. Apple replaced the original battery 18 months ago under the recall. That battery had 143 cycles when replaced.

The 18 month old replacement battery has 19 charge cycles and has swollen. Status is Normal and charge capacity is 100% but Apple refused to cover it as defective. I use the machine primarily with an Apple Thunderbolt Cinema Display that requires the computer to be plugged in to its built-in charger in order to work. It was recommended not to leave the machine plugged in all the time. I asked how I was supposed to use my Apple monitor without plugging in the computer to its power supply. I got no answer from Apple's "Genius"...

While I agree that it is best to have Apple perform the battery replacement, there seems to be a problem with the mid 2015 MBP that causes accelerated battery failures. While the Apple support person didn't flat out say that, he did say: "If the 3rd battery fails as quickly we have another program for that machine".

I've been an Apple user since the Power PC days. The 2015 MPB is the first Apple computer I've had repeated battery failures on. I have a 2010 17" MPB that has been tethered to an Apple Cinema Display for its entire life and its still on the original battery with no signs of swelling and only partially reduced capacity.
 
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Alpha Centauri

macrumors 65816
Oct 13, 2020
1,446
1,143
Back to my 2009 MBP I've got 3rd party insurance with. Eagerly awaited to drop to 80% for another replacement. When it finally happened, they said they won't replace as they cannot guarantee the quality any longer on batteries for my model. Luckily for me they sourced one.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,559
26,209
Batteries age, regardless of cycles.

You can have a 0 cycle battery need service because of age.

It's not just about capacity, it's also about internal resistance. Just because a battery has the capacity to hold a change doesn't mean it can deliver that energy fast enough. That's internal resistance and it increases with age.

Available capacity + internal resistance = battery health
 

avalonpb

macrumors newbie
Jul 25, 2008
4
0
Batteries age, regardless of cycles.

You can have a 0 cycle battery need service because of age.

It's not just about capacity, it's also about internal resistance. Just because a battery has the capacity to hold a change doesn't mean it can deliver that energy fast enough. That's internal resistance and it increases with age.
18 months on a battery Apple claims lasts 1000 cycle counts is a defective battery. 1000 cycle counts is nearly 3 years if discharged every single day.

Either the battery has a factory defect or the 2015 MacBook Pro charging system has a design defect. Either way my 2015 MacBook Pro is on battery #3 in 5 1/2 years of relatively light usage while connected to an Apple monitor. My 2010 17" MacBook Pro is on battery #1 after 12 years of being connected to an Apple monitor.

I'm typing this on a 2019 Macbook Air that has been tethered to a Henge Stone dock and plugged into an Apple 27" Cinema Display for its entire life. It has 129 cycles in 2.5 years and no swelling or loss of capacity.

There are an extraordinarily high number of battery failures documented for the mid 2015 MacBook Pros.
 

gericb

macrumors newbie
Feb 3, 2009
22
10
No signs of swelling but thanks for the advice.
Swelling is a hit or miss failure, typically on the older models, it comes from people, just like their phone, leaving it plugged in regularly, well beyond 100%. Technically speaking, the consortium of rechargeable battery MFG'ers would have you only discharge/charge 20%/80% respectively, but that's a bit too anal. If you can't reliably be there to unplug it when it hits 100%, then don't leave it plugged in. Lots of people leave their laptop plugged in 24/7 and the swelling doesn't happen, but that a chemical crap-shoot. We REGULARLY collect the "Box of Shame" varying degrees of bloated batteries. On cheaper laptops, mostly plastic trackpads, it's true, it could cause permanent damage, but in the MacBook products, we have NEVER seen it...they are just better build materials. We have seen then no depress at all, just like any laptop with a swollen battery, even convex curvature of the bottom plate or trackpad. The swollen batteries are 100% a fire hazard, as they are filled with death gasses, the decomposition of the chemicals, which increases the possibility of the anode/cathode in any given cell, of sorting out...if you get a Li-ion fire, good luck in putting that out with a standard extinguisher. In the end, swelling or not, even with perfect charging practices, most rechargeable batteries have a useful "average" life of "about" 4 years, after that, it is diminishing returns. Once a model is label by Apple as "Vintage" they will not longer carry parts or service...I suspect this will happen with yours, 2024 or sooner. Keep in mind, with the Apple Silicon out, support for macOS/Intel is on the chopping block, doubt they'll support new versions for even the newer years 2018, 2019 beyond 2025, other than maybe the $$$ Mac Pro models for a bit longer.

I can assure you - there is no planned obsolescence of these batteries, and with proper charging habits, NO ONE that got a computer with a new OEM battery, should be seeing "Replace Battery" messages any sooner than 500 cycles at a minimum. The key is the charging habits, most people fail here.

The newer models do have different charging circuits, similar to an EV vehicle, so less prone to over charge burn out death. Batteries are like muscles, you have to use them, and over charged regularly battery will die sooner, just like a battery that is charged only a few times, then a couple years of no use/regular charging, each can bring battery failure, those chemical are depleting while being used, charging, even sitting idle.

But as long as your unit is in great shape, other than the battery, replacing the battery can still be worthy, in maintaining your investment.

Once you can no longer get a viable/contemporary Web Browser, to keep up with the changing landscape of WWW security updates, functionality, it will mostly be EOL for any computer, other the local used applications.

Find a reputable shop, doesn't have to be Apple, though they might all be "about the same" and getting switched out and start to enjoy again, or you can run it into the ground always tethered to the charger, and save your money for one of the newer machines in a couple of years. ?
 
Last edited:

lememoire

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 6, 2021
12
1
Swelling is a hit or miss failure, typically on the older models, it comes from people, just like their phone, leaving it plugged in regularly, well beyond 100%. Technically speaking, the consortium of rechargeable battery MFG'ers would have you only discharge/charge 20%/80% respectively, but that's a bit too anal. If you can't reliably be there to unplug it when it hits 100%, then don't leave it plugged in. Lots of people leave their laptop plugged in 24/7 and the swelling doesn't happen, but that a chemical crap-shoot. We REGULARLY collect the "Box of Shame" varying degrees of bloated batteries. On cheaper laptops, mostly plastic trackpads, it's true, it could cause permanent damage, but in the MacBook products, we have NEVER seen it...they are just better build materials. We have seen then no depress at all, just like any laptop with a swollen battery, even convex curvature of the bottom plate or trackpad. The swollen batteries are 100% a fire hazard, as they are filled with death gasses, the decomposition of the chemicals, which increases the possibility of the anode/cathode in any given cell, of sorting out...if you get a Li-ion fire, good luck in putting that out with a standard extinguisher. In the end, swelling or not, even with perfect charging practices, most rechargeable batteries have a useful "average" life of "about" 4 years, after that, it is diminishing returns. Once a model is label by Apple as "Vintage" they will not longer carry parts or service...I suspect this will happen with yours, 2024 or sooner. Keep in mind, with the Apple Silicon out, support for macOS/Intel is on the chopping block, doubt they'll support new versions for even the newer years 2018, 2019 beyond 2025, other than maybe the $$$ Mac Pro models for a bit longer.

I can assure you - there is no planned obsolescence of these batteries, and with proper charging habits, NO ONE that got a computer with a new OEM battery, should be seeing "Replace Battery" messages any sooner than 500 cycles at a minimum. The key is the charging habits, most people fail here.

The newer models do have different charging circuits, similar to an EV vehicle, so less prone to over charge burn out death. Batteries are like muscles, you have to use them, and over charged regularly battery will die sooner, just like a battery that is charged only a few times, then a couple years of no use/regular charging, each can bring battery failure, those chemical are depleting while being used, charging, even sitting idle.

But as long as your unit is in great shape, other than the battery, replacing the battery can still be worthy, in maintaining your investment.

Once you can no longer get a viable/contemporary Web Browser, to keep up with the changing landscape of WWW security updates, functionality, it will mostly be EOL for any computer, other the local used applications.

Find a reputable shop, doesn't have to be Apple, though they might all be "about the same" and getting switched out and start to enjoy again, or you can run it into the ground always tethered to the charger, and save your money for one of the newer machines in a couple of years. ?
Thank you very much for your thorough response. Appreciated.
 

Diablo360

macrumors 6502
Jun 8, 2009
250
101
I had the same message on My 2013 MBP and was able to keep using it for another few years. As long as the battery isn’t swelling I wouldn’t worry about it. As long as the mAh is above 4-5k, you’ll still be able to hold a charge for 1-2 hours
 

marlone36

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2022
2
0
UK
I have an old MacBook Pro from early 2015. It has a problem with the battery; it says battery Service is recommended, and the 13inch 2015 Macbook is not yet vintage. I use Mac Big Sur macOS 11.6.8.

The first MacBook Pro 13 came back in March 2016. I got my main second Mac mini (M1, 2020) last Dec 2021.

The Apple diagnostic said ADP000. Mac found no issues.

Is it worth replacing MacBook Pro's early 2015 battery service recommended?

Is it worth upgrading MacBook Pro in early 2015 MacOS Monterey?
Screenshot 2022-07-31 at 19.29.12.png
Screenshot 2022-07-06 at 09.59.42.png
Screenshot 2022-07-22 at 17.00.45.png
 

marlone36

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2022
2
0
UK
Thanks for my response.

I tried the coconutbattery said MacBook Pro Age 77 months, 6.4 years.
Battery Age 78 months 6.5 years.
I may upgrade M.2 SSD to this MacBook, more storage for the prices and get an adapter for M.2 SSD. Then, Is it worth upgrading MacBook Pro in early 2015 MacOS Monterey?

In the UK is charge is £199.
I want to keep my Macbook Pro 13-inch in early 2015 for I use creative apps, Adobe apps office, etc. My second mac is around the house, travelling on holiday, while away on holiday doing my University in September and out of the house.
 
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