What's the cost to replace MacAir battery

[kiteflyer]

I have a 13 inch MacAir on order. Since all batteries fail eventually does anybody know what the replacement cost will be?

 

[ImperialX]

Apple has yet publish the pricing schemes, but under AppleCare it should be free.

 

[Poochi]

if you charge once/day it should last you 5 years... why would you replace the battery when it'll be time to get an updated machine?

 

[ImperialX]

if you charge once/day it should last you 5 years... why would you replace the battery when it'll be time to get an updated machine?

It will last for about 3 years, not 5.

 

[Poochi]

It will last for about 3 years, not 5.

oh.. still good i never keep any technology for more than a year and half.

 

[Scottsdale]

It will last for about 3 years, not 5.

Well Apple says five years and 1000 cycles for the normal user. I think that's fair enough. However, I think if someone has 1000 cycles at three years, it might be all it is capable of. But, if it has 500 cycles at five years, it might keep going for even longer. The point is it probably depends how many cycles/charges it has gone through more than the age being 3 years or less.

Apple charges $129 to replace the battery including the new battery and labor. I believe it's a very fair price considering.

 

[acron1]

Well Apple says five years and 1000 cycles for the normal user. I think that's fair enough. However, I think if someone has 1000 cycles at three years, it might be all it is capable of. But, if it has 500 cycles at five years, it might keep going for even longer. The point is it probably depends how many cycles/charges it has gone through more than the age being 3 years or less.

Apple charges $129 to replace the battery including the new battery and labor. I believe it's a very fair price considering.

I think I read somewhere that the specification on the new MBA battery is actually 700 cycles... not quite as good as the 1000 cycle specification for the MB pros... I wonder why that is.

 

[AppleGoddess]

I think I read somewhere that the specification on the new MBA battery is actually 700 cycles... not quite as good as the 1000 cycle specification for the MB pros... I wonder why that is.

it's 1000 cycles.

 

[acron1]

it's 1000 cycles.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

Lower right corner lists the MBA @ 750 cycles... I would prefer that you are right though as I own a 11.6" MBA.

 

[aristobrat]

Apple charges $129 to replace the battery including the new battery and labor. I believe it's a very fair price considering.

Yup. Same price as the batteries have been for years. I thought they would have tried to make them more expensive, seeing as how they're supposed to last for years longer now (and because Apple now had to do the labor of installing them for you)!

 

[runnin17]

Apple charges $129 to replace the battery including the new battery and labor. I believe it's a very fair price considering.

To be honest, this is a pretty fair price. My wife had a 4 year old 13" Macbook and we had to buy two new batteries for it ($50 each). Hopefully these batteries will last the full 750 cycles. Hell, if they last for 750 cycles and give a good charge that whole time I will be very happy.

 

[darngooddesign]

Apple has yet publish the pricing schemes, but under AppleCare it should be free.

Applecare does not cover a battery that winds down through normal usage. If you battery tanks before its supposed to that's a different matter.

 

[bowlerman625]

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I think I read somewhere that the specification on the new MBA battery is actually 700 cycles... not quite as good as the 1000 cycle specification for the MB pros... I wonder why that is.

it's 1000 cycles.

Another incorrect statement! That's a surprise!

 

[jeznav]

I'd rather replace the battery myself as I am savvy enough. I had my 3GS battery replaced that I got from ebay for $12. It was an adventure prying that open.

 

[Westyfield2]

My 2007 MacBook Pro is on it's third battery currently.

First one after 1.5 years would only run it for 20 minutes, so I got it replaced under AppleCare.
Same thing happened to that second battery, but the MBP was then 3 years old so out of AppleCare, meaning I had to buy it myself!



So yeah, if you plan on keeping the MBA for a fair while it would be good to know the cost of replacing the battery....

 

[Synchromesh]

By the time your battery goes it will be easily available on eBay like it is now for previous revs of MBA. installing those was quite simple, just a bunch of screws and one connector. So I'm guessing somewhere in the $50-100 down the road, providing battery installation is as simple as it is on older systems.

 

[svenwillmann]

no of cycles doesn't say much without knowing what the charge will be at that cycle count

the information about the battery lifespan on the apple side states
“... battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity...”
at
300 (removable batteries)
750 (MBAir)
1000 (MBP)
cycles

So if I interpret this correctly, it will most likely be less than 80% at those cycles.

In my experience it will be a lot less. (I can only speak for the removable battery in a MBP)
My history
battery : cycles : charge left
1 : ~230 : ~30%
2 : ~150 : ~30%
3 : 29 : 95%

But the price to replace the MBAir battery seems fair if it lasts half the cycles and the charge is more than 50% after that.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

As much as Apple can get away with...

 

[ImperialX]

Well Apple says five years and 1000 cycles for the normal user. I think that's fair enough. However, I think if someone has 1000 cycles at three years, it might be all it is capable of. But, if it has 500 cycles at five years, it might keep going for even longer. The point is it probably depends how many cycles/charges it has gone through more than the age being 3 years or less.

When I replied with 3 years, the original poster claimed he wanted to charge it every day. I think 3 years seem pretty accurate for 1000 cycles.