MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Battery Replacements and Replacement Services

Here at MacUpgrades we offer a range of batteries and battery installation services. A lot of the older machines have easily replaceable batteries which can be done at home with simple tools. In Late 2012 when Apple release the Retina MacBook Pros, they decided to glue their batteries in place with high bond adhesive, this has made replacing the batteries more difficult, and in fact Apple themselves only offer to replace the entire top case of the machine. For these more difficult machines we offer only installation services where we will remove the old and fit the new battery. We fit a lot of batteries here at our Cambridge Repair Centre, and get asked these common questions everyday.

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Q: My Battery says "Service Battery", do I need to replace it?

A: Not necessarily. You can attempt to service the battery by charging to 100% and then discharging to 0%. Sometimes an SMC reset can help. If the message does not go away then its time to assess how long the battery lasts and how long you need it to. Only replace a battery when it no longer lasts long enough for you (or if it is swelling). Not when software tells you to after an arbitrary number of cycles.

Q: My Battery says "Replace Now" or "Replace Soon", do i need to replace it?

A: These messages mean that the battery is still operating normally, but that it holds significantly less charge than when it was new. Its time to assess how long the battery lasts, and how long you need it to. Only replace a battery when it no longer lasts long enough for you. Not when software tells you to after an arbitrary number of cycles.

Q: My Battery is swelling, do I need to replace it?

A: Yes, and sooner rather than later. When a battery starts to swell it will continue to do so, and it can damage your trackpad or your top case. It also carries the small but real risk of fire or serious injury, especially if it is damaged when attempting to remove it.

Any more questions? Please get in touch.

MacBook Air Batteries

Batteries for the MacBook Air 2017 and earlier are easily upgradable at home with a simple Pentalobe and Torx T5 Screwdrivers. All our batteries come with the required tools. The batteries in the MacBook Air 2018 and later are glued in place.

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MacBook Pro Unibody Batteries

The old Unibody series of MacBook Pros, introduced in Late 2008, have easily removable batteries which can be replaced at home with simple tools (our batteries come with tools). Simply remove the bottom case screws and the 3 battery retaining screws, then release the connector (with a plastic tool or a finger nail, NOT a metal tool). They are reasonably priced and give performance comparable to the original.

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MacBook Pro Retina Batteries

The Retina range of MacBook Pros was introduced in 2012 (though the older Unibody range was sold alongside it for a time). These come with glued in batteries, which are difficult to remove and necessitates the use of solvents and prying of bare lithium-ion cells. Due to the risks of this procedure, we only offer these batteries as part of an installation service that we perform.

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Here is a list of our replacement batteries and battery replacement services. If you are unsure of the Mac model you own, you can look it up via its Serial Number or Model ID. If we don’t see a battery for yours listed, please get in touch, we may still be able to help you.