MacBook Air Battery

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timtait

133 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#196223 23-May-2016 17:58

Does anyone know a good source to purchase these from? I see a few on TradeMe that say they are "genuine" batteries but I don't believe they all are.

My mid 2013 MacBook Air's battery is slowly crapping itself after 1058 cycles, sitting at about 64% health I'm starting to see a few issues.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

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Inactive user

#1558185 23-May-2016 19:59

I trust these guys - https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/MacBook-Air-13-Inch-Mid-2012-through-Early-2015-Battery/IF188-086-1

I've brought a few iPhone parts of them over the years.

alisam

878 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

#1558592 24-May-2016 12:38

I got one installed by nzlaptops.co.nz (while I waited).

It is not a genuine one, but then the cost is nowhere near what an authorised Apple dealer will charge you.

Not had any issues with it.

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timtait

133 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#1558836 24-May-2016 17:40

Ah yeah cool I thought about the iFixit battery but there was a warning on the page about it not always working correctly with El Capitan.

Alisam - what sort of battery life did you get out of the new battery?

Cheers

alisam

878 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

#1558927 24-May-2016 20:23

timtait:

Ah yeah cool I thought about the iFixit battery but there was a warning on the page about it not always working correctly with El Capitan.

Alisam - what sort of battery life did you get out of the new battery?

Cheers

Sorry, cannot answer that with certainty as it is my wife's Macbook air and she tends to top it up frequently.

alisam

878 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

#1559064 25-May-2016 05:27

alisam:

timtait:

Ah yeah cool I thought about the iFixit battery but there was a warning on the page about it not always working correctly with El Capitan.

Alisam - what sort of battery life did you get out of the new battery?

Cheers

Sorry, cannot answer that with certainty as it is my wife's Macbook air and she tends to top it up frequently.

For clarification, she chooses to top it up, not because there is a problem with the battery.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

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#1559158 25-May-2016 09:07

Oh, just had a thought - you may have trouble importing a battery as I think they are banned from being posted.

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1101

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#1559858 26-May-2016 10:20

timtait:

Does anyone know a good source to purchase these from? I see a few on TradeMe that say they are "genuine" batteries but I don't believe they all are.

I really have to ask, since you want genuine(?), and not 'fakegenuine' why the heck arnt you buying from an authorised MAC agent/reseller/repairer ?

Obviously genuine from authorized MAC retailers wont be cheap though ....

hsvhel

1273 posts

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ID Verified

#1559951 26-May-2016 11:17

Give these guys a call

http://www.simpower.co.nz/

I've used them for all sorts of normal and odd ball requests and thy usually come through. They can even make you one to suit!

Referral Link Quic

Free Setup use R502152EQH6OK on check out

jtan

122 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#1560031 26-May-2016 13:14

I take it you didn't purchase AppleCare for the MacBook Air? If so you should be able to talk to Apple and get it replaced under the warranty service.

If the laptop has gone through that many cycles in about 3 years, that would suggest that you're draining the laptop's battery pretty much every day and re-topping it up again (at night?) - My understanding is one charge cycle is when the battery has to be fully charged, so if you drain the battery to 50% and charge to full, and then drain to 50% and charge to full again the next day, this would be 1 charge cycle, not 2.

As per the Apple website (see here):

Your battery is designed to retain up to 80 per cent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles. The one-year warranty includes replacement coverage for a defective battery. Apple offers a battery replacement service for all MacBook, MacBook Airand MacBook Pro notebooks with built-in batteries.

If you're at 1,000 charge cycles you should expect the battery health/capacity to still be about 80% - 64% health sounds too low. You could try to talk to Apple and plead your case, they may permit an exemption if found to be a defect (might be pushing it though, seeing as the laptop is almost 3 years old). I've always made a point of picking up AppleCare for my laptops, you don't necessarily have to buy retail, you can get some cheaper ones via. Ebay for example as the extended warranties are sold like 'products' (that don't appear to be linked with any specific country) with a serial number that you can then associate with your device. Doing it this way I've found gives a good discount of standard local pricing.

I'd say give Apple a call and see if they'll assist - You might get lucky. Otherwise there have been some good solutions provided already if you'd like to DIY a battery replacement - Good luck!

spronkey

117 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 48

#1565773 4-Jun-2016 19:18

I am currently in the same boat trying to figure out the same questions for a 2011 Macbook Air (health is literally fluctuating between 45% and 65% after 862 cycles - one minute I'll have 35% remaining the next 55! It's crazy)

To the best of my knowledge, only Authorised Service Centres - in NZ that's basically Yoobee and ServicePlus, have access to genuine Apple parts, and Apple's policies forbid them (and anyone else who has access to genuine parts) from selling any parts that are not deemed user serviceable directly to customers - that includes Macbook Air Batteries.

Therefore, there is no such thing as a genuine Apple battery for any Macbook Air (or any 2010-on Mac) that you can buy as a part to install yourself.

What I haven't yet ascertained is exactly what El Capitan has done that has caused issues with third party batteries. I'm still investigating, but I'm probably going to see if I can source a third party battery with Japanese cells.

Some sellers are still able to ship Lithium ion batteries, but it's usually quite expensive, and I'm guessing that any of the Chinese sellers who are shipping for free aren't declaring correctly.

For what it's worth, it's just under $300 NZ for a service centre to replace Macbook Air battery. Utterly absurd, swear word you, Apple.

alisam

878 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

#1565915 5-Jun-2016 01:00

spronkey:

I am currently in the same boat trying to figure out the same questions for a 2011 Macbook Air (health is literally fluctuating between 45% and 65% after 862 cycles - one minute I'll have 35% remaining the next 55! It's crazy)

To the best of my knowledge, only Authorised Service Centres - in NZ that's basically Yoobee and ServicePlus, have access to genuine Apple parts, and Apple's policies forbid them (and anyone else who has access to genuine parts) from selling any parts that are not deemed user serviceable directly to customers - that includes Macbook Air Batteries.

Therefore, there is no such thing as a genuine Apple battery for any Macbook Air (or any 2010-on Mac) that you can buy as a part to install yourself.

What I haven't yet ascertained is exactly what El Capitan has done that has caused issues with third party batteries. I'm still investigating, but I'm probably going to see if I can source a third party battery with Japanese cells.

Some sellers are still able to ship Lithium ion batteries, but it's usually quite expensive, and I'm guessing that any of the Chinese sellers who are shipping for free aren't declaring correctly.

For what it's worth, it's just under $300 NZ for a service centre to replace Macbook Air battery. Utterly absurd, swear word you, Apple.

I fail to see what your point is.

In my case my wife fired up a portable oven and forgot to take the Macbook Air off the top of it.

If you have a 2011 Air, I'd say get rid of it or buy a non genuine Apple battery.

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spronkey

117 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 48

#1571213 13-Jun-2016 18:38

alisam:

I fail to see what your point is.

In my case my wife fired up a portable oven and forgot to take the Macbook Air off the top of it.

If you have a 2011 Air, I'd say get rid of it or buy a non genuine Apple battery.

My point is in response to the original poster, who is concerned about whether there are any good sources for batteries. Plus a bit of a rant to get people thinking about the right to repair.

With respect to the 2011 Air - why exactly should one get rid of one? If you can live with such terrible battery life of 7 hours (on a new battery), a GPU that's good enough to get 30fps in CS:GO, USB2, and SATA 3 storage, a 2011 Macbook Air (as long as it's a 4GB ram model) is still a decently capable machine for your average Gmail, Facebook and YouTube that's faster than most Chromebooks.

The current Macbook Airs are only about 25% faster in CPU performance!