Most MacBook or MacBook Pro laptops have batteries that are good for between 300 and 1,000 recharge cycles, depending on the model (Apple has published the specs here).
But you don't have to buy a new MacBook when the battery is worn. You don't even have to take it to an Apple Store for a genius to wave their magic wand over it. You can, in fact, replace the battery yourself.
Must read: iPhone, iPad, and Mac buyer's guide: July 2019 edition
The MacBook going under the knife here was a mid-2012 13-inch A1278 MacBook Pro that has nearly 2,000 recharge cycles on the battery, which is well over the rated 1,000 which Apple considers as its limit.
For the job I got a complete battery replacement "Fix Kit" from iFixit. The kit costs $79.99, and is an excellent value.
Note that there are different battery kits for different MacBook models, so it's important to choose the right kit for your device.
The kit consisted of a replacement battery, and all the tools needed to carry out the replacement. In this case, the tools that came with the kit were as follows:
The replacement process is quick and easy. iFixit has detailed repair guides that are easy to follow. I'm familiar with the process so the whole thing took me about five minutes on a kitchen table, with no electrostatic discharge prevention, and just a tablecloth underneath the MacBook. If this is your first time, I suggest putting aside 30 minutes.
The job essentially consists of these steps:
If you're doing this job for the first time, here are my top tips:
Want to check if your battery needs replacing? There are two ways.
The simple way:
A more longer-winded method:
See also: