I was told that for this model, they need to swap the entire keyboard, track pad, in order to replace the battery.
They need to swap out the top case assembly and this consists of the case itself, the keyboard, track pad and battery.
Can the repair be done in the same day, or does it typically take several business days?
Technically speaking, the repair "can" be done in a day. In fact, it's a very simple repair and takes approximately 30 mins from start to completion. However, the total process can take up to a week or more depending on where you are in the repair queue and parts availability. If it takes more than a day, you can bet it is because they don't have the parts available.
It's important to remember, Apple Stores are set up to sell new products - they are not a repair facility. There are only a couple/three technicians that are actually qualified (by Apple) to do the repair. They are usually inundated with iPhone/iPad repairs mostly, then computer repairs. Having technician and parts availability is a complex process and (IMO) this is not Apple's wheelhouse.
They do not offer loaners. This is why I'm a strong proponent of having a backup strategy that goes beyond Time Machine; you back up your data in multiple places so if you're without a Mac for an extended period, you can continue to work even if the temporary machine isn't Apple.
Answer from Allan on Stack ExchangeI was told that for this model, they need to swap the entire keyboard, track pad, in order to replace the battery.
They need to swap out the top case assembly and this consists of the case itself, the keyboard, track pad and battery.
Can the repair be done in the same day, or does it typically take several business days?
Technically speaking, the repair "can" be done in a day. In fact, it's a very simple repair and takes approximately 30 mins from start to completion. However, the total process can take up to a week or more depending on where you are in the repair queue and parts availability. If it takes more than a day, you can bet it is because they don't have the parts available.
It's important to remember, Apple Stores are set up to sell new products - they are not a repair facility. There are only a couple/three technicians that are actually qualified (by Apple) to do the repair. They are usually inundated with iPhone/iPad repairs mostly, then computer repairs. Having technician and parts availability is a complex process and (IMO) this is not Apple's wheelhouse.
They do not offer loaners. This is why I'm a strong proponent of having a backup strategy that goes beyond Time Machine; you back up your data in multiple places so if you're without a Mac for an extended period, you can continue to work even if the temporary machine isn't Apple.
I had this done on my 2014 MBP (essentially the same model) last year, and it took exactly 7 days. It might be quicker or slower, depending on how busy they are, but it is a difficult job.
This popped up, but rn is my crunch period for uni. Does anyone have their Macbook Pro serviced for its battery before? Or anyone knows how long I can delay this before the laptop breaks down? Usually which Apple branch in Singapore is the fastest in its repair service? No apple care btw. Thanks!!
In 2022 this depends. Many batteries are glued to the top case, so the batteries may or may not be swapped locally or sent out to a repair center with larger staff and parts warehoused outside the retail store.
When this question was asked, it was nearly 100% yes - all computer batteries from Apple (including the newer unibody models where the battery is not consumer replaceable) are easily swapped in a 10 to 35 minute procedure to open, inspect, replace, test and document the repair. This assumes the technician has all the parts, adhesives, solvents in place and has done a dozen or so of this exact model so they only have to refresh the steps and not have to carefully study the manual and find each screw and piece to remove.
Of course, your wait time might be longer if no one is free to start work immediately or the part needs to be retrieved from a nearby stock room. If the part isn't in stock, Apple should be able to quote you a delivery time to order the part, and discuss if you want to leave the Mac for service, choose mail in service or leave with your mac and return later to get the repair done as same- or next-day service once the part and the Mac are in the shop together.
Since you called AppleCare and explained your symptoms, my guess is they cannot run the diagnostics remotely to establish a true failure (or if you agree to pay for the repair) and pre-order the part before you present the Mac for repair in the store.
My experience is each store has sufficient stock to do several repairs of a battery type, but that being said, I've also gone in on a busy day where they had three machines needing the same part as I and I was the third in line and therefore had the option of leaving the Mac or waiting for the part to arrive.
Worst case, you get a diagnosis and don't leave the machine in for repair, but have options to pre-order the part when you return or find another store. If the store mails in your Mac for repair, often it can get overnighted to a return location of your choosing and clearly wherever they ship the machine will be same day service for an in-stock battery at the main repair depot.
Since a few years before Covid, I’ve personally been all in on arranging service for everything online first and having a box shipped to my house / business even with multiple retail stores within 25 minute drive. Staffing online and remote diagnosis replace much of what I needed to get in person previously. The iPad and iOS app is easiest for me, even arranging Mac repairs.
There is a problem with your MBA if a battery gets drained too fast after 1-1/2years or 600 days. Getting a new battery won't solve that problem.
Open Activity Monitor and look at CPU usage. It should go to zero if you are not doing anything. If not there is your problem, but I cannot answer what to do, till you tell us what.
Check your charger, making sure the battery is 100% before disconnecting.
Discharge the battery overnight, see instructions http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html.
Go to the apple store, with an appointment, they will replace it in an hour, for $130 or so.
If you are handy with screwdriver there are DIY on the web for that.
Now to my question:. How the heck did you get 1200 cycles in 600 days?.
A charge cycle means using all of the battery’s power, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a single charge. For instance, you could use your notebook for an hour or more one day, using half its power, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two, so it may take several days to complete cycle.
What this says in your case, you had 2 cycles per day? (600x2=1200)
The battery health on my M1 Pro MacBook dropped below 80% last week, so I set up a service appointment at an Apple Store.
I did some research online, and saw that it might be a few hours between my drop-off and pickup of the device.
News to me, the specialist tells me it’ll be a 3-5 day wait. Thankfully I have a PC to use in the interim, but if someone’s only device is their MacBook, how are they supposed to deal with that delay?
Maybe this is too harsh, but you would expect Apple — a multi-trillion dollar company — to be able to change a battery quicker than their 3-5 day timeline.
Is there something I’m missing here? I feel that Apple should make the wait more clear when scheduling your service appointment.