I have a mid-2015 retina MacBook Pro that has a swolen battery (which is causing the case to bulge).

I have checked the serial number, and unfortunately it is not one of the ones that is eligible for a free replacement from Apple.

So I would like to replace it myself, with an aftermarket battery.

I've watched several YouTube videos, so I have a good idea of what's required to do the replacement.

I've found many suppliers on eBay and on amazon that offer replacement battery packs for my model - which is A1398.

The reviews are all over the place, with some claiming that they got a great battery from a certain vendor, while others claim that what that same vendor sent them is crap that either doesn't hold the advertised charge, or causes even worse problems. I've had problems with fraudulent aftermarket batteries that I've purchased from eBay or amazon before (for a smartphone), and I'd expect that fraud is rampant in both places.

While I'd like to avoid problems, I'm also not ready to pay Apple prices for a battery replacement for a laptop that is close to 10 years old (but still would have adequate life left in it if I were able to get a properly-functioning battery for it, replace a few keytops, air out the accumulated dust inside the case, and maybe consider renewing the CPU's thermal compound).

Anyone here care to share their experience with any such aftermarket replacement battery vendors, either positive or negative?  (OK, that 'positive or negative' battery pun was unintentional - I swear it!)

The system claims to have only gone through a little over 100 battery recharge cycles - but I have my doubts.

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We had Apple do ours. Made an appointment - cost was at the time not bad. Showed up and no battery.
Got a voucher for a free battery and they called us when it came in.

Not helping with a new battery,  I am typing this on a late 2015 iMac.  It will no longer update to the latest software.  Essentially living it's last year.  Bite the bullet and get a newer macbook.  or not.  

I've replaced macbook pro and air batteries, but I always bought from iFixit.com. But you're probably looking at or near Apple prices. Looks like their battery kit for your dinosaur is about $120, as compared to the $40-45 on eBay.

I'd spend Apple money.

Monterey is only what - one release behind current Sonoma? Or is it two?

I just bought a refurb 2019 retina MacBook Pro to replace it for critical stuff for work (migrating to that one right now) - but the 2015 has plenty of life left in it once the battery and other stuff are taken care of.

And that's not my only computer, rather on the Windows side I just got a new Lenovo Slim Pro i9 laptop, and a Lenovo 10th gen i7 SFF desktop - and I have a Dell 5530 12-gen i5 as well as some others.

So I do want to go ahead with a fix, but paying Apple prices is a non-starter.

OK.  I'm not sure how far back Monterey is.  But I already have issues.  But you got a later mac for crucial stuff and a lot of computers so you know what you are doing.

Last year I bought a Macbook Pro M2 and was awed by the performance.  Yeah I get it a shit ton of money for a damn computer.  I am still typing this on the old iMac though cause I LOVE the 27" screen.  If they still made an iMac 27" I'd buy it.  I'm gonna figure out how to convert the iMac into a screen for the Macbook so I don't have to give up on the larger screen.  Probably not hard just need enough motivation and the next time the iMac gives me problems it's a done deal. Wish I had info on a battery exchange.  

Yeah - it would certainly be nice to get an M2 - someday…

I put ubuntu on my older macbook pro after the Brave browser stopped updating due to outdated macOS

I forget what model it is now... but you can get a few more years out of them if you move away from macOS

sorry i cant help with the battery info.

macsales.com has basically everything you will ever need.

It's a life changing performance difference just for the record.  This M1 I'm typing this on is amazing.

Yes, I have mostly left it plugged in.



Are you suggesting that since the laptop model(s) that the aftermarket batteries are targeted for are 'old', that the batteries themselves would likely not be from current production runs, or something else?

I'm pretty sure that's not an accurate assertion by him. take a look at macsales, they've got everything, and I'm sure they're not selling batteries that are past their shelf life.

You are glossing over too many unstated assumptions in order to arrive at your conclusions for me to accept that as "the last word".

I have personally replaced a battery in a MacBook the same series as yours. I know others who have as well.  It will be fine.  It's not like we forgot how to make batteries and the only ones in existence stopped being made twenty years ago.

I would just pay the $129.
that covers parts labor and gives the machine a new 90 warranty.

Not all aftermarket batteries are created equal and none of them are equal to OEM.
That's not to say you couldn't use an aftermarket and be fine, but just know there are components in the OEM you are not getting in the aftermarket that effect usage, life and safety.