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Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published May 9, 2016
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How do you replace the battery in the 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?
Please note that this Q&A covers battery replacement for the 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro models. EveryMac.com also covers battery replacement for the 13-Inch and 17-Inch models.
The original 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro models -- which Apple formally refers to as the "Late 2008" line -- have batteries that are easy to replace as they have a simple latch on the bottom. Flip the latch, open the panel, pull the plastic tab behind the existing battery, pop in the new battery, and reattach the panel. It's so simple that instructions barely are needed.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Unibody MacBook Pro Systems)
Replacing the battery in the "Mid-2009," "Mid-2010," "Early 2011," "Late 2011," and non-Retina Display "Mid-2012" MacBook Pro models is more complicated and the batteries are not designed to be replaced by end users and Apple does not support end user replacement either.
However, it is quite possible, even straightforward, to replace the battery yourself in these models. Replacing the battery yourself can save money and time, as well.
Identification Help
Different 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro models use different batteries and different types of screws and consequently proper identification is important.
If you're not sure which 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro model you have, these models share Model Numbers, unfortunately. EMC Numbers are not externally listed on many of these systems, either. As a result, they only can be externally differentiated by the Serial Number courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature.
However, in software, it also is possible to get "close enough" to an exact match to determine the compatible battery type by Model Identifier.
In turn, each model can be uniquely identified via model identifier and one or more secondary identifiers (like processor speed and/or processor type).
Model identifiers for each of these models follow:
15" Unibody MacBook Pro |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
Late 2008 |
||
Late 2008 |
||
Late 2008 |
||
Early 2009* |
||
Early 2009* |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Early 2011 |
||
Early 2011 |
||
Early 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
||
Late 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
||
Mid-2012 |
||
Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
*Officially, Apple refers to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 15" (Unibody) and "Core 2 Duo" 2.93 15" (Unibody) as "Late 2008" models in some places, but this is not technically correct and EveryMac.com uniquely documents them as "Early 2009" models, accordingly. For the purpose of batteries, though, they use the same easy to replace design as their predecessors.
Compatible Batteries & Screw Types
Different 15-Inch "Unibody" models use different battery types and connecting screws. Specifically, the "Late 2008" and "Early 2009" models use one type of battery, the "Mid-2009" and "Mid-2010" use another, and subsequent models use yet another. Connecting screws are different between lines, as well.
These specific details are best summarized as a chart:
MacBook Pro Series |
Notebook Model ID |
Screw Types |
Battery Model No |
Battery Order No |
Buy |
Late 2008 |
None |
A1281 |
MB772LL/A |
||
Early 2009 |
None |
A1281 |
MB772LL/A |
||
Mid-2009 |
P6 5-Lobe |
A1321 |
None* |
||
Mid-2010 |
Y1 Tri-Wing |
A1321 |
None* |
||
Early 2011 |
Y1 Tri-Wing |
A1382 |
None* |
||
Late 2011 |
Y1 Tri-Wing |
A1382 |
None* |
||
Mid-2012 |
Y1 Tri-Wing |
A1382 |
None* |
*As these batteries are not considered to be user replaceable, Apple does not provide customer-facing order numbers.
Click the "Buy" link to see compatible batteries available for sale from site sponsor Other World Computing. These batteries are of high quality, are available for worldwide shipping, and include the exact size and type of screwdrivers needed to perform the battery swap.
Battery Replacement Instructions
Although the battery replacement procedure is similar between lines, specific video instructions are helpful particularly because of the differences in batteries and screws.
In addition to providing compatible battery upgrade kits, site sponsor Other World Computing offers precise instructional videos for each line, as well:
Late 2008 & Early 2009 15" MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Video
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,1
Mid-2009 15" MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Video
Model Identifiers:
MacBookPro5,3 & MacBookPro5,4
Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Video
Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2
Early 2011 & Late 2011 15" MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Video
Model Identifier:
MacBookPro8,2
Mid-2012 15" MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Video
Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,1
After watching the video for your specific 15" MacBook Pro, it should be clear that replacing the battery is straightforward, even if those released after the original models are more complicated.
However, if you do not feel comfortable doing the work yourself, hiring a professional is a good idea.
Unibody MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Summary & Purchase Options
Ultimately, those with even modest technical skills can easily replace the battery in the 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro models should they choose to do so.
However, be sure to buy from a quality company to ensure that the batteries will function as intended. Poor quality batteries may not last as long as quality ones, but even could leak or cause a fire.
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for all 15-Inch MacBook Pro models for do-it-yourself replacement.
In the UK and Ireland, site sponsor Flexx sells OWC batteries for all MacBook Pro models with free shipping. The company provides flat rate shipping to France, Germany, and Switzerland and inexpensive shipping for all of Europe, too.
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