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by ryanhuff 1695 days ago
I have a 2012 MBP, and Apple won't replace the battery. The laptop works great, but Apple considers "obsolete". Sad.
3 comments

If you have a 2012 you can easily replace the battery yourself, just check the relevant ifixit guide for the screw bits you need, IIRC from my 2010's replacement the battery has a pair of screws (one of which I think is behind the HDD bracket, though I may be misremembering) and an adhesive strip on the back which can easily be overpowered (though it's probably a better idea to soften it using heat from the trackpad side).

According to coconut I replaced my battery back in 2017~2018 or so (battery was manufactured in October 2017) and it was a breeze. "New" battery is at 6934/7000mAh (99% capacitity).

According to ifixit, just 106 easy steps to replace and re-assemble! :)
I think there are early and mid 2012s that differ quite a bit. I have a mid 2012 and the battery replacement is a nightmare. I'm waiting for my 14" to arrive, I'll switch over, then give it a go so I can hand me down the 2012 with some life in it. And if I blow it so be it.
You must have the 2012 retina!
I have this computer too and I recommend the replacement sold on BH photo video. I just put it in and I can somehow get like 7 hours plus of use from this computer doing very light stuff (like reading hn). Impressive for a computer so old. Still very performant for me imo with 16gb of ram and an SSD upgrade under the hood. I was looking at the m1 but I'll hold off, nothing pushing me away from this device currently and it seems like I will have software compatibility issues on ARM until they refine rosetta or offer bootcamp again.
Do you have the Retina model? How long did the swap take you?
I have the nonretina. The swap took me probably 5 minutes if that. However long it takes to unscrew 10 screws.
Replaced the Retina 2012 15" MBP battery fairly recently, as well as the SSD a long while ago (with an adapter) and took maybe 8 minutes, minus the screws, each time. The worry is the 3rd party batteries won't last long or will swell sooner than OEM parts.
If I get even half as much usage out of this third party battery as the OEM one it will last me another 5 years. Not a bad price for $80 imo.
The unibody (non-Retina)'s battery is very, very easy to swap. The Retina's is more difficult, but I do not have personal experience.