Apple puts price on MacBook Pro battery replacement

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 14 Jan 2009 at 08:54

UK users will be charged ?139 to have the battery in the new MacBook Pro 17in replaced.

Apple announced the new MacBook Pro would follow the MacBook Air's sealed battery design during its farewell MacWorld keynote last week.

The ?139 fee to have the battery replaced at an Apple store represents a hefty premium on the MacBook Air, which costs only ?99.

However, the MacBook Pro has a 95-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery with a quoted battery life of eight hours, compared to the MacBook Air's 37-watt-hour model with a 4.5 hour lifespan, which likely means the raw cost of the battery is higher in the Pro.

For once, the weak pound is actually working in UK buyers' favour, too. Europeans are being charged 179 Euros to have the MacBook Pro battery replaced, which equates to ?162 at today's exchange rates. There's little difference in the UK and US prices, once US sales taxes have been taken into consideration.

Those wishing to have their MacBook batteries replaced can get a same-day service provided they pre-book at an Apple Store. A mail-in service takes 3-4 business days, however.