Need a battery replacement for your MacBook Pro 13-inch Unibody? We carry out this work in-house at our London workshop, with a fixed quote before we start.
The A1278 battery is screwed in with tri-wing screws rather than glued, so replacement is clean and quick. Many are now swollen, which lifts the trackpad and stops it clicking. We fit a new cell pack, check the charging circuit and calibrate it. Our fixed price covers the part and fitting.
About this model: The 13-inch unibody MacBook Pro (A1278) is one of the most repairable and long-lived Macs Apple ever made. It has a user-accessible hard drive and two RAM slots, a removable optical drive and a screwed-in battery.
Signs it needs a battery replacement
- Trackpad hard to click (swelling beneath it)
- ‘Service Recommended’ warning
- Shuts down at 20–30%
- Battery not charging
How we do it
First we confirm the battery really is the problem: cycle count, reported condition, and a check of the charger and charging circuit.
On this model the battery is screwed in rather than glued, which makes replacement clean and low-risk.
We then calibrate the new battery, confirm it charges from every port, and dispose of the old cells through a proper battery recycling route.
At a glance
| Years | 2009–2012 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo, then Core i5/i7 |
| Storage | Standard SATA drive |
| Memory | Socketed, upgradeable |
| Battery | Screwed in (no glue) |
| Power / charging | MagSafe 1 |
Before you bring it in
Back up your data if you can, note roughly how long a charge lasts now, and bring the charger too, so we can rule it out as the cause.
Which model do you have?
This page covers the MacBook Pro 13-inch Unibody (2009–2012) (MacBookPro5,5 / 7,1 / 8,1 / 9,2; A1278). Look under Apple menu > About This Mac, or check the small print on the bottom case for the A-number. Not sure? Bring it in and we’ll identify it for you.
Price
From £150 + VAT supplied and fitted.Apple battery model: A1322 All prices are subject to inspection, and nothing is done without your approval.
Questions we’re often asked
How long will the new battery last?
A new battery should give you close to the run time it had when new, and typically lasts several years with normal use. Keeping it away from long periods at 100% charge and high heat helps it age more slowly.
Do you use genuine Apple parts?
Yes, wherever they still exist. For a Mac this age Apple no longer makes many parts, so we fit genuine Apple parts recovered from donor machines and tested before fitting. Where no genuine part is available at all, which mostly applies to batteries, we tell you before any work starts.
Can you fit an SSD while it’s here?
Yes. This model uses a standard sata drive, and swapping to an SSD at the same time is often the best-value upgrade you can make.