DIY MacBook Battery Repairs Just Got Cheaper — But There’s a Catch

Following hints in October that Apple might soon simplify MacBook battery replacements, the company has just begun offering standalone battery modules — a first that should make self-service battery replacements both simpler and more affordable.

For years, replacing a MacBook battery involved a drastic procedure that required repair shops to swap out the entire top case of the MacBook — including the keyboard. This was a massive overkill for a consumable component, especially since that’s a part that costs $527 for the current MacBook Pro models.

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In other words, folks who needed a new battery could end up paying for far more than just a battery replacement. Apple Stores would typically charge a lower “battery replacement” price and eat the cost difference of the part when dealing with a specific battery problem, but no such discounts were available when the company rolled out its self service repair program a few years ago; if you wanted to replace your own MacBook battery, you were paying the price for an entire “top case with battery and keyboard.”

However, a glimmer of hope appeared in October, when the folks at iFixit tore down the M5 MacBook Pro and found the battery was more easily removable. Previous models required removing the trackpad and prying or using solvents to dissolve stubborn glue; by contrast, the M5 model features design changes that let you leave the trackpad in place and use a pair of adhesive pull tabs to remove the battery. There’s still some fiddling and disassembly needed to get at the battery, but you no longer have to risk breaking something to take it out by itself.

Around the same time, iFixit discovered that Apple’s Self Service Repair store had added a reference to an individual battery replacement part. There was no word on when that would be available other than “in the future,” but it seems the future is now.

Apple’s Self Service Repair Store now sells an individual battery and related parts for the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, with the battery priced at $209.25, and a battery press plate and plastic battery cap for $26 each. There’s also a detailed repair manual on how to accomplish the battery swap.

While there’s no mention of the plastic battery cap in the repair manual, the $26 Battery Press Plate is a required tool, putting the total cost of parts at $235.25, although Apple will offer a $22.50 credit after you return the old battery, bringing the final repair cost to $212.75. That’s still pricey, but it will save you a bit over the $249 that Apple charges for the same service in-store. More importantly, it’s a far cry from the $439.12 an entire top case with battery would cost you after Apple’s part return credit is applied.

Still, it may be easier to replace the MacBook Pro battery on Apple’s newest model, but that’s a matter of degrees. The procedure still isn’t for the faint of heart, and Apple makes it clear that this should be done “only by individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices.” In addition to the 14 precise disassembly and 27 reassembly steps, you’ll need an extensive collection of specific tools, most of which you’re unlikely to have on hand. Apple rents the toolkit for seven days for $49, but that puts the repair costs above what an Apple Store charges to do the job for you.

Apple’s Self Service Repair Program has almost always worked out to being more expensive than getting your iPhone, iPad, or Mac serviced at an Apple Store. That’s likely because Apple has rolled it out as a concession to the right to repair laws that have been coming into force across the US. Rather than continue its fight against them, it threw in the towel and rolled out its self service repair program to allow users to conduct their own repairs.

However, lawmakers can’t force Apple to lower its prices — a point that was reiterated earlier this week in the ongoing App Store battle. Apple is in the business of selling iPhones and Macs, not repairing them, and its Genius Bar undoubtedly operates on narrow profit margins. If you own all the necessary tools like Apple does, then the Self Service Repair program will save you a bit of money, but in most cases it’s better to just take your MacBook into Apple or an Authorized Apple Service Provider (AASP). It’s also worth mentioning that this change only applies to the 2025 M5 14-inch MacBook Pro; previous models still require a full top case replacement, so you’ll do much better at the Apple Store, which still only charges the flat $249 fee for a battery replacement.