This $60 Retina MacBook Pro is INSANE

Gear:
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[TarynnElizabeth]

It is absolutely NOT easier to replace the top assembly on a retina series MacBook Pro, versus replacing the battery itself. I’ve replaced tons of these batteries. Even the most recent models up to 2018. With a little bit of patience you can have the battery out with a few minutes. The only pain is cleaning up the adhesive strips.

[bgs]

Hi Luke, I am a small business owner (music teacher) that has had their 21.5" iMac core duo since 2011 (it is a late 2009 model). With your tutorials, I was not only update the hard drive and ram, but I was able to get this machine to run Catalina, which prior to last week felt like an impossibility. It feels like a brand new computer in comparison now, I can't believe it! I wouldn't have been able to do this as easily without the information on your channel, so you deserve a heart-felt thank you! I hope that all is well with you and that you continue making this great content!

[zoltanvarga]

I loved this video. I own the same, late 2013, 15" retina MP, with the identically same hardware upgrade, love my 1 TB SSD, and I'm so glad that you were able to bring one of this great, like you said it, one of the best MP design. I love mine, won't trade it for a brand new, other than MP. thanks for the video, and bravo Luke!❤❤

[urbantreasurehunter]

Luke, its crazy that you made this video because I did the exact same repair to a DG 2015 15 inch last week. Its a great machine and i’m loving it!

[richardkeith]

I've saved those batteries by jump starting with same voltage then plug back in to completely charge works everytime.

What usually happens is people run the charge so low and there's built in safety if the voltage is too low it won't charge by jump starting it with the same or slightly higher voltage it brings up the volts to a chargeable voltage

[jamesfiegel]

Removing battery is easier use a heat gun but cover logic board area....it loosens adhesive and it is easy how they do it at Apple repair :)

[zapod]

I have the 2.4Ghz 16Gb 512Gb dual graphics version of this and it still rocks. I still get a couple of hours out the battery which is remarkable for a 9 year old laptop.

[ammaarlaheri]

This video has the most unexpected sponsor of all time lol 😂

[jotato]

I just got a used 2013 MacBook Pro 15 inch for $200 and I gotta say its actually perfect what it cost. Display is nice and bright and the typing experience is exactly the same as my old 2012 MacBook Air. The reason I got this computer is because I accidentally cleaned my MacBook air's display with a Clorox wipe and it ruined the display and I wasn't going to pay close to $400 for a new screen on an old MacBook Air. I checked on Facebook marketplace and I lucked out on finding a MacBook Pro for $200 and aside from couple dings on the front by the apple logo, the computer runs smooth and fast enough. This is my first 15 inch MacBook anything and I gotta say that Im starting to like the size.

[vovs]

I don't think this MacBook will ever exceed 85W power consumption. The reason it throttles so badly may have something to do with the fact MagSafe adapters come in different flavours, going as low as 45W. It does work, I tried it, and indeed I've seen battery charge going down under heavy use. So perhaps it may be capping the power usage to not turn off even with the smallest power brick.

[aelaan]

What a missed opportunity to refresh the thermal paste.

[njlouch]

That is the exact spec I had. After about 9 years, there was a fault with the IO board. Apple fixed it, swapped the entire top case, battery, etc - so had a charging cycle of 1. Sold it for £550!

[WireHedd]

I see a dozen or so of these each month thru my repair lab. they're quick and easy and work great so long as the graphics subsystems haven't shit the bed. I have 2 myself.

[GrandpaJeffrey]

I just did this with my 2014 MBP with retina and dual graphics/Nvidia. We still use it to manage our business. when you are running spreadsheets and the like these are awesome machines that perform well. still fast. My total cost for battery only (no top case) was 105 dollars. No matter, it was still a bargain compared to buying a new machine.

[nowave]

Having recently replaced a battery on exactly the same model, I'd argue that it is easier to replace the battery, than the top case.

[Beyonder]

I have this exact model and I love it. The only thing that irks me about it is: When you connect it to an external display, it automatically selects the discrete graphics (the NVIDIA GForce) which causes the machine to heat up much more than if it would use the IRIS Pro integrated grapics. I have run 2 screens with the only Iris version (another logicboard) and it runs so much cooler than the dual graphics version. I guess it depends on what you use the machine for, but a manual switch between the two graphics card options would have solved that issue.

[mattbosley]

You say you bought the top case on eBay for $60 but what condition was it in? Used? How is the keyboard? The trackpad? How many cycles are on the battery? The problem with buying a used topcase on eBay is you don't know for certain what you're going to get. For $50 more you could get a new battery and replacement kit with instructions and tools from iFixit and know for sure what you're getting. And, in my opinion, replacing the battery is a lot easier than replacing the topcase for someone without your experience.

[catrees]

I must say I have a 2011 MacBook Air 11 inch it used to be my mums old laptop it says the battery needs servicing and that it only holds a full charge for 30 mins plus all the other issues I thought the slowness could be due to old thermal paste but now I know the real problem but I still will replace the thermal paster you have helped me save a laptop and you have saved many more over the internet I am sure.

Keep up the good work.

[amberisvibin]

mac's may not be easy to repair but they sure are satisfying when you get it working

[weholmes]

Great idea replacing the top case! Wish I thought of it before replacing the battery on my late-2013 MBP last week. Battery bulging was affecting the trackpad function. Thanks!