A MacBook is one of the most expensive Apple devices you can own. When you spend more than a thousand bucks on a MacBook, and it gets damaged somehow, the feeling is similar to heartbreak. If your MacBook is damaged, you have two options: you can either fix it or buy a new MacBook. Unfortunately, many people think that getting their Macs fixed is cheaper than buying a new one.
As a general rule, you should fix your MacBook if the repair cost is less than buying a new MacBook. But if you have a MacBook that is more than three years old or if its repair costs more than a new MacBook, you should get a new MacBook instead.
Read on to find out why getting your MacBook fixed is not worth it, how much it costs to repair a MacBook keyboard, how much it costs to repair a water-damaged MacBook, how much it costs to repair a MacBook Pro battery, and how much it costs to repair a MacBook Air and Pro’s screen.
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Why It’s Not Worth It to Get Your MacBook Fixed?
An average MacBook repair without AppleCare+ can cost you anywhere between $300 to $900. Even after getting your MacBook repaired, it will still be an old MacBook. So instead of getting your MacBook fixed, getting a new MacBook would be a smarter choice.
If your MacBook is damaged, getting it repaired may cost more than the price of a new MacBook, especially if you don’t have AppleCare+ coverage. A typical MacBook repair costs anywhere between $300-$900, depending on your model and the extent of the damage.
Even if you get your MacBook repaired, it will remain the same old MacBook. There won’t be anything changed or upgraded. As a result, you will miss all the cool features in the latest MacBook model.
Moreover, the price of getting a MacBook fixed could be way more than getting a new one. For example, a Canadian friend took their MacBook Pro with a broken screen to get fixed at an Apple Store. Since he did not have AppleCare+ coverage, Apple quoted him the repair costs of the screen to be $1550, which is way more than a new MacBook Air or a 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1299).
So if you are in this kind of situation, you are better off buying a new MacBook than getting your older one fixed. Not only will you have your hands on the latest model, but you can also save a few hundred bucks.
It’s not worth getting your MacBook fixed if you don’t have AppleCare+. So instead, sell off your damaged Macbook and add some more money to buy a new MacBook model with all the latest features.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a MacBook Keyboard?
Generally, an average MacBook keyboard repair costs about $400-$500. If you have AppleCare+, a MacBook keyboard repair would cost $125. Since replacing only the keyboard or certain keys requires a lot of work, Apple replaces the entire top chassis of your MacBook if there is a problem with the keyboard.
If there is an issue with your MacBook keyboard or certain keys, Apple replaces the entire top chassis of the MacBook. As a result, all the parts on the top chassis of your MacBook are glued together, including the keyboard, the motherboard, the battery pack, and the trackpad.
So it’s more convenient to replace the entire top chassis of your MacBook, which would cost about $400-$500 depending on your MacBook model. If your keyboard has liquid damage, you will void your one-year warranty, and you will have to pay the repair cost all by yourself.
However, if you have AppleCare+, you will be charged $125 when you take your MacBook to Apple for keyboard repair. Apple also has a keyboard repair program under which you can get your MacBook keyboards repaired or replaced for free by Apple or any Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Suppose you have problems with your MacBook keyboard that include characters or letters repeating unexpectedly, characters or letters not appearing, or keyboard key(s) feeling too sticky or unresponsive. You may be eligible for a free keyboard repair if you have a suitable model.
The MacBook models that are eligible for the free keyboard repair program include:
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017)
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
You will have to pay the keyboard repair costs for any other MacBook model.
If you type a lot on your MacBook, you may wonder if your keyboard will give up on you soon. Please read my article to find out how long MacBook keyboards last.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a MacBook From Water Damage?
Repairing a water-damaged MacBook costs anywhere between $500-$850. If you have AppleCare+, repairing a water-damaged MacBook would cost you $299. However, Apple’s one-year limited warranty does not cover water damage. So you may have to pay $500-$850 for a water-damaged MacBook.
If you have a water-damaged MacBook, Apple will replace all the damaged parts with new ones as there is no such thing as “water damage repair.” Instead, Apple replaces the water-damaged parts with new or refurbished ones.
If you have Apple’s limited one-year warranty, water damage is not covered under a one-year warranty, and you will have to pay anywhere between $500-$850 for getting your MacBook repaired. But, of course, if the damage is not too catastrophic.
However, if you have AppleCare+, it covers two instances of accidental damage, including liquid damage. So you will only need to pay a service fee of $299 to get your MacBook repaired.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a MacBook Pro Battery?
The cost of repairing a MacBook Pro battery for out-of-warranty MacBook Pros is $199. However, if you are covered under AppleCare+, there is no charge, and you can get your MacBook Pro battery repaired for free.
If you are having battery issues with your MacBook Pro, you may not always need a repair. However, there are some ways you can maximize the battery performance of your MacBook Pro. Try out the tips below before you take your MacBook Pro for a battery repair to Apple:
- Update your Mac to the latest software.
- Optimize your settings by lowering the brightness, turning off the Wi-Fi when it’s not in use, optimizing the Energy settings, disconnecting the peripherals, and quitting the applications that are not in use.
- Make sure your MacBook is plugged in and powered on when charging other devices.
You can read my detailed guide for a complete guide on everything to do with correctly charging your MacBook battery.
If you have tried all of these steps and you are still experiencing issues with your Mac, you can take your MacBook Pro to Apple for battery repair. Your MacBook Pro’s battery service may be covered under Apple’s one-year limited warranty, AppleCare+, or consumer law.
However, if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty or if your battery service is not covered under warranty, the service fee for MacBook Pro’s every model is:
| MacBook Pro | Out of Warranty |
| 16-inch MacBook Pro | $ 199 |
| 14-inch MacBook Pro | $ 199 |
| 15-inch MacBook Pro | $ 199 |
| 13-inch MacBook Pro | $ 199 |
If you are planning on getting your MacBook’s battery replaced, read my article to find out if it’s worth it.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a MacBook Pro’s Screen?
It costs between $455-$755 to replace a MacBook Pro screen. Since all MacBook Pros come with a Retina display, their repair costs are high. Add to that the $100 labor costs Apple charge as a service fee, which makes the total repair cost of a MacBook Pro’s screen between $555 and $855.
The screen replacement cost falls under the Tier 4 of Apple Repair for MacBook Pro. This tier covers the most significant and costly repairs, including screen replacement. So when you take your MacBook Pro to an Apple Store, they would quote you anywhere between $455-$755. They would also charge a service fee of $100.
If your MacBook’s screen replacement falls under warranty, consumer law, or AppleCare+, you will only need to pay the service fee for a screen replacement. However, if it does not fall under any of these warranties, you will have to pay the repair costs almost equal to the price of a new MacBook Air.
Schedule your appointment at the Apple Store here. You can check if your MacBook is covered under AppleCare+ here. The exact cost of the screen replacement is determined by considering your MacBook’s mode, Apple Repair Tiers, the extent of the damage, and the year of its release.
If you plan to get your MacBook Pro screen replaced, read my article to find out if it’s worth replacing a MacBook Pro screen.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a MacBook Air’s Screen?
If you are covered under AppleCare+, the repair cost for a MacBook Air’s screen would be at least $350 plus the $100 service fee. If you don’t have any warranty, the screen replacement for a MacBook Air would cost $755, plus the $100 service fee.
MacBook’s screen replacements fall under Tier 4 of Apple Repair, the most expensive tier. This tier includes all the major problems related to the significant parts of your MacBook, such as the logic boards and the screens. For example, it costs $755 to repair a MacBook Air screen if you don’t have AppleCare+.
It’s almost equal to the cost of a new MacBook Air. So if your MacBook Air’s screen is broken and you don’t have AppleCare+, you are better off buying a new MacBook Air instead of getting your old one fixed.
You can also get a refurbished MacBook from Apple at a much lower cost. So buying an Apple refurbished MacBook can be the best decision you make.