What battery health do refurbished MacBooks come with?
Refurbished MacBooks typically come with battery health between 80% and 100%, depending on the refurbisher. The Apple Refurbished Store replaces the battery in every unit, so Apple-certified refurbished MacBooks arrive with a brand-new battery and 0 cycle count.
What do other refurbishers offer?
Third-party refurbishers have varying battery standards. Some replace the battery on every unit, while others only replace it if health has dropped below a threshold (often 80%). The battery health you receive generally correlates with the cosmetic condition grade:
- Excellent (Grade A): Battery health typically 85-100%.
- Good (Grade B): Battery health typically 80-90%.
- Fair (Grade C): Battery health may be lower but still functional.
You can check what each seller guarantees on the battery condition comparison page.
How do I check battery health on a MacBook?
Once you receive your refurbished MacBook:
- Click the Apple menu > System Settings > Battery.
- Click Battery Health to see the condition and cycle count.
- Apple considers a MacBook battery in normal condition if it retains 80% or more of its original capacity.
MacBook batteries are designed to retain 80% capacity at 1,000 charge cycles. A low cycle count means more battery life ahead.
What if the battery health is poor?
If your refurbished MacBook arrives with battery health below what was advertised, contact the refurbisher's customer service. This should be covered under their return policy or warranty.