If your 13-inch non-touch MacBook Pro has been hit by an unpleasant issue of an expanding battery, Apple has turned its back on it: the company has launched a battery replacement program for affected laptops, which are apparently just few in quantity and were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017.
"Apple has determined that, in a limited number of 13-inch MacBook Pro units (without Touch Bar), a component may fail and cause the battery Built-in expand, "says Apple. "This is not a security problem and Apple will replace the eligible batteries at no cost."
Simply type in the serial number of your computer to see if your MacBook Pro is eligible to replace the battery. If so, you can send it to Apple or take it to an Apple Store to change the battery for free. You can even get a refund if you have already replaced the battery. The offer was first detected by 9to5Google.
Five Year Scheme
This does not affect the laptop's standard warranty, Apple's notes in its documentation, and if your computer has been damaged in any way that prevents the battery from being replaced, that will have to be repaired first, and that repair may incur a cost, before you get your free battery exchange.
You do not necessarily have to rush to take advantage of the deal, although acting earlier is likely to be a good idea: Apple says the plan will cover the affected MacBook Pros up to five years after its original purchase.
The launch of the program comes only a few days after Apple started a similar replacement offer for Apple Watch Series 2. Again, swollen batteries are the problem, but even if it is disappointing to see that some devices escape the procedures Apple's quality control system is at least helping customers obtain a fixed solution quickly.