If your MacBook Pro 13″ 2016 or 2017 barely makes it through half a working day on a charge, or if the trackpad has started to feel oddly raised or the bottom case is bulging slightly — you’re not imagining it, and you’re far from alone. Many owners of this generation report the battery losing a significant chunk of its real-world capacity well before they expected it to, and on a good number of units produced between late 2016 and late 2017, the battery swells physically inside the chassis, pushing up against the trackpad and bottom cover. The frustrating part is that the rest of the machine — the display, the processor, the chassis itself — is often still in excellent shape. The battery is the weak link, and replacing it is a straightforward fix that brings the laptop back to feeling new again.

At ALVA PC, we replace the battery and hand you back the same machine you’re used to. Your files, your desktop layout, your saved passwords, your apps — nothing changes. We work on A1708 models (the no-Touch-Bar variant with two Thunderbolt ports) and A1706 models (the Touch-Bar variant with four Thunderbolt ports), and we fit the correct replacement pack for your specific chassis. Because the battery in this generation is glued in rather than screwed in, it’s not a job that lends itself to a kitchen-table attempt — but in our hands it’s a well-practised repair, and in most cases the shorter runtime, the unexpected shutdowns, and the physical swelling that comes with a degraded pack are reduced significantly once a fresh battery is in place.

If you’d like to understand more about what goes into this repair before booking — what affects battery lifespan on this generation, what the swelling means for surrounding components, and how to know whether your unit qualifies for a replacement — our full guide is on the MacBook battery replacement page. When you’re ready to go ahead, you can secure your slot with a £10 reservation on our MacBook battery booking page, and we’ll take it from there.

Yes — on both chassis variants in this family, a battery replacement is a well-understood job that can make a real, noticeable difference to how your machine feels day to day. The battery is a single glued-in unit rather than a removable pack in a tray, so the job involves proper adhesive removal rather than a simple unscrew-and-swap, and ALVA PC confirms exactly which battery your specific model and EMC number needs before any work begins. Worth knowing upfront: because the battery is bonded to the top case rather than sitting separately, replacement on this generation almost always means a full top-case assembly swap rather than a standalone battery-only job — a more involved repair than on later MacBook Pro generations, but a routine one in our hands.

This is a hardware service only — it doesn’t involve your storage drive at all, so your files, apps, settings, and logins stay exactly where they are throughout. You won’t need to research compatibility, choose a part, or worry about whether something will work with your specific model — ALVA PC takes care of all of that. What comes back to you is exactly the laptop you know, just running the way it should.

The name ‘Apple MacBook Pro 13″ 2016–2017’ covers several distinct configurations — including models with and without the Touch Bar — and the right upgrade path can differ between them. Before confirming anything, ALVA PC identifies your exact model so every recommendation is specific to your machine, not just the broader family.

If your MacBook Pro 13″ has started to feel unreliable — shutting down unexpectedly under load, draining far faster than it used to, or showing a “Service Battery” warning in the menu bar — the battery is the most frequent cause on this generation. These packs are now several years past their original install date, and many owners report the drop-off accelerating once a battery has spent long stretches sitting fully charged and plugged in, which is a known contributor to faster capacity loss and, in some cases, swelling.

In most cases, though, the processor, memory, and display underneath are still genuinely capable hardware. The good news is that this often means the laptop itself isn’t worn out — it’s one component that’s holding everything back. Many owners in this family report a dramatic improvement in day-to-day reliability once the battery is refreshed, with runtime and stability closer to how the machine performed when new. Your familiar setup, your files, your preferences — all of that stays exactly as it is. It’s the same laptop, just with the failing component replaced.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro 2016–2017 lineup is best understood as two separate machines sharing a chassis design. The A1708 (sold across Late 2016 and Mid 2017 as the entry-level, two-port model) uses a single A1713 battery rated at 54.5 Wh and 11.4V — the same physical pack across both years, so a 2016 and a 2017 A1708 take an identical replacement. The A1706 (Touch Bar, four Thunderbolt 3 ports), sold in Late 2016 and Mid 2017 as two distinct sub-models with different EMC numbers (3071 and 3163 respectively), carries a larger 49.2 Wh pack under part number A1819. Neither chassis offers anything close to a user-serviceable battery: both are single units adhered firmly to the top case, and removal requires adhesive dissolving rather than a screwdriver.

The capacity figures matter here because they represent a real step down from the previous generation: the A1708’s 54.5 Wh pack is roughly 25 percent smaller than what Apple shipped in the 2015 13-inch Pro, and the runtime inconsistency at launch was severe enough that Consumer Reports initially withheld its recommendation entirely. A macOS update in early 2017 addressed the most erratic behaviour, and many owners report more predictable runtime after that fix, but real-world endurance on both chassis tends to fall noticeably short of Apple’s rated figures — particularly on units that spent extended time plugged in, which is frequently associated with accelerated capacity loss and, in some cases, swelling. Heat, usage pattern, and cycle count all influence how quickly a given battery degrades, so experiences vary across commonly sold configurations.

For most owners looking at a replacement, the realistic path is straightforward: confirm your model number (A1708 or A1706) and EMC number from System Information or the bottom case, and let ALVA PC source the correct battery assembly and handle installation — DIY is possible with the right kit, but the adhesive removal process carries real risk of display or logic board damage if rushed. On most configurations, a fresh battery often improves both measured capacity and runtime consistency, though it won’t address the keyboard reliability issues or USB-C port concerns that affect this generation independently of battery condition.

Our Apple MacBook Pro 13″ 2016–2017 battery replacement service removes the uncertainty: we check your exact model, confirm the layout, select a suitable route, carry out the work, test the laptop and send video proof before any remaining balance is due. For a wider explanation, visit our main service page.

Common concerns. We’ve written a detailed guide that addresses every one of these worries honestly, with research to back it up.