Will a battery from a 2010 MBP 15" also fit a 2012 MBP 15"? Both are form factor A1286, but do (obviously) have different model numbers. Online, there are batteries listed that say they do fit both of these models, but then to confuse me, there are also batteries listed that don't include both years/models in their description.

What's the real, definitive story on A1286 battery fitment? Thanks.

BTW, I just ordered a 2012 MBP that's sans battery, and has an apparently poor performing HDD in it. We have the SSD here ready to transplant, so the allegedly bad HDD is not an issue. Heck, after the transplant, it won't surprise me if a nuke and repave brings the 1TB HDD back to life. If so, I'll probably just put it in the 2010, as the 2010's old 500GB HDD was truly toasted.

OTOH, I did just recently put a new battery into the 2010, but if it'll fit, I'll put it into the pending 2012, and put the 2010's old battery (400 cycles, 68% health) back into it, while continuing to search for someone handy w/ logic board tech, to swap the bad, too wimpy cap on its discrete GPU, for a a more robust cap, so that the 2010 can live happily ever after, from then on. Goal was to replace Mrs. Buzz's old 2008 SR MBP w/ the 2010, as in short order, she's gonna need an OS beyond the SR MBP's El Cap max. The 2010 would/will be perfect w/ a good cap on its dGPU. Other than the bad cap, the 2010 is absolutely pristine; I'd rather it not go to the landfill just yet.
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My understanding is that 2011 and 2012 are the same, but 2010 is different (different connector).

If you are rebuilding a 2012 laptop with a new SSD etc, I would spend the $$ on a new battery too. Older batteries will result in CPU throttling etc.

Quote
sekker
If you are rebuilding a 2012 laptop with a new SSD etc, I would spend the $$ on a new battery too. Older batteries will result in CPU throttling etc.

The new battery in the 2010 is just a few weeks old.... if it'll fit the 2012, that'll buy time until I can find someone that can replace the bad dGPU cap in the 2010. Again, the 2010 is truly pristine, so I'd hate for such a silly little bad GPU cap to be its death knell. As GGD noted, there may be a discrepancy in the connector between 2010 and successive years, but the battery descriptions for some A1286 MPB's (online) do include listing for all years.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to order a 2012 designated battery, which would get here before the MBP shows up next week. If it's not needed after all, I can just return it while trying score a denizen of the tech wizardry world to replace the 2010's bad dGPU cap.
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OWC has two different batteries for that range of 15" MBPs.

15" 2009-2010
[eshop.macsales.com]

15" 2011-2012
[eshop.macsales.com]

For the 13" models, 2009-2012 are the same which is what might have been confusing you, but you have the 15".

13" 2009-2012
[eshop.macsales.com]

More homework for the win. Thanks.

Yeah, I ordered a 2011/12 battery last night....

by next weekend we'll be stylin' again. Hopefully.

Mrs. Buzz needs High Sierra minimum, shortly, for her Go Daddy domain email. Ye olde SR MBP can't quite get there.
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