The recall centered on lithium-ion batteries made by Japan-based Sony and sold with some iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 computers.
"We discovered that some Sony batteries in previous models of power PC-based iBooks and PowerBooks do not meet Apple's standards for safety and performance," said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling.
"Our number-one priority is to recall and replace the affected batteries free of charge," Mr Dowling said.
The Apple announcement came after Dell Computer Corporation recalled some 4.1 million laptop batteries with Sony-made cells, also as a fire hazard. The Dell recall is the largest ever.
Japan's industry ministry ordered Sony and Dell on to investigate reports that some laptop batteries made by the Japanese electronics giant have overheated and caught fire.
At least two such incidents have been reported in Japan since October of last year, according to the ministry.
Sony has said the problems of overheating and fires did not stem from a problem with the original design of the batteries but were tied to a number of factors linked to the integration and configuration with the Dell computers.
Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
In two cases, people suffered minor burns, and in others, property was damaged, the commission reported.
It estimated that 1.1 million Apple laptop batteries would be recalled in the United States and another 700,000 in other countries.
The batteries were sold with laptops and separately from October 2003 until this month.
Apple posted details of the recall at its website and did not expect to incur "a material financial impact."