Apple Explains New iPad's Continued Charging Beyond 100% Battery Level

[SamIAre]

Especially considering if people plug out the iPad the moment it displays 100%, they won't get the full 10-hour use out of it. So, they'll then be (wrongly) complaining that the battery life isn't as advertised.

Read it again. The idea is that you get the advertised battery life when 100% is displayed. So technically you get a little better if you let it charge past that.

This isn't supposed to be a trick by Apple, nor is this kind of thing only carried out by them. It's all done in the name of the best user experience. To keep the battery working the drain/charge cycle has to occur. It's not worth explaining this to everyone because it shouldn't matter to them, but seeing it drain while plugged in would be alarming to most people. The easiest answer is to do it behind the scenes and display when the battery reaches a perceived 100% rather than actual, and have the life be rated at the base of that perceived 100%.

 

[bearbear]

This is true with most things with a battery. This is not news.

 

[50548]

There. Death to 'batterygate'.

Just another NON-ISSUE duly clarified by those in the know; thank you, Mr. Chao.

Now may we move to the next whining topic please?

 

[taxiapple]

This is unacceptable.

Another one added to the ignore list.

 

[JBaker122586]

Makes sense.

Especially considering if people plug out the iPad the moment it displays 100%, they won't get the full 10-hour use out of it. So, they'll then be (wrongly) complaining that the battery life isn't as advertised.

1% of 10 hours is 6 minutes.

I doubt anybody is going to complain they only got 9 hours 54 minutes usage out of their iPad.

 

[Can't Stop]

Never had a problem with this. I have iPod touch 2nd gen that i use solely for my workouts and runs. When not in use it’s always hooked to my iMac and i still get pretty decent playing time with it. I bought it in october 2008. All in all not bad.

 

[5aga]

1% of 10 hours is 6 minutes.

I doubt anybody is going to complain they only got 9 hours 54 minutes usage out of their iPad.

you would be surprised. LOL

 

[zoetmb]

It would be pretty great if someone clarified this on MacBooks.

So many people keep telling me that I can't leave my Mac connected all the time. Because the battery would start losing it's health. I've always said that is BS. But it wouldn't hurt to be sure of it.

As for what you said, it has to be with keeping the health of the battery, supposedly.

No, one of the great things about Macs is that you can leave them plugged in all the time. But the battery will eventually give you less life per charge. My MacBook Pro 15" battery, which originally gave about four hours of life, dropped to about two hours after three years. The battery also swelled up at that point and I had to replace it because it began to affect the touch pad.

Would a battery last longer if you only left it plugged in when it needed to charge? I don't know.

Wheras when I've had PC laptops (whether Dell, HP or Lenovo) at places where I've worked, the battery was useless after a year from leaving it plugged in all the time. The one I'm using right now, which is about 8 months old, has a battery that only lasts about 20 minutes.

 

[bawbac]

So this seems to be official confirmation that keeping iOS devices plugged in all the time doesn't hurt long term battery life... This has been hotly debated for years!

Are you sure?

iPhone 4 bursts into smoke

03/20/2012 17:47 PDT
The iPhone 4 was plugged into an Apple charger on the nightstand next to the bed when early in the morning she woke up to a strange smell and noticed sizzling and popping noises from the phone. As the room filled up with smoke, she used her laptop case to pick up the phone and throw it into the hotel room sink.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/03/iphone-4-bursts-into-smoke/

 

[asdf072]

It's just a feel-good measure by Apple. If I see my battery status at 98%, even though this is "fully charged" to any reasonable person, I still feel a twinge of "Oh God, it's only at 98%!". It's a beautiful lie that helps us anal retentive types make it though the day. (And, as mentioned, actually keeping it charged to 100% would KILL your battery life.)

 

[burne]

I didn't say it was an issue, that it actually happens.

I bought a 4S just saturday, because my 3G died. It got up to 104ºF while charging. I have rechargeable apple AA batteries that get 130ºF while charging.

Heatgate or just the way LiIon and NiMH work?

 

[Can't Stop]

No, one of the great things about Macs is that you can leave them plugged in all the time. But the battery will eventually give you less life per charge. My MacBook Pro 15" battery, which originally gave about four hours of life, dropped to about two hours after three years. The battery also swelled up at that point and I had to replace it because it began to affect the touch pad.

Would a battery last longer if you only left it plugged in when it needed to charge? I don't know.

Wheras when I've had PC laptops (whether Dell, HP or Lenovo) at places where I've worked, the battery was useless after a year from leaving it plugged in all the time. The one I'm using right now, which is about 8 months old, has a battery that only lasts about 20 minutes.

2 hours after 3 years is very good.

 

[SBlue1]

ok. that makes sense. thaks.

 

[rekoil]

No, one of the great things about Macs is that you can leave them plugged in all the time. But the battery will eventually give you less life per charge. My MacBook Pro 15" battery, which originally gave about four hours of life, dropped to about two hours after three years. The battery also swelled up at that point and I had to replace it because it began to affect the touch pad.

Would a battery last longer if you only left it plugged in when it needed to charge? I don't know.

Wheras when I've had PC laptops (whether Dell, HP or Lenovo) at places where I've worked, the battery was useless after a year from leaving it plugged in all the time. The one I'm using right now, which is about 8 months old, has a battery that only lasts about 20 minutes.

You absolutely do not want to leave your laptop plugged in all the time. However, you don't have to unplug it very often; IIRC the sweet spot seems to be an hour or so of battery-powered use per month. Sometime's it's necessary to fully cycle the battery (run it from full charge until forced to sleep mode, then fully recharge) in order to recalibrate the charge meter.

 

[Hardtimes]

You're charging it wrong!

 

[Imaginethe]

This is true with most things with a battery. This is not news.

Exactly, I thought this was common. Batteries would not last long if this didn't happen.

 

[50548]

Dear Moderators, you may now close this thread as well as any other thread related to this non-issue...there is no need to discuss it further.

 

[MisterK]

Apple is always held to an impossible standard

Apple has not only the most loyal fan-base of any company on earth, but also the most venomous detractors. There are people who HATE Apple and are looking for any reason (however unreasonable) to knock them down a peg. It's not just because they're now the top dog (these people didn't hate Microsoft for this). It's not that they use Chinese factories (there wasn't a peep from these people about Sony, Samsung, Toshiba or anyone else before Apple was king). It's not because their marketing is too smug or that their fans are too enthused (They don't hate Samsung for this). There's something else. Something about the holistic persona of this company and its style has fans of competing products very upset. Go to any article about Apple on Engadget, The Verge, CNET, Youtube, or on CNN.com and see how angry people get about this company. It's incredible.

I think that part of the problem is perception. Apple is seen as the top dog but they are, in fact, the underdog. Let me explain: Apple wants to control every part of the experience – from hardware, software, services, supply chain, support, and retail. This means that it isn't Apple vs. Google. It's Apple vs. (Google+Samsung+Sony+Toshiba+Motorola+HTC+LG+Amazon+everyone I forgot). This is crazy. This is David vs. Goliath.. This is Bruce Lee vs. Everyone.

It's amazing they ever outsell anyone on anything, considering the guys they're up against. Frankly, I find it hard NOT to root for Apple.

 

[a17inchFuture]

So wait, does this mean that the battery will continue to shrink indefinitely as long as its plugged in?

I was told long ago with these type of nickel or whatever batteries, every time you plug in the battery gets a bit smaller, and eventually can't hold a charge... And this, "discharge a little, then charge again" thing means its CONSTANTLY shrinking my battery, rather than just drawing from the outlets current?!?

Explains why my last iPad last a few hours now, when it has barely been unplugged since I got it....

Is this right, and is it as stupid a move as I am making it out to be? Or is this the way all these batteries work and there's no way around it?

 

[hetrigger]

The last I checked, constant extreme heat and cold destroys the battery life. This goes for all batteries! The discharge cycle, is a form of exercise for the battery to extend the life. As the battery ages its "100%" charge reduces over time. This goes for all batteries, rechargeable or not.

 

[Wang Foolio]

Mmm, calibrations.

 

[fruitpunch.ben]

I hate Li-Ion batteries too. That's why I'm sticking with Sn-OwLeop batteries until Apple gets it together.

Don't know why you're getting down voted. This made me laugh out loud. Thanks

 

[joelvega125]

Wirelessly posted

You're joking, right?

 

[joelvega125]

Wirelessly posted

I've never had any issues or concerns with my phones battery. I do a full cycle charge when I can. I also leave it plugged in overnight and have never seen any loss of capacity in any of my iOS devices. I've always assumed leaving a battery plugged in constantly was bad for it. At least with my laptop batteries I've seen that. It's good to see apple addressing these non-issues . Cheers!

 

[314631]

This is great news for consumers who are demanding optimal battery performance from their iOS devices. Apple is leading the way with so much incredible technology here. I'm amazed they let the guy speak and reveal so much.