Battery at 90% after 13 mo

[ThailandToo]

What to do if a macbook air M2 shows 90% battery health after just and just 13 months and 189 cycles. Usage mostly includes light tasks and it's often plugged in. Is it normal? Could staying plugged in most of the time be a factor?

I don't believe MacBooks are susceptible to problems with batteries by leaving them plugged in. They solved that quite some time ago. And the average total recharge cycles is supposed to be around 1,000 cycles. I have less than 100 cycles on my newest MBP and it still says 100% which is odd. I actually think it doesn't really prove anything until you're getting less battery life over an extended period of time. You can also do a reset of the battery somehow. I remember reading it on here. But in reality, I do think it should be fine. One thing to note - that's quite a lot of cycles for a MBA that stays plugged in most of the time???

At the same time, you always wonder if Apple is pulling a fast one as you walk in with that to an Apple Store they won't even allow you to pay to replace the battery but they will happily sell you an M4 MBA. Have had them try to sell me a brand new iPhone when I had the latest model. It's a major problem that they really don't care about longevity of devices and push sales so hard to people who don't need it. I do think we should be able to pay at any time for a new battery. AAPL locks these things down to essentially ensure the user can't do it themselves unless they want to get into taking it apart and ordering it online somewhere, or using their great (NOT) self-repair service.

 

[Milliee]

Yes. I don't think anyone will try to stop you from doing so.


Didn't see it mentioned, but if it's mostly plugged in, you might want to consider installing AlDente app to prevent the battery from getting charged to and staying charged at 100% all the time.

Keeping your MacBook’s battery at 100% all the time can wear it out faster. AlDente helps you set smart charging limits, reduce overheating, and keep your battery in good shape for longer — so you get the most out of your device.”


If you're worried about battery heat, you can buy the Pro version ($24.99) for the Heat Protection feature

Charging your battery while its temperature is high results in faster battery degradation. With Heat Protection enabled, charging will automatically stop when your battery temperature is too high.

Thanks for letting me know about the app, it sounds game changer.

 

[Milliee]

My M1 MBA is just a couple of weeks short of 4 years old and battery health is @ 93%. It basically lives on my sofa and gets used everyday mostly for internet surfing. I try to only charge it to ~80% and not let it get below ~30%. It never is plugged in except when charging it up.

So helpful. Does your last sentence mean that you don't use it when charger is plugged in?

 

[Milliee]

Who is telling you to worry about this?

ain't that a big drop?

 

[Milliee]

Seems like this is your opinion on how you want it to work. I was told plugging it in at all times actually saves battery. Mine has always been plugged in since January and battery is still 100%.

Amaaazing! What model do you have?

 

[asimof]

thts pretty bad

 

[Milliee]

Where: MacRummors, discussions.apple, and similar tech forums. Reports feel rare with months between complaints. The absolute worst I ever saw claimed 85% at 166 cycles. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ry-health-at-85-with-only-166-cycles.2446440/

Why not ask for more info?
First I have low personally investment. My M1 Pro is still at 98% capacity after 18 months. Granted, the Pro has a fan and I have extremely light use, only 61 cycles so far, but so far my system seems to be working. At this rate I'll still have 94% capacity at 189 cycles and still be at 80% capacity when I'm ready to replace the laptop in 6 years.

Second, I'd rather ask trusted repair providers or tech researches who have seen a larger sample size. https://www.ifixit.com/News/31716/how-to-care-for-your-laptops-battery-so-it-lasts-longer

Seen any solid data on M1 vs M2 battery wear??

 

[ignatius345]

I don't believe MacBooks are susceptible to problems with batteries by leaving them plugged in. They solved that quite some time ago. And the average total recharge cycles is supposed to be around 1,000 cycles. I have less than 100 cycles on my newest MBP and it still says 100% which is odd.

I have an older relative who keeps her MacBook Air plugged in 24/7/365. When I remote in to help her with stuff, I see that the battery charge is at or around 80% and there's a message there that says "Charging On Hold (Rarely Used On Battery)" This is just native macOS battery logic here, running Sonoma, no special settings. When she replaced her last MacBook, there were like 5 charge cycles on it, and all that was from when I would visit and borrow it for a while. The battery never swelled, there was no issue whatsoever.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I'd say that's on the low side. My M1 Pro from 2021 is on 94% and 214 cycles. But of course the decay is not necessarily linear, so you might not lose another 10% in another 13 months.

Make sure you have Optimize Charging turned on. Try to use it a bit more off-battery. Anecdotal evidence suggests that devices plugged in all the time end up with lower capacity than those used un-plugged more.

I'm not sure I agree with some of the suggestions in other posts here. However, there is evidence to support avoiding extremes -- 0% and 100% -- for too often and too long.

But ultimately, you should use the laptop as you need to: not tailor your usage to the needs of the battery.

Apple will offer you a battery repair if/when it hits either 80% capacity or 1000 cycles. (There is a fee, of course.)

This: "...ultimately, you should use the laptop as you need to: not tailor your usage to the needs of the battery."

Just use the laptop and let the built-in-to-modern-laptops battery management do its thing. I.e., mostly fuggedaboutit. It a good idea to use it unplugged at least part time, but less important than it was with older Mac laptops. Do not waste your time and emotional energy concerning yourself with what the Mac laptop battery management is up to [despite what many users on this site appear to do].

Just my $0.02 after using and managing multiple Mac laptops since the 1990s Duos.

 

[brilliantthings]

If you're worried about battery heat, you can buy the Pro version ($24.99) for the Heat Protection feature

I never noticed this. What a fantastic feature. I'll have to upgrade.

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

ain't that a big drop?

Compared to what?

 

[ignatius345]

Laptop batteries are like tires on a car. They are a consumable. Use 'em up and replace them from time to time. If you're stressing, try the Al Dente app to see if it makes a difference - I use it, I'm not sure it does all that much but worth a shot. Just remember to top off when you're going to be away from an outlet for a while.

Lastly, I get that paying Apple $159 for a new battery isn't chump change but it doesn't break the bank either.

I'd happily pay the $159 to avoid doing half the insane crap people talk about in these battery threads.

Just use the laptop and let the built-in-to-modern-laptops battery management do its thing. I.e., mostly fuggedaboutit. It a good idea to use it unplugged at least part time, but less important than it was with older Mac laptops. Do not waste your time and emotional energy concerning yourself with what the Mac laptop battery management is up to [despite what many users on this site appear to do].

Well put. Honestly I think people are turning it into a weird hobby at this point. I can't think of anything more boring!

 

[TechnoMonk]

Battery degradation is not linear and users hardly have any control on reducing degradation. Optimized charging is like a psychological fix for those obsessed with battery life. I have seen battery health go down to 87% and stay around 85% for couple of years.

OP do you see degradation on holding the charge? Are you charging more often?

 

[NewOldStock]

Are you going to need the other 90%? if not don't worry about it.
Chemistry in a battery is not an exact science. Batteries have margins they run at just like car batteries.
Charge it up 100% and run it down 100% that is what is expected in the margins of wear.
10% this year/13-months might stay that way for the next 2years at the 90% levels who knows.
Come back 2 more years and let us know how it goes.