Battery cycles on new MacBook Pro

[r7un]

I just got the new 13" MacBook Pro with force touch trackpad and 512GB storage from a premium reseller store in New Delhi. On a hunch, I decided to check the system profiler for the number of battery cycles that the notebook has already undergone. I noticed the cycle count at 3, while I have charged the notebook only once since I got it.

Anyone have any idea, if the notebook ships with 1 or 2 cycles, like during the installation/testing at factory. Or is it supposed to be at zero only?

The reseller isn't able to tell. He says, it can randomly differ, but 1 or 2 cycles is normal. Like a new car is usually show-room delivered with 10-15 mi/kms on it.

 

[simonsi]

I just got the new 13" MacBook Pro with force touch trackpad and 512GB storage from a premium reseller store in New Delhi. On a hunch, I decided to check the system profiler for the number of battery cycles that the notebook has already undergone. I noticed the cycle count at 3, while I have charged the notebook only once since I got it.

Anyone have any idea, if the notebook ships with 1 or 2 cycles

Well self-evidently it does ship with 1-2 (the electricity has to get in there somehow), unless you are floating a conspiracy theory that yours isn't new? Basic testing at the battery supplier and Apple assembly line would easily account for 1-2...

 

[r7un]

i don't want to doubt unnecessarily

no no. i do not want to doubt anything unnecessarily. i buy my stuff regularly fro the premium reseller. and he gives me great service. too many variables would be involved, if i doubt.

a. it would take a cycle at least to get the electricity in.
b. if it is not new, why would anyone use just one cycle. why not a few more?
c. why should the reseller lie to me? he would risk losing a good customer.
d. if there was a conspiracy involved, they would have reset the cycle count as well.

 

[simonsi]

I don't think you can reset the cycle count. If you could eBay would be full of used but zero cycle count batteries...

 

[GoofyCyborg]

I purchased an early 2015 13" 2.9 512GB rMBP a month ago from Apple.co.uk and mine had a couple of cycles on the device.

Device was sealed, no signs of use. Didn't think anything of it at the time and I still don't.

Just enjoy your computer.

 

[scaredpoet]

Macs and other devices do get tested and "burned in" at the factory to help weed out any obvious issues, so yes, 1-2 cycles out of the box is normal. Mine had them too, as did the MacBook Air it replaced.

 

[MagicBoy]

It's completely normal.

 

[T5BRICK]

Anyone have any idea, if the notebook ships with 1 or 2 cycles, like during the installation/testing at factory. Or is it supposed to be at zero only?

The reseller isn't able to tell. He says, it can randomly differ, but 1 or 2 cycles is normal. Like a new car is usually show-room delivered with 10-15 mi/kms on it.

I didn't check my battery the day I brought my 2015 13" rMBP home, but when I did check it about a week later I saw that it had 6 cycles. I'd probably done 2 or 3 cycles myself, so I'd say a few cycles on a new battery is pretty normal.

 

[r7un]

all seems well

i think all is well here.

i had checked the cycle count to be at 3 while draining it after a full charge. then i charged it again, and while charging the cycle count was still 3.

now i am draining it again, and the cycle count is at 4. which means:

Cycle 1: Charge during installation
Cycle 2: First Drain after purchase and subsequent charging.
Cycle 3: Second Drain after purchase (I made the first observation at this point)
Cycle 4: Now, after another subsequent recharge.

this way it fits. so no issues.