Battery health

[micrors4racer]

I know that battery health percentages fluctuate over time and its hard to get a ue indication. I have been regularly keeping track of my 2012 11 inch MBA's battery since it came out of the box and its on a steady decline with 84% of the batteries capacity remaining after 10 months and 126 cycles. From the looks of how fast it deteriorated from 0 cycles to 126 it might not make it to the suggested life span of 80% battery capacity left after 1000 cycles. What do you guys think?

 

[GGJstudios]

The gradual decline is not in a straight line downward, and it may decline more rapidly at some times and slower at others. For further details, read the CHECKING STATUS AND HEALTH section of the following link.

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The link below should answer most, if not all, of your battery/charging questions. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend you take the time to read it.

Apple Notebook Battery FAQ​

 

[calvol]

My 2010 13 MBA will jump between 87% and 93% after 3 years and 380 cycles. It still has good battery life, between 8-10 hours using Coolbook. I keep it plugged in most of the time and run it on battery occasionally...

 

[Tlamaki]

... I keep it plugged in most of the time and run it on battery occasionally...

Could you be more specific please?

 

[calvol]

Could you be more specific please?

Yes, when I'm sitting on the couch or at a desk at home, I always keep it plugged in. But occasionally when I walk out to Starbucks or somewhere, I leave the charger at home, and run it off battery. This way, I'm not adding unnecessary cycle counts, yet use it enough off battery power to "exercise" the battery. I also shut it down every night to avoid battery drain in standby mode, which also saves cycle counts over time.

 

[Tlamaki]

Yes, when I'm sitting on the couch or at a desk at home, I always keep it plugged in. But occasionally when I walk out to Starbucks or somewhere, I leave the charger at home, and run it off battery. This way, I'm not adding unnecessary cycle counts, yet use it enough off battery power to "exercise" the battery. I also shut it down every night to avoid battery drain in standby mode, which also saves cycle counts over time.

Thanks. Good to know that more and more people are using their machines as I do, now I'm sure my battery will live longer.

 

[identity]

My battery life was similiar to yours and I just got it sent to Apple on Thursday because the battery failed.

 

[Ifti]

I think you have something wrong with the battery - I would take it in if that was me.

With my 11" MBA Im at 25 cycles. At 26 yours was at 94% whereas at 25 mine is still at 99%.

 

[Tlamaki]

I think you have something wrong with the battery - I would take it in if that was me.

With my 11" MBA Im at 25 cycles. At 26 yours was at 94% whereas at 25 mine is still at 99%.

2 years and you only have 25 cycles? Impressive, I guess you keep it plugged most of the time right?

 

[daonesteven]

I would also take it in for inspection. My 2011 11" has 187 cycles and while I don't know what percentage health it's at, it states that my full charge capacity is 4393 mAh.

 

[mynameis321]

2 years and you only have 25 cycles? Impressive, I guess you keep it plugged most of the time right?

Wouldn't keeping it plugged in count as a cycle? Or is a charge when the battery fully drained then fully charged back up?

 

[Tlamaki]

Wouldn't keeping it plugged in count as a cycle?

No, but...

Or is a charge when the battery fully drained then fully charged back up?

That's is a cycle ... or for example, if you drain the battery to 75% and then charge it back to 100%, 4 times, that's a cycle too, or if you drain it to 50% then charge it to 100% 2 times, that's a cycle.

 

[GGJstudios]

Wouldn't keeping it plugged in count as a cycle? Or is a charge when the battery fully drained then fully charged back up?

Tlamaki is right. Read the WHAT IS A CYCLE? section of the Apple Notebook Battery FAQ that I linked in the 2nd post of this thread for more details.

 

[Ifti]

2 years and you only have 25 cycles? Impressive, I guess you keep it plugged most of the time right?

Oh sorry. My bad.
Mine is a 2013, only a few months old!