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Check Your Mac's Battery Cycle Count
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idk it’s something the program Al Dente recommends (every 2 weeks apparently).
whether or not it makes a difference, i don’t mind it every 2 months in my case. You could be right that newer macs might not need it though
edit: here’s Al Dente’s explanation of it: https://apphousekitchen.com/feature-explanation-calibration-mode-2/
Ahh, ok. I'm thinking of getting Al Dente. I plan to keep this Mac for a while, AC+'s is almost out, and I don't want to pay for battery replacement prematurely, especially since I'm not much of a power user anymore.
M3 MBA... got it 4 months ago. Using Al Dente Pro with battery sailing. 5 cycles. 100%
My old 2020 Intel MBP that I sold... when I sold it it was 3 1/2 years old, sold it with 46 battery cycles, was also on Al Dente Pro, reported 100% battery level when I sold it.
Both are always plugged into external monitor, which charges them. Apple battery charge level never worked for me. It just always charges to 100%.
My old 2020 Intel MBP that I sold... when I sold it it was 3 1/2 years old, sold it with 46 battery cycles, was also on Al Dente Pro, reported 100% battery level when I sold it.
Both are always plugged into external monitor, which charges them. Apple battery charge level never worked for me. It just always charges to 100%.
It showed battery information for my 16 Pro in the free version just fine.I would recommend everyone the free app Coconut Battery, which shows more details about the capacity of the battery and cycle count. It can also read the values from iPhones, which seems to be a premium feature for iphone 14 or higher
It's not cynical at all, it is fact. I don't know the technical details, but the estimation is clearly quite crude. For example, my iPhone battery health was at 100% for around 8 months (I had always used the 80% maximum charge setting). Then, on holiday, I turned off the 80% maximum as I was out and about, using it a lot. On the second day of the holiday, the health had dropped to 95%.
195 cycles, battery health 95% (11 months old) M3 14" MBP, which means I shall hit 80% battery health on 780 cycles (at best), I'm pretty sure my M1 was much better, not all that worried though, I've got Apple care and a replacement battery is free with that.
A key indicator of your MacBook's battery health is its cycle count. Keep reading to learn what it means and how you can check it for yourself.
Modern MacBooks can last 18 hours or more on a single battery charge, but like all rechargeable batteries, the one in your Mac has a finite lifespan. Over time, its capacity to hold a charge gradually diminishes, potentially leaving you tethered to a power outlet more often than you'd like. This is where understanding your Mac's battery cycle count can be important.
Checking your Mac's battery cycle count provides valuable insight into its overall health and remaining lifespan. A cycle count represents the number of times your battery has gone through a full charge cycle, which occurs when you use 100% of its capacity – whether in one sitting or spread across multiple partial charges. By monitoring this number, you can gauge how much life your battery has left and plan accordingly, whether that means adjusting your usage habits or preparing for a potential battery replacement down the line.
Checking Mac Battery Cycle Count
Here's how to check it your Mac's battery cycle count:
This number represents how many times your battery has been fully discharged and recharged.
- Click the Apple symbol () in the menu bar while holding the Option key.
- Select System Information from the dropdown menu.
In the new window, click the Hardware list in the left sidebar if its contents aren't showing.
- Click Power in the expanded Hardware list.
Look for Cycle Count under "Health Information" in the Battery Information section of the main window.
Apple designs MacBook batteries to maintain up to 80% of their original capacity at their maximum cycle count, which varies by model. Recent MacBooks typically have a maximum cycle count of 1,000, while older models range from 300 to 500. You can find your specific model's maximum on Apple's support website.
Remember, reaching the maximum cycle count doesn't mean your battery stops working. It simply indicates when you might notice a decrease in battery life. In macOS Catalina 10.15.5 and later, Apple includes an Optimized Battery Charging feature, which can help extend your battery's lifespan.
Every new Mac bought from Apple comes with a one-year warranty that includes service coverage for a defective battery. If your Mac is out of warranty and the battery hasn't aged well, Apple offers battery service for a charge.
Article Link: Check Your Mac's Battery Cycle Count
Still we always knew the M3 wasn't the best on power consumption 😏, apart from that though, it's very,very good!
When I replaced my grandmother's ~8 year-old MacBook Air, it had like 5 charge cycles on it because she literally never unplugged it. She treats the M2 Air I got her the same way, and when I look at the charge icon it has a message saying it's only charged to 80% because it's rarely used on battery. This is just the stock macOS battery management, btw.
Weird. Mine’s at like 83% and my use is pretty similar to yours. Mine’s an M1 MBP.
Odd. Optimized charging isn't supposed to keep it at 80%. It's supposed to quickly charge to 80% to slow charge to 100%. I have the option enabled. I mainly charge overnight and mostly use on battery during the day. Every morning it's at 100%. I wish I could limit it to 80% like my phone since I don't normally use more than 60% or so of the battery most days.
I wish MacOS would just give me the abilty that Al Dente adds. It was the same for me. I don't leave my Macbook Pro plugged in all the time, but it generally happens to be mostly unplugged when I'm not using it and plugged in when I am. It always seems to be pegged at 100% unless I actually leave it plugged in straight for 2-3 days, only then will it go to 80%. Unplug it once and it goes back to 100% the next time. I'd just rather have it always be 80% (or some % I can set) by default and I can tell it when I want it to go to 100%.
Why don't people plug in their notebook whenever there is a power socket nearby? Even trains have power sockets today. The same is true for WiFi. Why use it if you can use a cable?
Nope, optimized charging will absolutely “delay charging past 80%” just like Apple has always said it would:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102338
In my case, the system has decided that it doesn’t need to “ensure my Mac is fully charged when unplugged” because it has learned that I never unplug it. Thus, it holds the battery at 80% unless I tell it to “Charge to full now.”
Why not use Al Dente? The free version has the charge limiter, and the paid version is only $21.
I do use it now. My point was largely that it really should just be a baked in feature.
More convenient to not have cords plugged in sometimes. With the dramatically improved power efficiency of my M1 Air, I can treat the laptop more like my phone and use it as I see fit, and charge overnight.
As for wifi vs ethernet, if the signal is good enough for me to work with I absolutely will opt for not having a cable.
The battery of my MacBook Pro M1 Max is doing very well.
Health Information:
Cycle Count: 752
Condition: Normal
Maximum Capacity: 86%
Apple’s lithium-ion batteries are designed to keep up to 80% of their capacity even when they hit the max cycle count. But honestly, once that happens, I have noticed a dip in battery performance. I’d recommend keeping an eye on your cycle count so you're not caught off guard—it can make a big difference in how your Mac performs in the long run!
