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ooh

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 18, 2021
4
0
I went to the apple store today because coconut battery was showing that my design capacity was at 81% and I had under 300 charge cycles. I've noticed a significant decrease in battery life and it only lasts 3-4 hours with the screen dimmed and with light use. When I went there, they ran diagnostics on it and said that there was no problem with it and it was actually at 88% capacity, When I showed the coconut battery reading, they said that it wasn't accurate as it was a third party app. is this true?
 

chscag

macrumors 601
Feb 17, 2008
4,622
1,946
Fort Worth, Texas
When I showed the coconut battery reading, they said that it wasn't accurate as it was a third party app. is this true?
Whether coconut battery is accurate or not doesn't matter as Apple determines the capacity of the battery with their diagnostic software. However, I believe coconut battery is accurate and is usually a good indication of the condition of the battery.
 
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Ray2

macrumors 65816
Jul 8, 2014
1,168
487
My last 2 iPad battery issues: Coconut showed both batteries were substantially shot (forget the numbers). Real life was about 3 hours iPad use before 10% remaining was reached. Still under AppleCare, both went to Apple and both were deemed within spec and I'd have to pay full price for a battery replacement. Welcome to the new Apple.

My observation is Coconut appears more accurate than Apple. Or, Coconut measure battery life while Apple seeks to minimize cost/maximize exec comp.

I'm old enough to recall when we used to be customers.
 
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Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
My last 2 iPad battery issues: Coconut showed both batteries were substantially shot (forget the numbers). Real life was about 3 hours iPad use before 10% remaining was reached. Still under AppleCare, both went to Apple and both were deemed within spec and I'd have to pay full price for a battery replacement. Welcome to the new Apple.

My observation is Coconut appears more accurate than Apple. Or, Coconut measure battery life while Apple seeks to minimize cost/maximize exec comp.

I'm old enough to recall when we used to be customers.
How old were the batteries, how many charge cycles? Within spec for a battery depends on those.
 

justashooter

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2020
335
194
I went to the apple store today because coconut battery was showing that my design capacity was at 81% and I had under 300 charge cycles. I've noticed a significant decrease in battery life and it only lasts 3-4 hours with the screen dimmed and with light use. When I went there, they ran diagnostics on it and said that there was no problem with it and it was actually at 88% capacity, When I showed the coconut battery reading, they said that it wasn't accurate as it was a third party app. is this true?
You can see what Apple's computer diagnostics say by going to the Apple logo > About this Mac > System report > Power

There you can see the Charge Ramaining, Full Charge Capacity, Cycle count, Condition, etc.
 

ooh

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 18, 2021
4
0
You can see what Apple's computer diagnostics say by going to the Apple logo > About this Mac > System report > Power

There you can see the Charge Ramaining, Full Charge Capacity, Cycle count, Condition, etc.
But you can't see the original charge capacity which is pretty annoying, because I can't calculate how much the battery has degraded :(
 

Ray2

macrumors 65816
Jul 8, 2014
1,168
487
How old were the batteries, how many charge cycles? Within spec for a battery depends on those.
Good point. However, “Within spec” is an Apple defined term. Its really irrelevant what the component values of spec are. To the user, its the result that matters and 3 hours of Safari, zero video or music, then 10% remaining life must be “within spec”. On a less than 2 year old iPad that shared time with 2 other iPads I had at the time. If that's the case, one has to consider the value proposition of buying new iPad's.
 
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Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
Good point. However, “Within spec” is an Apple defined term. Its really irrelevant what the component values of spec are. To the user, its the result that matters and 3 hours of Safari, zero video or music, then 10% remaining life must be “within spec”. On a less than 2 year old iPad that shared time with 2 other iPads I had at the time. If that's the case, one has to consider the value proposition of buying new iPad's.
It's a term they define upfront as far as the warranty goes, so you should know what to expect.
 

Xenomorph

macrumors 65816
Aug 6, 2008
1,400
842
St. Louis
You can see what Apple's computer diagnostics say by going to the Apple logo > About this Mac > System report > Power

There you can see the Charge Ramaining, Full Charge Capacity, Cycle count, Condition, etc.

So then going by that data, it just proves that Apple's tools are inaccurate.

I ordered the new 2021 MacBook Pro shortly after it became available. After several charge cycles over a period of several weeks, I see this:

coconutBattery reports declining numbers like 8793/8694 (101.1%), 8657/8694 (99.6%), and then 8575/8694 (98.6%).

Apple's tools just show "100%". I has never changed. Never showing actual capacity or design capacity.

I've been using my new MacBook Pro on a regular basis. Everyone knows batteries age, deteriorate with use, and lose capacity over time. I wouldn't trust the "100%" number from Apple. How is it even calculating it? coconutBattery gives me a more realistic number, and it seems to be getting actual capacity information from somewhere.
 
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