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Tenashus1

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 27, 2011
501
287
Just a quick check with all of you. I have a 13" M1 MBA with 16 gb ram and 512 gb ssd. Apple shows me that the battery is normal with 84 cycles to date. The design capacity is currently at 89%. That's the issue. I was using the MBA daily until I purchased a M2 MBP. Now I only use the M1 once in a while. Why is the design capacity lower with only 84 cycles? And, how lasting is the battery now with only light, infrequent use? I don't keep the laptop plugged in. I tried Al Dente, but it always went wonky on me. Never stayed set where it should have stayed set. So, how much lasting life is there with 89% design capacity? 89% seems low to me.
 
The battery is almost 4 years old, 89% is fine. If you find it too low, pay $129 to Apple to replace the battery.

To be honest, I see plenty of people in Starbucks with their laptops plugged into an outlet. So are you really running out of battery with power outlets available everywhere?
 
Just a quick check with all of you. I have a 13" M1 MBA with 16 gb ram and 512 gb ssd. Apple shows me that the battery is normal with 84 cycles to date. The design capacity is currently at 89%. That's the issue. I was using the MBA daily until I purchased a M2 MBP. Now I only use the M1 once in a while. Why is the design capacity lower with only 84 cycles? And, how lasting is the battery now with only light, infrequent use? I don't keep the laptop plugged in. I tried Al Dente, but it always went wonky on me. Never stayed set where it should have stayed set. So, how much lasting life is there with 89% design capacity? 89% seems low to me.
Is that 89% from the Apple system setting battery pane? Or is it from a third party utility? Apple has a curve that better represents the actual full charge capacity rather than the current/design value.
 
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89% is okay. Generally speaking I wouldn't expect the sort of issues where you'd need to replace the battery, at that value.

With 84 cycles, sounds like you primarily used it connected to charger - which is fine. I do the same with my M1 Max, which I've had for... oh, something under 2 years I guess. It's at 37 cycles & 95%.
 
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