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al404

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 24, 2011
522
27
Novara, Italy
I have a M1 Mac mini and MacBook Air 13 M2
Just got a MacBook Air 15 M3 16Gb and 512 storage

In first place I was thinking to sell the M2 MacBook Air 13

Now I was thinking that the Mac mini is probably the Mac I should sell and use my MacBook Air 15 as main computer when I'm home and take it outside when I travel

I work full remote, it means that it would be powered at least 8 hours per day

It kind of scares me the fact that MacBook would be full time power
Would it skip the battery when it will be full charged or it will be constantly charging and discharging?
 

Sheepish-Lord

macrumors 68020
Oct 13, 2021
2,469
5,034
In the macOS beta it shows in the battery settings that your computer in clamshell mode and it goes into battery optimization mode pretty much instantly. I do have a Studio display so maybe it’s unique to that but I don’t think it goes past 80%.
 

Bigwaff

Contributor
Sep 20, 2013
2,423
1,673
macOS optimized battery charging feature will "learn" your charging habits. If you leave the MBA connected to charger, optimized battery charging feature will try to maintain battery charge level at 80%. If you unplug at certain times of day, optimized battery charging feature will learn, and charge battery to 100% so you have full battery charge for when you unplug.
 

al404

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 24, 2011
522
27
Novara, Italy
I know that MacOs optimize battery usage but after 3 years of continuous power will my MacBook's battery work well?
To replace the battery I guess it would much more expensive of what I can get selling my Mac mini M1 ( 16GB RAM 512Gb SSD )
 

Bigwaff

Contributor
Sep 20, 2013
2,423
1,673
I know that MacOs optimize battery usage but after 3 years of continuous power will my MacBook's battery work well?
“Work well”.. as in hold a charge? Yes. I have 2019 MBP which has been perpetually plugged in for nearly 5 years and battery health is 86%. I also calibrate the battery every couple months.
 
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arcite

macrumors 6502a
I wager it won’t be optimal. The air has no internal fan, no way to disipate heat…and I’m sure the design considerations assume the user has the lid open most of the time, not in clamshell mode. You’d be better served to use the various macs for their intended purposes…. For a stationary computer, use a mac mini.
 
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