MacBook Air mid 2012 battery 'problem'

[Andrei221]

hello guys. are these stats normal for my macbook air ? i used the battery according to the manual and according to the posts from the forum.

i did not abuse it, but I know that apple guarantees the battery to not go under 80% in 1000 cycles. it seems that my battery goes lower and lower after just 300 cycles.

what can i do? i do not have apple warranty anymore.

 

[GGJstudios]

hello guys. are these stats normal for my macbook air ? i used the battery according to the manual and according to the posts from the forum.

i did not abuse it, but I know that apple guarantees the battery to not go under 80% in 1000 cycles. it seems that my battery goes lower and lower after just 300 cycles.

what can i do? i do not have apple warranty anymore.

Your battery is still healthy, and even if you still had warranty or AppleCare coverage, Apple wouldn't replace the battery until it dropped below 80%. The gradual decline is not in a straight line downward, and it may decline more rapidly at some times and slower at others, or it may hold at this level for a long time, or even climb somewhat. For further details, read the CHECKING STATUS AND HEALTH section of the following link.

​

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​

 

[Andrei221]

today it went to 81%

i don't really find this normal

 

[motrek]

today it went to 81%

i don't really find this normal

How do you know what's normal or not? How much data do you have on other MacBooks?

If it makes you feel better, sometimes battery capacity goes up.

 

[rigormortis]

it could be fluctuating on the time of day, and the temperature or a lot of things, it could be trickle charging the battery to protect it.


what you should do, because you are out of warranty, is to simply be patient and wait for the battery to no longer provide the battery life that your individual needs require, and then back it up to time machine, and then simply have the battery replaced at your local apple store. the battery replacement cost for your mac book air, is only $129 plus tax in the united states.

 

[GGJstudios]

today it went to 81%

i don't really find this normal

It is normal. Read the Battery FAQ.

 

[gymrat2k]

I also have a MacBook Air mid 2012. 32 cycles, down to half of battery capacity. Should have bought APP (AppleCare Protection Plan)...

 

[motrek]

I also have a MacBook Air mid 2012. 32 cycles, down to half of battery capacity. Should have bought APP (AppleCare Protection Plan)...

Bummer. I would say that's not normal. Was the laptop exposed to unusually high temperatures at some point?

Getting the battery replaced costs around $100 if I remember the price that other people have quoted in other threads. I don't know how much AppleCare would have cost you but you might still come out ahead if you just replace the battery.

 

[Andrei221]

I also have a MacBook Air mid 2012. 32 cycles, down to half of battery capacity. Should have bought APP (AppleCare Protection Plan)...

wow. i didn't expect that something like that might happen. maybe a factory problem? let's try and contact apple.

as far as i know there were some cases where some users managed to get a replacement battery even if they were out of warranty, because the batteries should last at least 1000 cycles.

 

[motrek]

wow. i didn't expect that something like that might happen. maybe a factory problem? let's try and contact apple.

as far as i know there were some cases where some users managed to get a replacement battery even if they were out of warranty, because the batteries should last at least 1000 cycles.

If you rock up to Apple with a battery reporting 81% capacity they will obviously tell you to go home.

How about you start worrying when you get to 79%?

 

[Andrei221]

i was talking about gymrat2k, who has 52% after only 40± cycles

 

[motrek]

i was talking about gymrat2k, who has 52% after only 40± cycles

Yes, of course he should.

 

[gymrat2k]

wow. i didn't expect that something like that might happen. maybe a factory problem? let's try and contact apple.

as far as i know there were some cases where some users managed to get a replacement battery even if they were out of warranty, because the batteries should last at least 1000 cycles.

Firstly, sorry for hijacking your thread.

I contacted Apple and they referred me to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Store. I hope that by visiting a store they might be more inclined to waive the cost for replacing the battery if it is found to be a factory problem. I suspect that the service provider might have less leeway.

The first Service Provider I contacted was fully booked three weeks forward in time, and the earliest Genious Bar appointment was weeks later. Apple is popular in Stockholm.

Bummer. I would say that's not normal. Was the laptop exposed to unusually high temperatures at some point?

Getting the battery replaced costs around $100 if I remember the price that other people have quoted in other threads. I don't know how much AppleCare would have cost you but you might still come out ahead if you just replace the battery.

No high temperatures, no bulges. Mostly plugged in since day one, wasn't as mobile as I thought I might be.

In Sweden APP for MBA13 was/is $290 and battery replacement costs are quoted as $165.

Instead I ordered a used MBA 2013 4/128 with APP to late 2016 for $650 (plus VAT). Haswell and not having to bring a power adapter to work seemed to be a faster solution to being truly mobile again.

(I had already moved on to mainly working on a Mac Mini earlier after installing Yosemite and finding it somehow slow as molasses on the MBA. Mavericks, 16 GB RAM, SSD plus HDD was very welcome.)

 

[gymrat2k]

Instead I ordered a used MBA 2013 4/128 with APP to late 2016 for $650 (plus VAT). Haswell and not having to bring a power adapter to work seemed to be a faster solution to being truly mobile again.

Worked well. The battery on the used MBA13 2013 had 99% health and only 7 cycles to it.