MacBook Pro (15" 2019) battery issues

[baummer]

My employer's MBP battery is....wonky. I effectively have a computer that isn't portable nor can I rely on it to function as a portable computer. Here's what I've experienced over the last year and a half:

• When unplugged, battery lasts less than two hours - it'll go from 100% to 40% in less than an hour
• When plugged in, battery often doesn't charge at all - it drains and indicates power source is adapter (although today it IS charging)
• When plugged in overnight (8-12 hours), I'll unplug to use the laptop and often find the battery dead
• Often I'll get a "Service Recommended" message, which goes away once I restart

Here's what I've done to try and solve:

• Closed all running applications
• Restarted numerous times
• Reset the SMC numerous times
• Used different power adapters
• Experimented with the battery health feature (by leaving it disabled for long periods of time as well as enabled; no noticeable change)
• Ensured macOS is up-to-date (though not upgraded to Big Sur due to device management rules and current incompatibility with our VPN software)

I'm stuck, and the next step is turning this in and requesting a replacement, but my work IT department is being obtuse about this issue and said without a verified problem (and in their eyes they don't see the problem, chalking it up to operating "normally" for Apple laptops), I have to wait 1.5 more years before I can turn it in for a different computer.

So, does anyone have any thoughts as to what could be causing this and/or potential remedies?

 

[Lysenko.anthony]

I have same MacBook Pro 2019 15 inc.
I have concern about working time of my Macbook from the battery, it last 2-3 hours only: connected to Zoom call with Bluetooth headphones + Browser Safari (3 hours) or Chrome (around to 2 hours) with brightness around 50%.
I don't think it is normal.
Laptop I bought from second hand when it was under warranty. Now warranty has already expired.

So I started my research in internet. So far what I found out that I am not using correct power adaptor. It is supposed to be 87W, I received from the seller 61W (A1947 model which normally comes with 13 inc MacBook), which I noticed only 6 month after purchase. Plus the charging cable looks like not an apple original.

What I can see from your picture your laptop "POWER ADAPTOR" is 60 Watts. So I can assume your power adaptor is not right one for this laptop. Plus I found that not even apple original cables are same, some of them are maximum 60 watts, if it is from 13 inc laptop.

 

[baummer]

I have same MacBook Pro 2019 15 inc.
I have concern about working time of my Macbook from the battery, it last 2-3 hours only: connected to Zoom call with Bluetooth headphones + Browser Safari (3 hours) or Chrome (around to 2 hours) with brightness around 50%.
I don't think it is normal.
Laptop I bought from second hand when it was under warranty. Now warranty has already expired.

So I started my research in internet. So far what I found out that I am not using correct power adaptor. It is supposed to be 87W, I received from the seller 61W (A1947 model which normally comes with 13 inc MacBook), which I noticed only 6 month after purchase. Plus the charging cable looks like not an apple original.

What I can see from your picture your laptop "POWER ADAPTOR" is 60 Watts. So I can assume your power adaptor is not right one for this laptop. Plus I found that not even apple original cables are same, some of them are maximum 60 watts, if it is from 13 inc laptop.

Thank you so much for this input. This is the charger I received from my employer upon receipt of my laptop, so I've lodged a ticket with them inquiring about this.

 

[Lysenko.anthony]

I have found more information in the internet.
Basically it is harmful for the MacBook's battery to use power adapter which is weaker than recommended by apple, but it is fine to use adapter with higher specifications.