Service Battery notificaiton?

[DramaLLama]

I'm guessing it's time for a new battery? I have noticed a real short battery life but wasn't really planning on replacing anytime soon... is this notification something more urgent or just notifying me that my battery is starting to go?

I see in the help documents that it says kind of the same thing as the others.. but nothing specific:

 

[Weaselboy]

It is just telling you it is about to go and you need a new one, but if you can live with short or no battery life until you save up for a battery it will be okay.

 

[Tyler23]

I'm guessing it's time for a new battery? I have noticed a real short battery life but wasn't really planning on replacing anytime soon... is this notification something more urgent or just notifying me that my battery is starting to go?

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I see in the help documents that it says kind of the same thing as the others.. but nothing specific:
Image

That message on my 2009 MBP helped prompt us to buy our first iPad, the iPad Air.

 

[GGJstudios]

The Service Battery may indicate a defective battery, but it's more likely that your battery health has dropped below 80%, which also triggers the indication. You can continue to use a battery that is below 80% health (maximum capacity), as long as it holds sufficient charge to meet your needs. Be aware that some batteries may swell as they approach the end of their lives, so keep an eye out for that, so it doesn't damage your Mac.

If you're not already doing so, use iStat Pro (free) or iStat Menus ($16) to get accurate readings of battery health and cycles and computer uptime, among many other things. A forum member has posted a copy of iStat Pro that has been "tweaked" to enhance compatibility with Mountain Lion and later. You can download it here.

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​