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Should I return this Macbook Pro based on this..

rhaezorblue

rhaezorblue

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 18, 2012
429
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Still in my 14 day return window, would you return and repurchase a Macbook Pro 13", which is supposed to have a battery design capacity of 6330 mAh, if you never hit that intended capacity? Here are some data points for mine per coconut battery:

Update: the chart shows what OS X is reporting as my batteries current Maximum charge (not what my battery is currently charged to.. for example those data points I could have had 4% or 95% current battery life remaining, but those data points represent what the macbook thinks my batteries MAXIMUM capacity is, at its current health.
 

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I wouldn't

I wouldn't that is pretty close to what you expect and if my battery life was good I wouldn't even think about it. Also you only have 4 charge cycles and from the way that chart looks you are only letting it discharge to about 90% before plugging it in again. Let it run right down maybe even discharge just this once and then charge right up overnight you may find it's much better.
 
I updated my post to be more clear - I am draining the battery - the graph just shows what OS X thinks my batteries current maximum capacity is, based on its current health. It is not what my battery is currently charged to.
 
rhaezorblue said:
I updated my post to be more clear - I am draining the battery - the graph just shows what OS X thinks my batteries current maximum capacity is, based on its current health. It is not what my battery is currently charged to.
Click to expand...

That seems pretty normal. The health will fluctuate based on several different parameters (even heat, for example).

Some report over capacity, some report under capacity. As a general rule of thumb, those under capacity will lose capacity slower, those over capacity will lose it quicker - so they all average out.

I would just use the machine. If you notice it drops considerably, your warranty will sort it out.
 
That's a higher percentage than my new MBA got when I purchased it in 2012. But it did stay consistent afterward. If everything else is perfect with the laptop I would keep it. If the battery is drooping off rapidly then you can just warranty it.
 
Brian Y said:
That seems pretty normal. The health will fluctuate based on several different parameters (even heat, for example).

Some report over capacity, some report under capacity. As a general rule of thumb, those under capacity will lose capacity slower, those over capacity will lose it quicker - so they all average out.

I would just use the machine. If you notice it drops considerably, your warranty will sort it out.
Click to expand...

On 4 cycles??? No way.
 
cjmillsnun said:
On 4 cycles??? No way.
Click to expand...

Cycle count has nothing to do with it. It *can* fluctuate based on things like the temperature and current charge level (a half empty battery will often report a lower "capacity").

So you would suggest returning a MacBook because a battery which has a design capacity of 6330 has a capacity of 6312.
 
I was doing some gaming and it went down to about 6120 max capacity, when I stopped and returned to the desktop for a couple mins it has gone back up to 6226 mAh. I have no idea if this is normal
 
rhaezorblue said:
I was doing some gaming and it went down to about 6120 max capacity, when I stopped and returned to the desktop for a couple mins it has gone back up to 6226 mAh. I have no idea if this is normal
Click to expand...

All batteries exhibit lower effective capacity at higher drain rates. Your system is normal, fluctuation is normal based on various factors. No it is not the slightest reason to exchange it.
 
simonsi said:
All batteries exhibit lower effective capacity at higher drain rates. Your system is normal, fluctuation is normal based on various factors. No it is not the slightest reason to exchange it.
Click to expand...

Ok, accepting fluctuations as normal, but shouldn't there be at least some points where my max capacity is 6330 mAh?

Anyone out there have a rMBP 13" mid 2014, what is your maximum capacity?
 
rhaezorblue said:
shouldn't there be at least some points where my max capacity is 6330 mAh?
Click to expand...

When the temp and other variables closely match Apples test criteria I'm sure it will do but so far you are so close it makes absolutely no difference. You will get far more variation is useful battery runtime from your choice of apps running etc.

Run it for a few days more and see where it goes...
 
I let it run down to empty last night and let it sit overnight, now charging up to full to calibrate it. Will see how it goes
 
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

MacBook Pro (all models)

The battery calibration for the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) and any model of MacBook or MacBook Pro has been updated because of a new battery released with this computer. With these computers, follow these steps to calibrate your battery:

Plug in the power adapter and fully charge your PowerBook's battery until the light ring or LED on the power adapter plug changes to green and the onscreen meter in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for at least two hours. You may use your computer during this time as long as the adapter is plugged in.
Disconnect the power adapter while the computer still on and start running the computer off battery power. You may use your computer during this time. When your battery gets low, the low battery warning dialog appears on the screen.
At this point, save your work. Continue to use your computer; when the battery gets very low, the computer will automatically go to sleep.
Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or more.
Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again.
Tip: When the battery reaches "empty", the computer is forced into sleep mode. The battery actually keeps back a reserve beyond "empty", to maintain the computer in sleep for a period of time. Once the battery is truly exhausted, the computer is forced to shut down. At this point, with the safe sleep function introduced in the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) computers, the computer's memory contents have been saved to the hard drive. When power is restored, the computer returns itself to its pre-sleep state using the safe sleep image on the hard drive.
 
rhaezorblue said:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

MacBook Pro (all models)

The battery calibration for the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) and any model of MacBook or MacBook Pro has been updated because of a new battery released with this computer. With these computers, follow these steps to calibrate your battery:

Plug in the power adapter and fully charge your PowerBook's battery until the light ring or LED on the power adapter plug changes to green and the onscreen meter in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for at least two hours. You may use your computer during this time as long as the adapter is plugged in.
Disconnect the power adapter while the computer still on and start running the computer off battery power. You may use your computer during this time. When your battery gets low, the low battery warning dialog appears on the screen.
At this point, save your work. Continue to use your computer; when the battery gets very low, the computer will automatically go to sleep.
Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or more.
Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again.
Tip: When the battery reaches "empty", the computer is forced into sleep mode. The battery actually keeps back a reserve beyond "empty", to maintain the computer in sleep for a period of time. Once the battery is truly exhausted, the computer is forced to shut down. At this point, with the safe sleep function introduced in the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) computers, the computer's memory contents have been saved to the hard drive. When power is restored, the computer returns itself to its pre-sleep state using the safe sleep image on the hard drive.
Click to expand...

Also from that link, it states clearly:

Portables with built-in batteries
Current Apple portable computer batteries are pre-calibrated and do not require the calibration procedure outlined in this article. These computers use batteries that should be replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

MacBook

MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) and later
MacBook Air

MacBook Air (all models)
MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro with Retina display (all models)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) and later
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) and later
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) and later
 
Ahh you are right. Well maybe getting a few more cycles on it will improve things. If not then returning it I guess
 
simonsi said:
LOL then they need to read their own material.
Click to expand...

Updated with a few more days of data.. and having some fun playing around with Numbers graphing capabilities lol.

Pretty sure this does not look like a good battery at this point. Red line is the trend line.
 

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cjmillsnun said:
On 4 cycles??? No way.
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I'm on 8 cycles and my coconut battery is showing my maximum charge at 92.4% and my design capacity at 98.8%. When I first booted up my laptop for the first time, it showed both at 100.9%

I've seen both hit 70% but after a charge, went back to 99%.
 
rhaezorblue said:
Updated with a few more days of data.. and having some fun playing around with Numbers graphing capabilities lol.

Pretty sure this does not look like a good battery at this point. Red line is the trend line.
Click to expand...

Charge it up fully and see what it says about capacity, it can be nothing but an estimate at any other time. I think you may have an issue with Coconut battery not having enough data to go on, days of usage isn't enough, it will only get a true reading of capacity when fully charged.

Oh and the axis of the graph is chosen to try and indicate a problem both in severity of slope of the trend and absolute value, try plotting the full Y-axis and it will look a minor issue.
 
simonsi said:
Charge it up fully and see what it says about capacity, it can be nothing but an estimate at any other time. I think you may have an issue with Coconut battery not having enough data to go on, days of usage isn't enough, it will only get a true reading of capacity when fully charged.

Oh and the axis of the graph is chosen to try and indicate a problem both in severity of slope of the trend and absolute value, try plotting the full Y-axis and it will look a minor issue.
Click to expand...

I'll charge it up to full tonight and let you know - I'm using an app called Battery Health to verify coconuts readings - they have been the same like 99% of the time. I think they may get their data straight from the SMC

I have no clue what your second paragraph meant lol
 
Mine is sitting pretty good..

It's a 2014 13" rMBP
 

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Do people seriously need to look at the battery every second? If your number is off by 0.1% then you should just replace it? Not saying it isn’t faulty nor to be as advertise but if the difference is so minimal then just use the darn thing.
 
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