Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Which is better for battery health?

vasim

vasim

macrumors regular
Original poster
Hello.
I have a question.

I work on my MBP M2 about 9 hours continuously per day. Which is better for battery health? To leave it plugged or work on battery and when the battery goes 20%, charge it and then remove the charger again?

Thanks
 
Leave it plugged in if convenient. This way you’re not cycling your battery, nor are you holding it at a high charge (which is not good for it).
 
  • Like
Reactions: vasim
steve62388 said:
Leave it plugged in if convenient. This way you’re not cycling your battery, nor are you holding it at a high charge (which is not good for it).
Click to expand...
Its ok, I am working at my home office. But after apply aldente?
 
vasim said:
But this software Al dente does not harm the battery?
Click to expand...
No, it just force stops the charging process at the selected percentage.
I‘m not sure how much below this value the charge can drop before it re-activates charging (still only up to the selected percentage).
apphousekitchen.com

Features - AppHouseKitchen

AlDente gives you full control over your MacBook’s charging behavior. From setting charging limits to advanced battery protection—discover the features that
apphousekitchen.com apphousekitchen.com
edit:
1. The free version immediately re-initiates charging if the charge level drops even 1% under the selected value. Paid version has a “sailing mode“ where you can set the allowed range the charge level can drop before charging kicks in again.
2. M2 is not yet officially supported.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jackbequickly and vasim
As someone who doesn't use it for work am I better off taking it off change until it's below 40%, then plug in and change to 80% and repeat? Or if I download Al Dente - am I better off leaving it plugged in?
 
It does, but it will take some time to learn your usage patterns. Best way is to just use the battery, worst thing is leaving it at 100% charge for months or years.. Which will never happen anyway if you have Optimized charging enabled.

So all in all just do whatever you need to do, except maybe don't turn it off at 100% and leave it like that for long periods of time because then macOS won't manage anything, also never leave the laptop exposed to direct sunlight, heat is the ultimate battery killer.
 
Last edited:
vasim said:
No it doesn't. If you don't use Aldente the battery charges to 100% even if OBC is on
Click to expand...
It will charge to 100%, but after a while it will drop to 80%.

I know this cause several posters and myself have verified this behavior. I have no need for AlDente, nor would I push such app for something macOS does already.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weaselboy
jav6454 said:
It will charge to 100%, but after a while it will drop to 80%.

I know this cause several posters and myself have verified this behavior. I have no need for AlDente, nor would I push such app for something macOS does already.
Click to expand...
So the simplest way is to check it. I will try.
 
If all you are going to do is play with it on power, always connected and you are good with the 80% limit the built in software is probably fine.

My issue with it is this, I don't know how that software reacts when my MBP gets disconnected for a day, 30 minutes, 2 hours etc and then reconnects. Does it just charge to 100% and play dumb while it relearns my habits or what does it do exactly?

With Aldente I sent my battery percentage to 65% and it floats to 45%. I have enough juice for 4 to 6 hours which is what I would get on a windows laptop and if I want to charge to 100% its as simple as a click. I have full control and it is so simple even my 9 year old understand how it works.

I have full control over the charging and I don't have to wait on some Apple algo to maybe figure things out for me.
 
vasim said:
Hello.
I have a question.

I work on my MBP M2 about 9 hours continuously per day. Which is better for battery health? To leave it plugged or work on battery and when the battery goes 20%, charge it and then remove the charger again?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I work on my MBP M1 Pro about the same number of hours as you. I only use it on battery. I’m at 107 cycles and 98%.

Batteries don’t like to under and overcharge, but they also don’t like remaining at any constant charge, regardless if it is 100 or 80 percent. They need to work out and randomness is a good thing for them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back