Why do so many people buy MacBooks, only to run them in clamshell mode all of the time?

[Gezellig]

Why do you consider your M1 MBP a bad choice (other than maybe your choice of only 32 GB RAM)? That box should do all the things you might want it to do, especially when life is busy throwing curveballs at you.

For the record, I 100% disagree with your statement that "Running a laptop as a desktop machine and using it for outside duties about 5% of the time is borderline stupid." That is exactly why many of us buy laptops. To have desktop capability plus outside duties, whether 5% or 55%.

And BTW it should not "kill the battery" to keep it on the desktop 80% of the time. Today the OS manages battery well.

Totally agree with you. Very bad wording on my part.
The actual 5% of the time I use it outside my studio is a life saver.
And it is a beast.
I was afraid of battery life, but macOS has gotten way better at handling the battery management.

All in all, I’m complaining about weird little stuff. But as my new activities pick up, the nomad option is gonna prove useful.

Thanks for the reply. 👌

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I use a current gen MBP 16” as a desktop replacement. Thought about running it in clamshell mode but realized Apple doesn’t make a display equal to the MBP screen so concerning value I would argue it’s pretty darn good.

Additionally, after having iMacs and Mac minis the resell value is much better for a laptop. As someone stated earlier, if you ever need to have a computer on the go at least once then you need a laptop.

 

[rgwebb]

Most laptops support an extra monitor when the internal display is not in use. So I can utilize two external displays when in clamshell mode and have access to a bigger screen.

That is not true with the Apple Silicon MacBooks, right?

 

[gerlitzappel]

my wife and I share a computer; she needs portability, I prefer a 24" monitor. Sometimes I will have the lid open with apps on both screens.

 

[hirsthirst]

I used to be out 3-4 days a week seeing clients, now I'm out 1 day a week / fortnight sometimes ...

• Laptop (over-specced) is the only option from my employer, no desktops issued anywhere in the firm
• No BYOD options, we have to meet a Government security standard to work with certain clients & they clamped down on this (goodbye Apple Pencil notes on iPad connected to corporate Outlook / OneDrive / intranet)
• No value to me in a 'second screen' of any type
• A 13-14" screen is too small to work on all-day, five days a week
• My (own money) LG 5K screen has built-in camera and speakers for Teams & Zoom
• If I close the lid, or put it in a vertical stand closed, then I lose my preferred warmer 'ambient light' option making my external LG screen colder

 

[AVBeatMan]

The way I use my 14" MBP is that I have it connected to the Apple Studio Display and in clamshell mode. It is connected all week then at the weekend I unplug it and use just the MBP. The battery sometimes drops to say 40% before I reconnect to the Display on a Monday morning. When it is connected to the Display and fully charged it stays at 100% until I disconnect at the weekend. Don't know if I'm helping the battery by doing this or not?

 

[TracerAnalog]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

for me there were 2 main reasons: extra high quality screen and a built in UPS. Also: at the time it was the only option if you wanted the m1 max chip with 64Gb. 🥸

 

[melliflu]

Macbook pro 14 M1 in clamshell 95% of the time. I was glad to see Apple introduced battery management so that sometimes the always plugged-in macbook whould stop charging and go down to 80% charge before charging again.
My previous Macbook pro got the keyboard printed on the screen after 5 years, I hope the screen on this one does not get damaged the same way. Some people recommend to put a soft cloth between screen and keyboard, but I think this hurts the cooling system.

 

[jwolf6589]

Who is doing this? I'd imagine it's for that 5% of time when someone is traveling and doesn't want to purchase a separate desktop and laptop. Or the laptop comes from work and the job is work from home.

Running them in clamshell all the time isn't good for the battery.

Yeah but newer MacBooks handle the battery drain better than older ones.

 

[Night Spring]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

I did buy a Mac mini, and I totally love it. But I did so knowing I almost never need to use a computer outside, and in the rare instances where I might need to do computing tasks on the go, my iPad or my iPhone is sufficient for me. Any tasks that can't be done on an iDevice can wait until I get home.

From what people have been posting in this thread, it seems most people who use MacBooks mainly on their desk do take them off the desk to use in other locations from time to time. Some say they anticipated using them on the go, but their circumstances changed, and they found their MacBooks being a desktop. I doubt anybody ever buys a MacBook if, like me, they know they never need a mobile Mac.

 

[theotherphil]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

My MBP pretty much lives in Clamshell mode - so much so, MacOS only chooses to charge to 80%, but I work from multiple locations where a monitor and T-Bolt hub is already setup. Occasionally I work from a vehicle or coffee shop. Flexibility is something a Mac Studio doesn't give me.

 

[theotherphil]

Running them in clamshell all the time isn't good for the battery.

Apple Silicon MBP's notice when they're used in clamshell mode most of the time and adjust their charge ceiling to 80%. You then have the option to click the battery icon and select "charge to 100%" if you're going to need that extra capacity.

To be fair, I have a 14" M1 Max and that 80% charge will last hours once unplugged - way longer than my prior Intel MBP's did from 100%. My battery health is 97% and I've had this machine from pre-order.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

If I had to limit myself to fixed computer location at home, I'd certainly would be doing this exactly this. Clamshell mode, larger monitor but added flexibility to move to the couch, another room, kitchen, friend's house or cafe with just the MBP. The best of both worlds, whatever works for me at the time. Good to have the option for unforeseeable future events.

 

[Clix Pix]

Some years ago when Apple was finally releasing their 21.5" iMac with a retina screen for the first time, I reviewed all the information and specs and realized that this just was not what I needed or wanted. I dismissed the idea of another iMac and looked at Apple's other options and that is when I went for flexibility and portability when buying a 15" MBP which at that time offered all the specs I needed and wanted. The extra portability and flexibility were absolutely bonuses which I quickly appreciated. Since then, I have continued to go with the flexible route in my home setup and have not regretted it.

 

[wingennis]

I'm in the crowd that looks at a laptop as a computer with built in monitor and UPS. I live in a rural area and weather affects the stability of our power grid. I'm very fortunate to be able to afford what I have: I really appreciate all of the options available.

 

[saber32au]

I use a MBP for work, and 90% of the time, the lid is closed (is that 'clamshell mode'?). But, I believe I saw a post stating that said mode isn't good for the battery. Why is that?

Regardless, with me using two monitors at work, there is simply no need to have the MBP 16" screen open. Now, when I wander off to a meeting with my MBP, I use the screen then.

I hope that helps 😂

Same here (expect I have a windows laptop for work, and use the laptop in clamshell mode 50% or so).

Clamshell mode used when I'm working at the office (which has two 24" displays).

When working away from the office (ie working at home, airport, hotel, coffee shop, park etc etc) I'll use the laptop's screen.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Macbook pro 14 M1 in clamshell 95% of the time. I was glad to see Apple introduced battery management so that sometimes the always plugged-in macbook whould stop charging and go down to 80% charge before charging again.
My previous Macbook pro got the keyboard printed on the screen after 5 years, I hope the screen on this one does not get damaged the same way. Some people recommend to put a soft cloth between screen and keyboard, but I think this hurts the cooling system.

My 2022 MBP doesn't do this? It stays at 100% when plugged in. Is there some setting I am unaware of?

 

[melliflu]

My 2022 MBP doesn't do this? It stays at 100% when plugged in. Is there some setting I am unaware of?

Check the "Manage battery longevity" in system preferences HERE

After one year, still 100% (desktop use about 5 hours a day but only 26 cycles on mobility)

 

[Originalblez]

Many want to just spend on 1 computer.

Laptops are preferred 80% of the time and when they want a desktop they want a larger than 16" screen with full sized keyboard & mouse.

So the next best thing is a laptop + external display.

If Apple allowed macOS on iPhone when connected to a Thunderbolt 5 display with I/O dock would have many prefering that even when it will cost them $3k-4k for that convenience.

Agreed. This would be an amazing idea. Samsung toyed with it with their DeX laptop concept but it never became mainstream (niche need).

I guess Apple's concession here is bringing more and more external monitor features to the iPad.

 

[Originalblez]

I've had my MBP M1 PRO 14" since end of October 21 (launch). Use it in the house, out and about, working away from home... but in my home office it's docked to my Studio Display.

Just checked battery health - 92%. I guess that's not too bad after a year and a half of mixed mode use.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

I'm almost always in clamshell mode at my desk. But, every once and a while (every week or so) I work at a coffee shop for a few hours. Sometimes I just need to get away from my desk and put my feet up, so I grab my computer and move to a different room for a bit.

Since I only want to buy one computer, I only buy laptops. I know that my battery could be happier, but I care more about myself and my work than I care about my battery. I would feel trapped at my desk if I only had a desktop computer.

Since macOS Ventura, I believe the battery is better managed to extend life.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Check the "Manage battery longevity" in system preferences HERE

View attachment 2220679
After one year, still 100% (desktop use about 5 hours a day but only 26 cycles on mobility)

Thanks for this. Mine is turned on but still says 100% all the time. I would have thought it would stop charging once it reached 80% like my Apple Watch Ultra does?

 

[melliflu]

Thanks for this. Mine is turned on but still says 100% all the time. I would have thought it would stop charging once it reached 80% like my Apple Watch Ultra does?

No it's not systematic, and it's the other way around, it gets down from 100% to 80% then charge again. Once in a while, about once a week, I see the charge led turning orange, and it gets down to 80%. It's supposed to learn behavior patterns... Apple is not clear about this feature, if someone knows a precise technical text, please post.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Thanks for this. Mine is turned on but still says 100% all the time. I would have thought it would stop charging once it reached 80% like my Apple Watch Ultra does?

It usually takes quite a few weeks for it to learn your behaviour through optimised battery charging. For iOS devices I know that there’s 3 location services required to be active for it to work, couldn’t readily find this criteria for macOS.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

People run laptops in clamshell since they're thinner so they take less space on the desk standing them up from a clamshell mount, versus the Mini and Studio that are thicker. Plus clamshell gives them the flexibility in case they need to take that laptop portably.

Using a Macbook as a hybrid desktop/laptop is cheaper than just buying a separate Mac desktop, which is why people do it.

Also we had this thread a year ago.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/why-do-people-use-clamshell-mode.2347509/