Will turning off WIFI if not in use while charging make a MBA charge faster?

[a-m-k]

Also, if airplane mode charges an iPhone faster, why isn't it available on a Mac of any model (IE MBP MBA or iPad and maybe a newer version of the iPad.)

 

[russell_314]

Also, if airplane mode charges an iPhone faster, why isn't it available on a Mac of any model (IE MBP MBA or iPad and maybe a newer version of the iPad.)

My guess would be Airplane mode was originally designed for passengers taking off in an aircraft. You were still allowed to have your phone out during takeoff but it had to be in the Airplane mode. Laptops are not allowed during takeoff so thus no Airplane mode. It would be a nice feature to have though.

I seem to remember it being on my iPad but I can't be sure. I don't have it anymore

 

[robbieduncan]

My iPad has airplane mode. But then it's not a Mac. It's an iPad.

 

[petterihiisila]

Also, if airplane mode charges an iPhone faster, why isn't it available on a Mac of any model (IE MBP MBA or iPad and maybe a newer version of the iPad.)

It's the 4G (soon 5G) radio that consumes significant battery when in use. Turning that off provides most of the benefits alone. Turning off networking will also tame a lot of background app activity, since they can't update themselves.

Macs don't have a 4G radio, so in that regard they're always in Airplane Mode. Switching off WiFi and Bluetooth radios wouldn't make much of a difference, they're low power.

There's another big difference too: Macs charge at way more wattage than iPhones. My Mac has a 96 Watt charger. New iPhones charge with 18 Watts. Lowering the consumption for example by six Watts would be a lot when compared against 18 W, but peanuts when compared against 96 W.

So, there's not a big case to be made for an Airplane Mode in pursuit of power savings during charging a Mac.

That said, a dedicated Low Power Mode, which reduces background processing to the minimum, perhaps lowers the max CPU wattage, that would be good on the road and while fast-charging. Marco Arment wrote about it. https://marco.org/2020/01/13/macos-low-power-mode-redux

 

[a-m-k]

Thanks for your answers everybody. I was just curious. I guess I'll do one thing that I know works on an iPhone, too. Just turn off the WI-FI if I am not using when charging.