It's Time For The Ultimate Guide On The Macbook's Battery Life!
Hello Everyone.. If you own or plan to own a MacBook,. I'll explain you how to care for your MacBook's battery, how often to charge it, recommended practices, and when to unplug it. Let's start with your MacBook's battery and technology. MacBooks use Li-ion batteries. Yes, some modern MacBooks employ a lithium-polymer battery, but the change is slight.
A lithium-ion battery has an anode, cathode, separator, and electrolyte. Anode and cathode store lithium ions. Lithium ions traveling through the electrolyte store and release energy. Lithium ions go from anode to cathode through the electrolyte to discharge or charge. Li-ion batteries like 50% charge. This evens out lithium ions between anode and cathode. Constantly charging a battery stresses the cathode. Seesaw-like. You want it to be balanced and not tip too far. Every time lithium ions travel, the battery loses a tiny bit of capacity. A charging cycle explains this. When you've used 100% of your battery's capacity, you've completed one charging cycle.
Charges take days. Recharge your
battery overnight after using 50% of its capacity. The next day, you'll have 1
full charge cycle. The latest M1 MacBooks are battery-efficient. With 6-8 hours
of daily use, a single charge lasts 2 days, or 1 full cycle every 2 to 3 days.
Consumable lithium-ion batteries. They'll wear out over time. MacBook batteries
last 1,000 charges. Apple's battery will only charge to 80% after 1000 cycles.
Instead of 16 hours, you'll get 13 hours. If I charged my M1 MacBook Air once
every two days, it would take me 2000 days to reach the 1000-cycle rating. 2000
days of everyday MacBook use equals 5.5 years. Temperature and age affect
battery life, but charge cycles are essential. Click the Apple logo in the top
left corner, then about this Mac, system report, and power.
How can you keep your consumable
lithium ion battery healthy? Heat harms batteries. Cold battery. Don't use your
MacBook in direct sunlight (as I did). This includes leaving your MacBook Pro
in a warm car or on your bed without airflow. Electrolyte? High temperatures
harm electrolytes, accelerating battery depletion. In inherently hot places
like Australia or India, you can't do much, but unless indoor temps are 35-40
degrees Celsius, you'll be fine. Use a stand to improve MacBook ventilation.
Here's my pick. Don't fear heat-generating chores like rendering. Most of the
heat dissipates from the top middle of the chassis, not the battery.
Leave your MacBook charging? Let's
start with the charger. Always use the approved Apple charger. This is because
there are many shady chargers to avoid. Chinese companies often rebrand the
same mass-produced charger. Using chargers or pass-through USB-C from docks or monitors
is fine if they're from a reputable brand. Examples: Dell, Logitech, CalDigit,
Anker. If you're careful, seek for brands and accessories in the Apple store.
I'll negotiate USB-C dongle chargers. For brief periods and with a good dongle,
it's OK. If you have a permanent desk setting, get a docking station, monitor,
or Apple charger.
Apple's software maintains MacBook
batteries. Recently, macOS updated battery interaction. Upgrade your MacBook.
Battery care. macOS charges the battery to 80% quickly and 20% slowly. Once the
battery reaches 100%, charging stops and the MacBook operates from the adaptor,
bypassing the battery. MacOS drains plugged-in batteries. This keeps the Mac
from functioning at full capacity, reducing battery life. macOS will charge the
battery if you use your Macbook for lengthy durations. If you work from 9am to
5pm with your charger plugged in and switch to your battery at night, macOS
will top off your charge before you leave your workplace. It forecasts when
you'll need a battery based on usage. This is in system settings under battery.
Checkbox (it is by default). Let your battery die to 0% then fully charge it.
Modern MacBooks differ.
Never let the battery reach 0%. Like
always having a full battery. MacOS may show the battery as 100% charged, but
it's likely just 90% or 95% charged. Buffers prevent overcharging. If you're
storing your MacBook for weeks or months, charge it to 50%. Should you leave
your MacBook charged? Depends on me. If you use your MacBook for lengthy, continuous
periods, like at work or school, it's acceptable to keep it plugged in. macOS
intelligently charges to minimize battery stress, even when plugged in. Battery
University concurs. Leaving it plugged in while you work will reduce battery
cycles, extending its life.
I wouldn't recommend always charging
your MacBook and never draining the battery. Laptop. Laptop. Even when using
the MacBook at a desk, let the battery decrease to 15% or 10%. Unplug the
MacBook's charging cable before bed. Don't bother about battery or charging.
Yes, the best way to save battery life is to keep the charge between 20% and
80% and only charge in bursts. Do you need a full charge for school? No
problem. Unimportant. Keep your MacBook plugged in if you work at a desk.
auto-optimizing macOS It's fine to use your MacBook all day without charging
it. When you can, charge your laptop for 15 to 20 minutes. Showering or
cooking.
If you won't have access to a
charger the next day, charge it overnight. This is how many people, including myself,
use laptops, so the charge stays between 20% and 80% without extra effort.
You'd be shocked how little battery health differs between users who keep their
MacBooks plugged in vs. those who clock every charge and percentage drain. Is
that extra work worth a few percentage points of battery health? Nope. I know
there are apps like Al Dente that promise to limit battery charging to 80%, but
I'd rather let macOS handle it. 1 improper setting or a bad developer update
could make you worse. I'm willing to change my mind. Laptops are tools. Utilize
it. You don't want to spend all day worrying about when to unplug the charger
or panicked if the battery reaches 100%.
Most people change their computers
every 3-5 years, and your battery will survive that long in 99.99 percent of
cases. You can be more cautious if you expect to keep your MacBook longer, but
Apple offers battery replacements for $150. As I showed in this video, your
battery will likely survive 5-10 years before it needs replacing, and by then
it's probably time for a new MacBook. Your MacBook's battery is one of the
technologies and software that we no longer need to worry about. If you want a
video on how to maximize battery life, let me know here. Thanks to everyone and
see you next time!
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