I have turned to the dark side!

GodAtum · 1 Apr 2015 at 10:04

I have turned to the dark side and need a good spanking

Just got delivery of a new 2015 Macbook Pro 13", 2.9GHz i5, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM. Now I have to learn how to use OSX!

Anyway, what is the best way to poreserve battery life? I only use it for around an hour every day. Shall I just sleep it or turn it off competely? Do I leave it plugged in when it's off?

Phate · 1 Apr 2015 at 11:54

Preserving battery life means cycling the battery. If you only use it for an hour a day I'd leave it switched off (it's not like it'll take long to fire it back up) - if you used it on and off all day I'd just shut the lid to sleep it.

Never leave it plugged in when its off (if I find out you're doing this, I'll slap you and confiscate said laptop)

The trick is to cycle, so run it on battery until its nearly dead (I leave it to within 5%) and then plug it back in and unplug when fully charged again, and so on and so forth.

niroe · 1 Apr 2015 at 13:51

GodAtum said:
I have turned to the dark side and need a good spanking Just got delivery of a new 2015 Macbook Pro 13", 2.9GHz i5, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM. Now I have to learn how to use OSX!

Bought my first Macbook last year and soon picked up OSX without problems, its actually very easy to use. I now happily switch from working on Windows to OSX as needed, even the keyboard layout doesn't catch me out anymore, yet a friend whose been a Mac user for years still has issues

Anyway, the dark side isn't as dark as they make out, its actually quite nice.

Matthew.M · 1 Apr 2015 at 13:56

Phate said:
The trick is to cycle, so run it on battery until its nearly dead (I leave it to within 5%) and then plug it back in and unplug when fully charged again, and so on and so forth.

Nooooo, deep discharge cycles for Li-ion are actually worse. A 100 to 0 to 100% cycle is worse for battery life than discharging to 50% and recharging to 100% twice.

For best battery life keep it in the 40-60% range in cool temperatures. However this is probably impractical. Just use it as normal and don't let it get too low regularly or store in high temperatures (car boot in the summer, say). If you put the laptop in storage for a long time try and put it about 60%.

You can leave it plugged in - the laptops circuitry won't overcharge it or anything daft.

Phate · 1 Apr 2015 at 13:59

Matthew.M said:
Nooooo, deep discharge cycles for Li-ion are actually worse. A 100 to 0 to 100% cycle is worse for battery life than discharging to 50% and recharging to 100% twice.

Really?

How I described is how I've always always treated my laptops/batteries/Macbooks and I've always had fantastic performance, years down the line.

Prophet · 1 Apr 2015 at 14:04

Phate said:
Really?

How I described is how I've always always treated my laptops/batteries/Macbooks and I've always had fantastic performance, years down the line.

I abuse my 2009 MBP battery in a shocking way and it still lasts for over 3 hours.

People care too much about looking after something that will last even if abused.

Matthew.M · 1 Apr 2015 at 14:07

Phate said:
Really?

How I described is how I've always always treated my laptops/batteries/Macbooks and I've always had fantastic performance, years down the line.

Yes, partial discharges are less stressful for batteries.

Lots of articles on the subject from a quick Google.

Phate · 1 Apr 2015 at 14:11

I will in fact, shut up then.

Maccy · 1 Apr 2015 at 14:22

Batteries changed a few years ago. Li-ion batteries are fine with small use and then charging back up now, gone are the days of running a battery down to 0% and then doing a full charge.

GodAtum · 2 Apr 2015 at 09:04

Cool, can I keep it plugged in when its turned off?

momo56 · 2 Apr 2015 at 09:08

Yeah you can. I've been doing the same and still have 98% capacity 1.3 years later.

Aston998 · 2 Apr 2015 at 21:25

I have joined the Apple Macbook family!! I love it!!! I have the top Apple Macbook Air

Thaifood · 2 Apr 2015 at 22:08

only joined last year in july.. loving the 13" mbp retina

Ryan-3 · 3 Apr 2015 at 17:42

Maccy said:
Batteries changed a few years ago. Li-ion batteries are fine with small use and then charging back up now, gone are the days of running a battery down to 0% and then doing a full charge.

This. But it is often good to run it down to almost empty after a number of cycles has been counted.

savagesam117 · 3 Apr 2015 at 17:57

My Macbook Pro lasted about 5 years with the worst battery cycle i could ever imagine and it was still lasting 8 hour days it only died because it got wet

uniQ · 3 Apr 2015 at 19:25

I keep my rMBP plugged in most of the time, except when travelling. Bought in October 2013. 53 'cycles' battery @ 99% health

lamboman · 3 Apr 2015 at 21:07

Apple has a new version of their battery page up now: https://www.apple.com/uk/batteries/

Provides OK information on optimum charging patterns.

Apple previously suggested that if you're going to leave the machine plugged in all the time, to unplug it and let it drain to 50% once every few days (IIRC).

slinxy · 4 Apr 2015 at 08:43

Yub.. Battery tech has moved forward in the past few years, in fact even when the battery is saying 0% it's not actually 0% on the battery itself, it just means that it can nope longer provide any run time for this device at the volts this device require.

Most Apple devices give a flat battery impression long before the battery will hit the point of no return... Just use it as normal, plug it in when its moans.. They have battery memory, so it won't overcharge and shouldn't go past point of no return.

The only issue is if you don't use it for a very long period, as batteries do self drain and that might take it past point of no return.

Jase · 4 Apr 2015 at 20:52

I got my first Mac in December (a MacBook Pro) and love it! I'm going to buy an iMac 5K or Mac Pro very soon but waiting to see how Lightroom 6 runs on it.

As for recharging the Battery, must admit I've been letting it go to 10% and then recharging, maybe I should stop doing that