I have had a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) with Apple M1 Max for a few months now and I just realised the maximum capacity of the battery is "only" at 89% after not so many charging cycles 🤔
I've seen other people in the community concern about this too. Is this something we actually should be concerned about?
MacBook Pro Apple Silicon
Batteries are a wear item, like the soles of your shoes and the tires on your car. Their expected lifetime depends on use (as reflected in Charge cycles) and also in the passage of time, used or not. After a while, you should expect to have to replace the battery.
Battery life also depends on two factors you may be able to control a bit better. Lithium polymer batteries deteriorate when they get too hot, and when they are subject to very deep discharge. These should be avoided when possible.
Despite using these batteries in millions of Apple devices, there is still an increased amount of of randomness in exactly which battery will fail when.
Apple SUGGESTS (but does not Warrant) that your battery MAY last as long as 1000 charge cycles, provided all other factors are well-controlled.
Apple uses the criterion that a battery that doesn't to hold 80 percent of its original charge capacity should be serviced, and likely replaced.
When designing systems, that 80 percent rule is intended so that, over a Very large sample of devices, almost all will be able to achieve their 'mission' -- still have at least 80 percent capacity at the three-year mark.
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When you present your Mac at the Genius Bar with a battery complaint, the technician will perform some diagnostic tests on the battery, looking for hidden faults. If your battery passes all those, the question the technician will ask is "is this battery still able to deliver 80 percent of its original capacity TODAY."
If it is, that battery is working as intended and will not be replaced.
When your battery can no longer can perform as expected, you will need to replace it. Batteries wear out. Their levels decrease with time.
Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple
Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple
Batteries are a wear item, like the soles of your shoes and the tires on your car. Their expected lifetime depends on use (as reflected in Charge cycles) and also in the passage of time, used or not. After a while, you should expect to have to replace the battery.
Battery life also depends on two factors you may be able to control a bit better. Lithium polymer batteries deteriorate when they get too hot, and when they are subject to very deep discharge. These should be avoided when possible.
Despite using these batteries in millions of Apple devices, there is still an increased amount of of randomness in exactly which battery will fail when.
Apple SUGGESTS (but does not Warrant) that your battery MAY last as long as 1000 charge cycles, provided all other factors are well-controlled.
Apple uses the criterion that a battery that doesn't to hold 80 percent of its original charge capacity should be serviced, and likely replaced.
When designing systems, that 80 percent rule is intended so that, over a Very large sample of devices, almost all will be able to achieve their 'mission' -- still have at least 80 percent capacity at the three-year mark.
_______
When you present your Mac at the Genius Bar with a battery complaint, the technician will perform some diagnostic tests on the battery, looking for hidden faults. If your battery passes all those, the question the technician will ask is "is this battery still able to deliver 80 percent of its original capacity TODAY."
If it is, that battery is working as intended and will not be replaced.
When your battery can no longer can perform as expected, you will need to replace it. Batteries wear out. Their levels decrease with time.
Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple
Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple
That computer is a battery-CAPABLE device. It is not optimized as a battery-operated device. (It is NOT an iPhone.)
Your computer performs best when connected to AC power. It can use the full output of the Power Adapter AND when doing especially challenging work will also freely "borrow" power from the battery. In some cases, even with the power adapter connected, the charged state may even decline during stressful work.
When used only on battery, your computer has no extra cushion of power, and may perform more slowly. However, for ordinary non-stressful tasks this may not be objectionable (possibly not even noticeable.)
In general, you should ALWAYS connect AC power when it is possible to do so, and only run on batteries (which could be somewhat slower) when no AC sources are at hand. Your Mac will NEVER over-charge.
Thanks for the quick reply and extended explanation :)
Battery Maximum Capacity at 89% after 79 cycles
