Apple Studio Display and MacBook Pro M3 Max AC charger

Hello! I just bought an Apple Studio Display and now my MacBook is charging from the monitor via thunderbolt, everything is fine. But do I need to additionally connect an AC adapter to my MacBook or is this not necessary? And will the power from the monitor cope if the laptop is performing a heavy task?


...and one more thing :) Is it ok if the thunderbolt from the monitor is connected to the laptop all the time, even when I'm not using the laptop?


Thanks!

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Jul 28, 2024 2:24 PM

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5 replies

Jul 28, 2024 5:04 PM in response to Pirdelli

It is not an accident that the device you plug in the wall is called the power adapter. The CHARGER is inside your MacBook Pro, and it is under Program control at all times. Your Mac accepts the power it needs to run from, as Apple puts it "the Best source" but typically the FIRST source. It only draws additional power to charge the battery when the battery needs to be charged.


Your MacBook Pro is a battery-CAPABLE device, it was never intended to be a solely battery-OPERATED device, it is not an iPhone, charged all night and run all day. Your MacBook Pro charges its battery only when necessary, and it will NEVER over-charge.

Jul 28, 2024 5:28 PM in response to Pirdelli

no worries.


Your computer performs best when connected to AC power adapter or comparable power source. 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 decline during stressful work.


Accepting power from multiple sources at the same time is very difficult, and your MacBook Pro can not do that.

Jul 28, 2024 5:22 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you! I understand that the MacBook is not over-charge, but: the power that Studio Display provides through the thunderbolt is enough to use the MacBook in heavy apps with a heavy load(render/video/etc) without a connected power adapter to MacBook?


or if I want to use the MacBook(Apple Studio Display thunderbolt connected) at full POWER, do I need to connect power adapter also?

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Apple Studio Display and MacBook Pro M3 Max AC charger

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