Macbook Pro - How to keep a low cycle count

Well, the new Macs nowadays has a better battery care technology which won't put as much wear and tear as before. And if you are in situations that requires you to use your battery other than AC power then just use it. The battery cycle depends on how often you use and charge the battery. The more you use and charge your battery the faster your cycle will increase.

Welcome to the  Discussion Forums liquorandjazz -

I understand your concerns, depending on your regular use you can manage your cycle count. Here is some more info: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1764220

For comparison my MBP is 7 months old, and cycle count is 14.



Hope this helps

Message was edited by: leroydouglas

I should point out that the batteries that seem to survive the longest are those that get used--i.e. relatively high cycle counts. They are like muscles--use them or lose them. I tried keeping cycles down on my first battery and the results were that it made it only 11 months. Most of the "my battery failed..." posts we see here show a low cycle count.

Also, you've posted a question about a new MBP in the forum for older ones made in Early 2008 and before. As the battery technology in your new MBP is different (and apparently better) and you have other hardware improvement made since 2008, you should use the forum for the current-generation MBPs here:

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=251

Not to worry. It's not your fault you found the wrong forum. "Original MacBook Pro" is a pretty non-intuitive label! About a dozen people a day with new MBPs end up here and sometimes get inappropriate advise if responders either don't notice of can't tell that the OP is asking about a newer Mac.

Basically.... what it boils down to is the more you use your battery, the more quickly you will use up cycles. One full cycle is a full discharge and full charge (or one full charge cycle). A partial discharge and recharge will equal a partial cycle. For example, if your battery is at 100%... and you discharge it down to 50%... and then fully charge it, that will count as 1/2 cycle. If you do that twice, it would equal one full cycle. If you start with your battery at 100% and discharge it to 90% and then fully charge it, that will equal 1/10th of a cycle. You would need to do that 10 times for it to equal one cycle. There is no "special" amount to discharge your battery to avoid adding cycles. Cycles are cumulative. If you use your battery less often, it will take longer for your to accumulate cycles.