Macbook Air Battery

The best way to keep your battery optimize is by leaving your Macbook Air plugged in when you're using it.

Once in a while, let your Macbook Air run under it's own power and charge it back once it's down to 50% ( I do this once a month). I have not had any issues with any of my Macbooks and I have 3 of them. My old 2011 is still at 97% of the design capacity (100% is the design capacity) after 200+ cycle counts.

Your Macbook Air uses Lithium Polymer and not Lithium Ion like Windows laptops - totally different ways of charging.

See link below to understand more.

About Mac notebook batteries - Apple Support

Don't worry too much about your battery - just keep it plugged in when you're close to a power outlet and enjoy your Macbook Air. Like any other kind of batteries - no one can predict how long it will or should last regardless on how you take care of it.

I always disconnect the charger when my MBA (2015) is fully charged. The way I go about it is, when charged I let the battery go down to 1% and then start charging it again. did that from the beginning and I still get 15-17 hours out of the battery; sounds crazy? Not really, its all about charging habit. Even with my iphone (iphone SE) I get up to 4 days out of the battery (being on wifi 24/7) I apply the same habit on the MBA and it'll pay off; its just being consistent and don't start charging when being asked (usually at 20 - 15 or 5%)

Thanks for your comment! It is useful to me too.

Would you recommend to leave MacBook Air plugged in when it is sleeping and fully charged? What do you usually do? 🙂

So far, I keep my new computer plugged-in even when it is asleep. I am going to let the battery discharge from time to time as you recommended.

Apple Batteries

http://www.apple.com/batteries/ - Is a link to our apple web page explaining about your computers battery. Also, look in the lower right corner of this page, entitled "Exercise Your Machine". It shows you how to add reminders in iCal, that prompt you to calibrate your battery. This will help you keep your battery in top condition!

--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3557 - is a link that explains "Battery Terminology"

--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490 - is a quick link to to an Apple Document on how to Calibrate your Battery for Best Performance

--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1446?viewlocale=en_US - is a link for Tips for maximizing your battery charge

-- http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/podcast/quicktips/quicktips-optimizing_battery .m4v - is a quick link to a video on how to optimize your battery settings.

-- http://movies.apple.com/datapub/us/podcasts/quicktips/quicktips-sleep_displays.m 4v - is a link for Tips on putting display to sleep

I follow all this advice.

However, some other laptop models have the ability to manage battery life slightly better: they give you the option to stay plugged in but stop charging the battery at 80% of full power. This, it would seem, is the best setting to extend Li-ion battery life, as charging beyond that level tends to heat up the battery. I've been trying to keep the battery between 60% and 80% - the sweet spot - by plugging and unplugging but this is very inefficient and I often get distracted by, you know, the actual work I'm suposed to be doing.

I'd be willing to buy a reasonably priced app to remind me when the battery hits 60% or 80% if you can recommend one - but frankly, given the prices, given the built-in, not easily replaceable battery, and given the fact that this technology is available, I think Apple should provide automatic-stop-at-80% capability off the shelf.

You are over-thinking it. Your battery will do a fast charge until it reaches about 95% at which point it will switch to a trickle charge to keep the battery 'topped off'. As you use the computer at this point you will probably see the charge percentage fluctuate between about 95%-100%.