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How do you keep a retina macbook pro battery healthy?

So I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep my battery as healthy as possible in my retina Macbook Pro because I was recently told at the Genius bar that replacing this battery could cost around $400.


I've read in some places when trying to figure this out that you don't want your laptop plugged in all the time, I've heard newer batteries don't need to be periodically discharged to zero (calibrating batteries like in the older macbook pro's), I've read that you want the electrons in the battery to me moving as often as possible, so you want your computer to be charging and discharging constantly, that you shouldn't have the power cord plugged in if it is full (which would seems to lead to a high number of cycles). Now the Genius I went to today said I should keep my laptop plugged in more often to keep the number of my cycles low. I'm getting a lot of mixed messages and I am a bit confused. Anyone know the definitive way to keep your battery healthy?


Here are my current battery specs. I got my retina macbook pro July of 2012, so i'm at about 16 months w/ this battery


Battery Information:


Model Information:

Serial Number:

Manufacturer: SMP

Device Name: bq20z451

Pack Lot Code: 0

PCB Lot Code: 0

Firmware Version: 511

Hardware Revision: 3

Cell Revision: 1150

Charge Information:

Charge Remaining (mAh): 6862

Fully Charged: No

Charging: No

Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 7378

Health Information:

Cycle Count: 463

Condition: Normal

Battery Installed: Yes

Amperage (mA): -1236

Voltage (mV): 12080

OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 1, 2013 3:29 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Nov 1, 2013 3:34 PM

Here is a battery reading list:


http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/batteries_power/


This should keep you occupied for rest of the evening. 🙂


Ciao.


" Now the Genius I went to today said I should keep my laptop plugged in more often to keep the number of my cycles low. " he is correct, it does not hurt the battery to keep it attached to the power adapter for long periods of time. I do that all the time. Monthly I run the battery down to the 40% charge level.


Message was edited by: OGELTHORPE

22 replies

Dec 20, 2013 6:10 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

Sorry for my english at first 🙂

I have last question. Partial discharge it good. Is partial charge good too? For example: I discharge battery from 100% to 25%. Then:

1) I charge it to 100% for one go.

2) I charge i to ~50-70%, then use for ~30-120min or drop it to 30-40% and then charge to 100%. (or more steps when discharge it a little and charge not to 100% before charge to 100%)

Is the second way harmfull? Or no matter first or second way?

How do you keep a retina macbook pro battery healthy?

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