What does it mean when I get this message: "Battery is critically low"

You're in danger of the Mac shutting down, that's all. Recharge your battery when you get a chance.

If you believe the message is spurious an SMC reset is justified. Read all the steps:

Before Resetting the SMC

Try each of the following steps in this order before you reset the SMC. Test the issue after completing each troubleshooting step to determine if the issue still occurs.

1. Press Command + Option + Escape to force quit any application that is not responding.
2. Put your Mac to sleep by choosing the Apple () menu from the upper-left menu bar and then choosing Sleep. Wake the computer after it has gone to sleep.
3. Restart your Mac by choosing the Apple () menu from the upper-left menu bar and then choosing Restart.
4. Shut down your Mac by choosing the Apple () menu from the upper-left menu bar and then choosing Shut Down.

Resetting the SMC on Mac portables with a battery you can remove

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter from the computer, if it's connected.
3. Remove the battery (to remove the battery - click here: MacBook or MacBook Pro).
4. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
5. Release the power button.
6. Reconnect the battery and MagSafe power adapter.
7. Press the power button to turn on the computer.

Still having problems? Replace steps 6 and 7 with the following:

1. Reconnect just the MagSafe power adapter.
2. Press the power button to turn on the computer,
3. Then reconnect the battery.