Mid-2015 MacBook Pro 15 Has Horrible Battery Life

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Level 1

8 points

Mid-2015 MacBook Pro 15 Has Horrible Battery Life

I have a mid-2015 15 Macbook Pro that is the base model, 2.2 Ghz and 256 with no graphics other than the Iris Pro. I've only had it for about 3 months and I take it off power once a weekish and use it around the house. The whole reason I decided to go Apple was because I wanted the battery life that windows machines can't offer with this kind of power.

I must have gotten a dud or something because my battery life is bad. I run display 50% and backlight OFF and don't keep anything open. My Dock has nothing open except for mail to notify me and my browser if I'm using it (98% of the time). Battery life is maximum of 4-5 hours of doing this constantly, the only time I've achieved more was on a road trip where I turned back light and display off and was only using iTunes to play music through my headphones via bluetooth, that time it was projecting 20+ hours. Just getting on here for the last few minutes has gone from 38% to 19% over 31 minutes of time on battery. I know a decent amount about computers and I'm a massive energy saver unless I'm plugged in, low brightness, no backlight, no programs open that I'm not using etc yet I get ridiculous battery life.

What should I do? Any suggestions? I read somewhere about powering down and then when you power back up hold Option + Command + R to reset some thing inside the machine.

Is my battery life normal for what I've described? It's not like I'm that idiot that knows nothing about computers and leaves open pages, mail, messages, itunes, skype, and browser just because I can. I leave nothing open (Hence no programs on the dock have the "dot" under them), I clear everything that is unnecessary VIA the Activity Monitor, things such as Creative Cloud. I'm just stumped. I must have gotten a dud. Please help and advise me on what I should do/try.

Currently running OS X El Capitan 10.11.3, but this is not just because of El Capitan, this has been like this since Yosemite when I first bought it.

Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), null

Posted on Mar 10, 2016 9:26 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Mar 10, 2016 9:36 AM in response to RossJG

Your computer is still in warranty, so do the logical thing: make an appointment at the Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar and take it in for service. If you are not in the USA or cannot set up an appointment this way, then contact your local Apple Store directly. Don't forget you have free telephone service for 90 days after purchase.

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Answer 2

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 9:58 AM in response to Kappy

I'm in the USA, but I don't think I'm within 90 days.

How long does the warranty last after the purchase of the device? Just 90 days? If I'm out of the warranty and I take it to the Apple Store (10 minutes from me) what are they going to want and what can they do?

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Mar 10, 2016 9:59 AM in response to RossJG

Apps can affect Mac performance, battery runtime, temperature, and fan activity - Apple Support

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Answer 4

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:00 AM in response to Linc Davis

Obviously you did not read my post. Nothing of that kind is going on at all. Everything is functioning properly and nothing is failing/malfunctioning.

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:07 AM in response to RossJG

Everything is functioning properly and nothing is failing/malfunctioning.

If everything is functioning properly and nothing is malfunctioning, why are you here?

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:12 AM in response to RossJG

One year is the standard warranty unless you purchased Apple Care which adds another two years. The 90 days was for free telephone service, not the warranty period.

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Answer 7

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Linc Davis

I mean nothing is malfunctioning because of me, something internal is failing or something. There's no malfunctioning apps, processes, or anything else. There now it's clarified easy enough for 3rd graders.

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Answer 8

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:38 AM in response to Kappy

Thank you Kappy. I'll try taking it to the Apple Store when I get a chance to.

In the mean time, anyone else have any suggestions to try?

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Answer 9

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:39 AM in response to RossJG

Let me point out that Apple store genius bar appointments are FREE. If you are under warranty, any repairs will also be FREE.

Ciao.

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Answer 10

Aaron403

Level 1

102 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:42 AM in response to RossJG

It might be enlightening to look at Activity Monitor for real-time power usage statistics. Use the Energy tab and switch the view mode to "All Processes."

You might also want to look at your battery's capacity statistics to see if it really is a dud. From the Apple menu, open About This Mac → System Report → Power (on the left) and look at the "Full Charge Capacity" and "Health Information."

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Answer 11

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Aaron403

Yup, everything is normal whenever I check Activity Monitor for real time stuff. Nothing over using etc.

System report > Power screenshot: http://prntscr.com/adlehz

Everything is good except for the fact I get a max of 5 hours of battery life. Also, I'm not sure if it's normal or not but my MacBook can get quite hot if I'm using the browser (Firefox normally with nothing else except Mail open) for a long period of time on power/battery, not uncomfortable to touch at all but the bar below where the screen hinges will get very warm to the touch.

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Answer 12

Aaron403

Level 1

102 points

Mar 11, 2016 7:14 PM in response to RossJG

Does it do anything different with, say, Safari? And have you watched Activity Monitor while you're using Firefox?

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Answer 13

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:56 AM in response to Aaron403

I haven't tried to use Safari, after I'm charged up I'll try using Safari exclusively instead of Firefox and watch the Activity Monitor and post what happens. I don't think it's going to affect it though because even with power nap OFF, if I shut my lid at midnight one night, then open it up after work at about 10 PM the next night, I'll have lost 20-30%...supposedly this is supposed to last up to 1 month (Granted ideal conditions) in Sleep mode. My point being, my specific machine eats battery life like it's its job.

And no I've never monitored it that much yet, but I'm going to start doing it next battery cycle.

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Answer 14

RossJG Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 12, 2016 3:05 AM in response to Aaron403

Ok guys, swapping to Safari seems to have solved it. Currently I'm at 84% battery with an estimated time of 9:46 remaining (And the estimate is climbing still) which is more than I ever saw before. Firefox was sucking up battery life like a ****.

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