Brand new MacBook Pro 13-inch battery lasts for 6 h instead of 10 h

Question

Level 2

159 points

Brand new MacBook Pro 13-inch battery lasts for 6 h instead of 10 h

Brand new MacBook Pro 13-inch battery lasts for 6 h instead of 10 h. Apple shows specifications of "Up to 10 hours wireless web & Up to 10 hours iTunes movie playback".

MacBook Pro - Technical Specifications - Apple

Yet, when used for PowerPoint 2016 presentations (no video playback; just the presentation with images and text) connected to VGA with Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter using with macOS 10.12.6 Sierra, only 33% (1/3) battery remains after 4 hours of presentation, which means battery should last for a total of 6 h instead of 10 h (that is, only 60% of the 100% Apple specification). No Wifi or Bluetooth, which are off all the time. No Internet connection; just VGA connection to video-projector using USB remote control:

Keyspan by Tripp Lite Presentation Wireless Remote Control, Silver, 60-ft. Range

PR-US2

https://www.tripplite.com/keyspan-by-tripp-lite-presentation-wireless-remote-con trol-silver-60-ft-range~PRUS2

Specifications:

MacBook Pro - Space Gray

• 2.5GHz dual-core 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz

• 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory

• 128GB SSD storage

• Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640

• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports

• Backlit Keyboard

Is that normal or is the battery defective (it is under warranty) and thus elegible for Apple repair or replacement? Thanks.

Posted on Feb 15, 2018 11:07 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

y_p_w

Level 6

17,762 points

Feb 15, 2018 12:02 PM in response to ApMaX

Don't accept those numbers at face value. It's an estimate and in real world conditions there are way too many variables to guarantee it. It relies a lot of CPU throttling to achieve those numbers, and if you're doing a lot of active work it may not get that kind of runtime.

However, it you really want to see what's been using up battery power, open Activity Monitor in Applications>Utilities>Activity Monitor and select Energy. It will give you the applications that have been using up the most energy in the last 12 hours.

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Answer 2

dominic23

Level 10

84,018 points

Feb 15, 2018 11:30 AM in response to ApMaX

I usually get about 7 hours.

1. Reset SMC. Choose the method for “If the battery is non-removable”.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Does this help?

2. About Mac notebook batteries: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204054

Please try steps posted under “Troubleshooting batteries

> Runtime is low

3. A new Mac comes with 90 days of free tech support from AppleCare.

Please call AppleCare

AppleCare: 1-800-275-2273 or contact Apple. Contact Apple Support.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

158,562 points

Feb 15, 2018 11:51 AM in response to ApMaX

Sorry about that, I misread your post. 😊

One suggestion is to use an app, like coconutBattery, to see how well the current battery's fully charged capacity meets its design capacity.

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Answer 4

Feb 15, 2018 11:36 AM in response to ApMaX

"Up to 10 hours wireless web & Up to 10 hours iTunes movie playback" does not guarantee exactly 10 hours. Six hours is within "up to 10 hours". Environmental and system factors impact actual duration.

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Answer 5

szrs

Level 1

24 points

Feb 19, 2018 3:40 AM in response to ApMaX

MacBook Pro 13-inch" 2017 w/o Touch Bar usually lasts 6:45 hr, with Touch Bar: ~ 6:15 hr.

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Answer 6

ApMaX Author

Level 2

159 points

Feb 15, 2018 12:21 PM in response to Tesserax

coconut Battery 3.6.6 just installed now shows (MacBook Pro just charged to 100%):

Manufacture date: 2017-07-24

Current Charge: 4574 mAh

Full Charge Capacity: 4702 mAh

97.3% (green bar)

Design Capacity: 4790 mAh

98.2% (green bar)

Cycle count: 17

macOS Battery status: Good

Battery temperature: 23.6 ºC

Discharging with 2.38 Watts

Power adapter: Not connected

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Answer 7

Tesserax

Level 10

158,562 points

Feb 15, 2018 11:22 AM in response to ApMaX

When you installed the new battery, did you:

Fully charge it, then
Allow it to completely drain by turning disabling sleep mode and leaving it unattended, then
Leave it drained over night, then
Fully charge it again?

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Answer 8

dominic23

Level 10

84,018 points

Feb 15, 2018 11:55 AM in response to ApMaX

If you get 6 hours of runtime, I wouldn't worry about it.

If it develops any problem, your Mac is under warranty for 1 year from the date of purchase if you

didn't buy extended AppleCare.

Best.

Reply

Answer 9

ApMaX Author

Level 2

159 points

Feb 15, 2018 11:26 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks. I did not install any battery. It is a brand new computer. I just purchased it, used it and charged it as needed. On the other hand, it seems that Apple does no longer recommend "exercising" new batteries:

Apple Lithium-ion Batteries

https://www.apple.com/batteries

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