Even though it's a discussion, as opposed to apple support themselves, you're still running yours down to 25% before charging it right back up again - that's a fairly deep discharge.
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Macbook battery health over time
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Even though it's a discussion, as opposed to apple support themselves, you're still running yours down to 25% before charging it right back up again - that's a fairly deep discharge.
What they're saying there is when using the battery try not to run it down to less than 20%. The stuff about not leaving it plugged in while sleeping sounds like rubbish though, and the author of that article doesn't appear to link to any of the empirical evidence they claim to base that advice on. It would be great if they did. They go on to claim this is why Apple and others ship their batteries partially, rather than fully, charged. The reason for that though is that they can and it is known that for long term storage you get the best life out of these batteries by keeping them at around 40% charge. Unfortunately devices typically don't provide that option, so keeping them fully charged, with periodic exercise, becomes the next best option.
Some people, even the "experts" are confused on this issue. The fact is, older rechargeable NiCad type batteries which were in common use more than 8 years ago needed to be exercised fully. Otherwise the battery developed a "memory effect". It would only use the portion of the battery that was seeing regular use.
The NiCad battery went the way of the dodo years ago. All batteries now use NiMh or Li-on technology (including cell phones). These new batteries do NOT develop a memory effect. You can leave them plugged in for as long as you want. Both of my MacBook Pro's that I have owned, have remained plugged in for most of their life. The only time I unplug them is if I need to take them with me on travel. 99.99 % of the time they are plugged in. I have never needed to replace a battery.
The NiCad battery went the way of the dodo years ago. All batteries now use NiMh or Li-on technology (including cell phones). These new batteries do NOT develop a memory effect. You can leave them plugged in for as long as you want. Both of my MacBook Pro's that I have owned, have remained plugged in for most of their life. The only time I unplug them is if I need to take them with me on travel. 99.99 % of the time they are plugged in. I have never needed to replace a battery.
My concern isn't the fact that I'll need a new battery, but that it keeps it's charge for longer than 10min when unplugged.
bvonfintel
Well-Known Member
I mostly leave mine plugged in 24/7 - although load shedding has changed that recently.
Exactly what I pointed out - it makes no difference wether you leave it plugged in all the time, or wether you "exercise" the battery. It will last the same amount of time once it is unplugged - provided it was fully charged beforehand, of course. The new Li-on battery technology results in a battery that is not affected by how often/little you charge the battery. Just leave it on charge, and unplug and take with you whenever you need to.
Here is what my battery looks like after 8 months of 24/7 plugged into the mains. 8.75 hours of internet browsing available on the battery...and 48 days of Standby, this on a 15" Retina MBP
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Do they taste like strawberries?
$m@Rt@$$
Expert Member
PostmanPot
Honorary Master
They're such high quality and long lasting devices. A two year extension can be purchased for R2,000 if need be.
DrJohnZoidberg
Honorary Master
Woop, getting a new Macbook for work. 15" MBPr 2015, must remember to post battery stats 
DrJohnZoidberg
Honorary Master
That's quite impressive. Only 6% down over 613 cycles.
DrJohnZoidberg
Honorary Master
My new Macbook.
Followup:
If been recording the health of my battery since I made the original post.
From what I can tell, the health of a battery as reported by the OS fluctuates by rather large margins. So to answer my own initial question: don't pay to much attention to these values. They'll be up one day and down the next.
Currently, I'm sitting at 94% health while knowing well that the average reported the last couple of weeks is 98%.
Space_Chief
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Mine's usually plugged in all the time when ON, when OFF - such as overnight - unplugged and switched off. Loadshedding, as bwana has said, has exercised it a bit.
I'm at 90.6% of battery capacity after 2 y 10 months of use.
I'm at 90.6% of battery capacity after 2 y 10 months of use.
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Three months after starting this thread, I have some more data to share.
It is clear to me now that the health of a Macbook's battery (or at least the reading as measured by the machine) fluctuates quite a bit over time. A while ago, my new Macbook was at 93%. 20 cycles on, and i'm now at 100%.
Here's my battery's history to illustrate
It is clear to me now that the health of a Macbook's battery (or at least the reading as measured by the machine) fluctuates quite a bit over time. A while ago, my new Macbook was at 93%. 20 cycles on, and i'm now at 100%.
Here's my battery's history to illustrate