Al Dente for a student?

[macmacmaclol]

Hey everyone, I’m going to get a Macbook soon. Since this is my first Mac machine I’ve been doing some research, and as if there weren’t enough things to be aware of I found out about Battery Cycles
Now I’ve been doing some research about the topic and found out that quite a handful of people use the app Al Dente. Now from what I’ve seen the people that use that program usually have their Macbook plugged in non stop, so the app just sails between 80% and 75% (apparently the best for the battery?), occasionally doing a full cycle in order to recalibrate the battery.
Now my question is this, if my Mac isn’t always going to be plugged in (I’ll be taking it to classes, and some other stuff that I need it for), will Al Dente work? Or more importantly how should I set it up to best fit my needs? Should I be leaving the house with it at 80%?

(I am getting a MBP M3 14” 18gb 1tb, 12core cpu if it is important)

 

[Jim Lahey]

I use AlDente Pro on a machine that's plugged in, say, 50% of the time. I set an 80% ceiling with a 40% sail. The settings persist through both sleep and disconnect/reconnect. This means that, outside of the odd calibration once in a blue moon, my battery level never rises beyond 80% and never charges when reconnected unless it's fallen below 40% while unplugged. In effect it's permanently in the optimal 40-80% range. Additionally, when time isn't a factor, I will charge it from a 20w brick in order to help keep temperatures as low as possible. This takes forever and will likely be a bridge too far for most.

Many are of the opinion that none of this is worthwhile, and that is their prerogative of course, but it's a demonstrable fact that these measures can and do maximise the battery lifespan. Whether or not the owner cares is another matter.

 

[chrono1081]

Battery cycle apps are notoriously wildly inaccurate including built in ones. There's no true accurate way to measure a battery. If you worry about all this stuff it's just going to suck the joy out of using the machine IMO.

 

[Raebo]

AldentePro allows me to enjoy the computer more since I no longer worry about the battery.
I usually keep it plugged in but a couple times a week I use it a couple random times unplugged for 1-2 hours and the included battery optimization would always power it back up to 100% and keep it there for a few days. That concerned me so I got AldentePro and it keeps it at or below 80%. I don’t know if it will really prolong the battery but it does give me peace of mind.
I would suggest wait a couple months after getting the computer, monitor how battery optimization is working for you, and if it isn’t working that well, then consider AldentePro.

 

[macmacmaclol]

AldentePro allows me to enjoy the computer more since I no longer worry about the battery.
I usually keep it plugged in but a couple times a week I use it a couple random times unplugged for 1-2 hours and the included battery optimization would always power it back up to 100% and keep it there for a few days. That concerned me so I got AldentePro and it keeps it at or below 80%. I don’t know if it will really prolong the battery but it does give me peace of mind.
I would suggest wait a couple months after getting the computer, monitor how battery optimization is working for you, and if it isn’t working that well, then consider AldentePro.

Got you, I will use it at it is for a while then later down the line get AlDente pro

 

[macmacmaclol]

I use AlDente Pro on a machine that's plugged in, say, 50% of the time. I set an 80% ceiling with a 40% sail. The settings persist through both sleep and disconnect/reconnect. This means that, outside of the odd calibration once in a blue moon, my battery level never rises beyond 80% and never charges when reconnected unless it's fallen below 40% while unplugged. In effect it's permanently in the optimal 40-80% range. Additionally, when time isn't a factor, I will charge it from a 20w brick in order to help keep temperatures as low as possible. This takes forever and will likely be a bridge too far for most.

Many are of the opinion that none of this is worthwhile, and that is their prerogative of course, but it's a demonstrable fact that these measures can and do maximise the battery lifespan. Whether or not the owner cares is another matter.

Also, where can I find more info about the optimal range? I’ve seen some people say their range is 20%-80%, some 75%-80% while plugged (the sail mode from Al Dente if I’m note mistaken), you for example are saying 40%-80%. What would be the best?

 

[Raebo]

Also, where can I find more info about the optimal range? I’ve seen some people say their range is 20%-80%, some 75%-80% while plugged (the sail mode from Al Dente if I’m note mistaken), you for example are saying 40%-80%. What would be the best?

The main thing is to keep the maximum below 80%. The lower range depends on personal preference and how you use it. For example if you take it to school and use it on battery power for a few hours you probably want to set the range to something like 20-80. If you keep it plug in except for an occasional hour now and then maybe 60-80.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Also, where can I find more info about the optimal range? I’ve seen some people say their range is 20%-80%, some 75%-80% while plugged (the sail mode from Al Dente if I’m note mistaken), you for example are saying 40%-80%. What would be the best?

I can't recall where I first heard 40-80 but it's something I've stuck with since as it's worked wonders on my phones. The last two of which were both still reporting 100% health in iOS after 2+ years. I doubt the exact numbers are that critical so long as it doesn't spend its life swinging between the upper and lower extremes.

 

[Raebo]

The main thing is to keep the maximum below 80%. The lower range depends on personal preference and how you use it. For example if you take it to school and use it on battery power for a few hours you probably want to set the range to something like 20-80. If you keep it plug in except for an occasional hour now and then maybe 60-80.

I got my ranges backward. The longer you plan on just using battery, then the low setting should be higher so the battery won’t run out.

 

[dmccloud]

Hey everyone, I’m going to get a Macbook soon. Since this is my first Mac machine I’ve been doing some research, and as if there weren’t enough things to be aware of I found out about Battery Cycles
Now I’ve been doing some research about the topic and found out that quite a handful of people use the app Al Dente. Now from what I’ve seen the people that use that program usually have their Macbook plugged in non stop, so the app just sails between 80% and 75% (apparently the best for the battery?), occasionally doing a full cycle in order to recalibrate the battery.
Now my question is this, if my Mac isn’t always going to be plugged in (I’ll be taking it to classes, and some other stuff that I need it for), will Al Dente work? Or more importantly how should I set it up to best fit my needs? Should I be leaving the house with it at 80%?

(I am getting a MBP M3 14” 18gb 1tb, 12core cpu if it is important)

I have been using an M2Max MacBook Pro for almost two years, and my battery health is listed at 96%. I do not use any apps like al Dente, I keep Optimized charging turned off, and I only charge the laptop (to 100%) when needed, which is usually every 3 days, sometimes every 2 depending on workload at the time. I would just advise you to use the laptop and not worry about battery cycles or adding a third-party tool into the mix.

 

[rocketbuc]

Got you, I will use it at it is for a while then later down the line get AlDente pro

I would do it the opposite way. Install the Al Dente free version now, keep it at 70 or 80%. Upg later on when you see that sailing mode would provide additional benefits for you. This is how I did it. Liked the free version but then purchased pro to enjoy those additional features.

 

[rocketbuc]

Also, where can I find more info about the optimal range? I’ve seen some people say their range is 20%-80%, some 75%-80% while plugged (the sail mode from Al Dente if I’m note mistaken), you for example are saying 40%-80%. What would be the best?

I think there is no right or wrong here. I started with 80% but have now lowered the range (sailing mode) to something between 40-60%. This I enough for my regular usage away from my desk setup. Before I hit the road for a flight, I simply top it up with one click.

 

[macmacmaclol]

I think there is no right or wrong here. I started with 80% but have now lowered the range (sailing mode) to something between 40-60%. This I enough for my regular usage away from my desk setup. Before I hit the road for a flight, I simply top it up with one click.

Hey, thanks for the info, I got my Mac a few days ago and got Al Dente. So far, so good, I set my limit to 70%. Does sailing mode do anything for you? I was thinking it would basically discharge when the charge limit is set (say 70%, discharge to 65%), but apparently the it's just gon stop charging and the battery gon discharge itself til the 65% limit is reached. Personally that never happened, it remained at 70% but hey.
Other than that, only thing that I've noticed is that inside of Al Dente the "Maximum capacity" of the battery (not the "Design capacity") went from 103% when I first got it to now 101%. Is that normal? What does the "Maximum capacity" even mean?

 

[shadowboi]

Use the laptop as much as possible without charger, then when battery degrades to like 4hours of time use it plugged, but I think by that time you will likely want to upgrade your mac. And even if you won’t using it plugged will work fine.

Batteries are very mystic kind of devices. Some give up in a month, and some, like in my old but still functioning Sony Ericsson G700 work almost the same as day one after SIXTEEN years from the manufacture date and got only the slightest “beer belly” sort of swell (i.e. nothing that is dangerous, “it just works”).

My idea is that charging it slowly helps a lot, I had tried it with my 11 Pro – OLED display died and battery is still 86%. I charge it with 5W I have since my iPhone 5. With Macbook (in my opinion, again. Dumbf***s from reddit downvoted my account for that exact opinion) I just turn the device completely off and charge it when it is not being used. Can’t say I have same battery life as 2 years ago but it didn’t degrade significantly, so maybe it kinda works

 

[rocketbuc]

Hey, thanks for the info, I got my Mac a few days ago and got Al Dente. So far, so good, I set my limit to 70%. Does sailing mode do anything for you? I was thinking it would basically discharge when the charge limit is set (say 70%, discharge to 65%), but apparently the it's just gon stop charging and the battery gon discharge itself til the 65% limit is reached. Personally that never happened, it remained at 70% but hey.
Other than that, only thing that I've noticed is that inside of Al Dente the "Maximum capacity" of the battery (not the "Design capacity") went from 103% when I first got it to now 101%. Is that normal? What does the "Maximum capacity" even mean?

Sailing mode provides you a range in which the charging won’t kick in immediately. If you set it 50-70%, for example, you can use your MacBook off the charger and when you come back and the battery level is within your range it won’t charge it back to 70% but keep the current level.

 

[robvalentine]

A laptop is a tool. My M1 Pro is at 86% with no battery care taken, I'm happy with that after nearly 4 years of use (got it 20th nov 2020). If you regularly need full battery, then the battery health saved will be in the low single digits after several years. IMHO. I use my laptop on battery for battery intensive programs, go down to 5% occasionally, even less sometimes (I try not to) and I'm happy with the battery longevity.

I am of the school of thought that limiting your battery to 80% to stop it reaching 80% several years down the line is silly. By the time your battery reaches that level your MacBook value will fall away anyway, and if I had stumped up for 16gb of ram, my M1 would keep going for years more, but now it's starting to struggle with my workflow.

 

[rocketbuc]

I like to keep my devices for a long time and take care of them. This is why I happily spend the money for 16GB RAM back when I bought my M2 Air. Limiting the battery charge, especially when the machine is docked in clamshell mode at my desk, does not limit my usage in any way. Also, when I am traveling I charge it to 100% with any hesitation. YMMV of course.
This setup works best for me, it is somewhat of a ‚best of both worlds‘ case for me.

 

[rocketbuc]

Something else: In another MR thread about Al Dente I learned that people set up a larger sailing mode to avoid the battery being constantly re-charged when they unplug for shorter periods. Not sure if it makes a difference, but again, no downside for me if the % drops and stays on a lower level for a few days.