All my friends keep their MacBooks plugged in all the time.

[tonyr6]

I notice that all my friends who use MacBook keep them plugged in all the time with the lid down. I use mine plugged in topped at 100% but unplug it and put it in my carry case when not using it. After a few days I use it on battery not letting it get below 50% then charging it to 80%. I also use it plugged in when on Zoom and Webex calls.

So isn't my friends doing more harm to their MacBook or am I doing better with the battery.

 

[LeeW]

So isn't my friends doing more harm to their MacBook or am I doing better with the battery.

If the lid is down then they must be plugged into a monitor, that is what I do and have done for many years. Never had issues with that or the battery. I am certainly not going nurse the battery at specific %'s.

 

[MPclk2006]

I keep mine mostly plugged in at my desk. I have not noticed any extra wear on the battery that would lead me to believe I am harming it.

 

[tonyr6]

If the lid is down then they must be plugged into a monitor, that is what I do and have done for many years. Never had issues with that or the battery. I am certainly not going nurse the battery at specific %'s.

None of them have it plugged into an external monitor. I see there MacBook on their bed and on their counter plugged in with the lid down.

 

[LeeW]

None of them have it plugged into an external monitor. I see there MacBook on their bed and on their counter plugged in with the lid down.

Don't see any issues. The newer the device the better the battery & charging management is. But even on the older devices I rarely hear of any issues. I sit my iPhone 11 in a wireless charger about 17 hours a day due to WFH for the last year. Had it since launch and the maximum capacity still shows 100%.

Most in my circle use their MBP in clamshell and never have concerns with battery health.

 

[ght56]

They definitely die faster when constantly kept at a full charge and especially when frequently deeply discharged.

In a perfect world we would have a power management feature called "desktop mode" which would terminate charging at whatever the nominal voltage is (which might equate to 75% or more or less.) That said, as we don't, I've accepted that Mac batteries don't have an extremely long service life and I try to use the battery enough to get one replacement under AppleCare. I've been successful with my last two Macs and I should be successful with this 16-inch.

 

[jent]

They definitely die faster when constantly kept at a full charge and especially when frequently deeply discharged.

In a perfect world we would have a power management feature called "desktop mode" which would terminate charging at whatever the nominal voltage is (which might equate to 75% or more or less.) That said, as we don't, I've accepted that Mac batteries don't have an extremely long service life and I try to use the battery enough to get one replacement under AppleCare. I've been successful with my last two Macs and I should be successful with this 16-inch.

What about the Battery Health Management feature that I believe was introduced in macOS Catalina? My understanding is that it slightly drains batteries of always-connected laptops in order to "massage" the batteries, but I've also heard that users don't love the feature.

 

[Apple_Robert]

What about the Battery Health Management feature that I believe was introduced in macOS Catalina? My understanding is that it slightly drains batteries of always-connected laptops in order to "massage" the batteries, but I've also heard that users don't love the feature.

That feature does exist, and works well, in my experience using the M1.

 

[Toutou]

I notice that all my friends who use MacBook keep them plugged in all the time with the lid down. I use mine plugged in topped at 100% but unplug it and put it in my carry case when not using it.

Well, keeping it plugged in or unplugged (when NOT using it) is essentially the same thing. The computer consumes basically no power when turned off or in deep sleep.
Your machine doesn't charge because it's unplugged and their machines don't charge because the battery is already full and the circuitry inside knows that and cuts the voltage.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

The way I see it, you're doing it the right way.
I don't care what your friends do...

 

[MBAir2010]

My Macbook air late 2010 is always plugged in and the battery is great still, well 3 hours
m y other MBA one swelled up with an amazon adaptor last thursday

 

[MacBH928]

Many people do this, buy a laptop and use it as a desktop always plugged in. I don't know why. They say it does not hurt the battery but I don't believe it. I would say do not pamper it, but every now and then let it drain maybe once a month, or let it go up and down a little. This is based on assumption and not science.

I just don't see the battery being fine always charged 100% when it was built to be charged and used.

 

[justashooter]

I think exercise is good for a battery. I let my battery die down to the warning at least once a week. And at 1800+ cycles and condition normal (82% state of health in coconut battery), that's what I'll continue to do.

 

[Fred Zed]

My MBP 13 is like an iPhone or iPad to me, its never really sat sitting somewhere permanently AKA desktop replacement. I used same charge discharge methods as I do with any of my other devices, 80-40%

 

[Boyd01]

My 2013 MacBook Air has spent most of its life plugged in. Still has the original battery and still runs for a surprisingly long time. Don't really use it anymore, but it's still sitting here, plugged in. Now, I am NOT suggesting that this is a good idea or that you should do it. Just reporting my personal experience.