So your saying that the calibration technique described by apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490) for best performance is actually shortening its life?
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Battery cycle count
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So your saying that the calibration technique described by apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490) for best performance is actually shortening its life?
So your saying that the calibration technique described by apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490) for best performance is actually shortening its life?
Sure. Since the battery degrades over time, calibration is sometimes necessary to get accurate battery percentage indications, but there's no point in doing it too often.
Coconut Battery is the best software to monitor all your battery stats.
http://http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/
BTW, 135 cycles, 100% health!!!
Coconut Battery is the best to monitor all kinds of stats.
Download:
http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/
MBA, ordered when they were released =)
And yes, it doesn't go out that often, or when it does, it ends up being plugged into the wall at the destination =)
And yes, it doesn't go out that often, or when it does, it ends up being plugged into the wall at the destination =)
Very interesting
Thanks for posting your stats even though they are on a MBP. Most battery gurus claim 300 charge cycles for batteries (realize there are newer batteries that can supposedly exceed that number). Yours would seem to prove the case. Still working, but your capacity is falling quickly and will continue to fall.
In my experience most batteries will go 300 charges without problem unless the user only occasionally cycles the battery. In that case, time is your enemy and the battery dies over time rather than usage. For example, I have an old powerbook G4 that is 74 months old, has only 101 cycles, but is now at 73% of original capacity per coconut battery. It actually seems worse than that and now shuts off automatically at unpredictable points.
I note that Apple is claiming 500 cycles for the new 17 inch MBP. I will be curious to learn more about that battery.
Meanwhile, my MBA which still goes out to work almost every day is doing fine with about 100 cycles and 95% battery. Love that machine.
Thanks for posting your stats even though they are on a MBP. Most battery gurus claim 300 charge cycles for batteries (realize there are newer batteries that can supposedly exceed that number). Yours would seem to prove the case. Still working, but your capacity is falling quickly and will continue to fall.
In my experience most batteries will go 300 charges without problem unless the user only occasionally cycles the battery. In that case, time is your enemy and the battery dies over time rather than usage. For example, I have an old powerbook G4 that is 74 months old, has only 101 cycles, but is now at 73% of original capacity per coconut battery. It actually seems worse than that and now shuts off automatically at unpredictable points.
I note that Apple is claiming 500 cycles for the new 17 inch MBP. I will be curious to learn more about that battery.
Meanwhile, my MBA which still goes out to work almost every day is doing fine with about 100 cycles and 95% battery. Love that machine.
That's iStat Nano, I think.
Time for a new battery...Calibrating doesn't help.
Edit: Just realized this is the MBA forum... I have a MBP. Oops!
Nothing like waking a thread from the dead. What version of MBA do you own? The MBPs with 7+ hour batteries have a 1000-cycle battery. The MBA has a 300-cycle battery. But I haven't read any cycle claims for the MBA since the original MBA.
I believe that means the MBA has the old battery tech (meaning not the flat cells used in the long-cycle MBPs/MB). Does anyone know for certain, meaning an Apple statement, of what the battery cycle capabilities are for the MBAs?
There is this Article on the Apple Support site:
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
This is the important part. And yes, Apple will replace underperforming batteries, free of charge.
Battery Lifespan
For Apple notebooks with removable batteries such as previous generation MacBook and MacBook Pro computers a properly maintained battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 300 full charge and discharge cycles. You may choose to replace *your battery when it no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs.
The built-in battery of the MacBook Air is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at up to 750 full charge and discharge cycles.
The built-in battery in the new 13-, 15-, and 17-inch MacBook Pro is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles.
If your notebook came with a built-in battery, you should have the battery replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Okay, so MBA is at 750 cycles... does that mean it does have the new battery tech? That would be odd, because Apple doesn't advertise it for the MBA. Remember that the original MBA had a built-in battery and was introduced in January 2008. The v 2,1 MBA was introduced in October 2008. In January 2009, Apple introduced the new battery technology with "flat" cells to save space from prior tech of cylindrical shaped cells. Does that mean that the MBA had that technology of flat cells all along?
Why didn't they advertise it? Why didn't they advertise 750 cycles for the MBA? I remember seeing a 500 cycle statement with the v 2,1 MBA in October 2008, but I hadn't seen anything since. Did Apple figure out later that it had underestimated the battery in the MBA? I know the MBA got the first built-in battery (non-removable), but they didn't explain this part while they were still selling MB/MBPs with removable covers and 300 cycle capabilities... it's confusing to understand what Apple is selling us here.
Has it always been that way or were only v 2,1 MBAs that way? Why now? I am confused for certain, because if I were Apple I would have used this information to hype the MBA sales and capabilities all along. Even now there's no information about 750 "recharges" on the MBA product pages while it is in the MB/MBP product pages stating 1000 cycles on "The Environment" tab of each product in the Mac section.
This page at Everymac.com:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...ok-air-core-2-duo-1.86-13-mid-2009-specs.html
notes that the battery has been changed. Could this be when the flat cell was added?
http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...ok-air-core-2-duo-1.86-13-mid-2009-specs.html
notes that the battery has been changed. Could this be when the flat cell was added?
That is wonderful news. I wonder why Apple wouldn't brag about this for the MBA though? It doesn't make sense if Apple had been using this flat cell battery ever since the original MBA was made in January 2008... then not advertise about it until January 2010 with the 17" MBP. I don't understand! It's a big advantage.
I am impressed
I am really impressed with the claim of 750 cycles for the MBA. I am even more impressed that folks are posting that they are over 700 cycles in the real world and things are still working OK. Such long life is really very excellent for any rechargeable battery.
My Rev A MBA is still my field machine and in daily use as I go from one job site to another. I also have a Rev C MBA with SSD that I use for teaching and at home. I bought it to replace the Rev A, but the older one just keeps working and I haven't retired it yet.
I agree that Apple should be boasting about this type of battery life.
I am really impressed with the claim of 750 cycles for the MBA. I am even more impressed that folks are posting that they are over 700 cycles in the real world and things are still working OK. Such long life is really very excellent for any rechargeable battery.
My Rev A MBA is still my field machine and in daily use as I go from one job site to another. I also have a Rev C MBA with SSD that I use for teaching and at home. I bought it to replace the Rev A, but the older one just keeps working and I haven't retired it yet.
I agree that Apple should be boasting about this type of battery life.
Will a replacement MBA battery be better than original?
It looks like there have been significant improvements in Apple batteries in other laptops since I bought my MBA 29 months ago. I have 89% health and 292 cycles on the battery. Probably the best I can do is about 3.5 hours with the screen brightness turned down a bit and the airport turned off. Does Apple replace these batteries with ones with improved specs or would I only gain the 10% back if I had it replaced?
It looks like there have been significant improvements in Apple batteries in other laptops since I bought my MBA 29 months ago. I have 89% health and 292 cycles on the battery. Probably the best I can do is about 3.5 hours with the screen brightness turned down a bit and the airport turned off. Does Apple replace these batteries with ones with improved specs or would I only gain the 10% back if I had it replaced?
I bought my Macbook Pro 13 inch last year in August. The health is on 88% with 84 cycles.
I took it to the Mac store in Bangkok since I think that my battery drains very quickly. They run a test and told me that my battery is healthy.
I don't use heavy programs, internet (Facebook, gmail, very seldom watch movies etc.), sometimes Itunes etc. I think I can only use around 3 hours. Screen around 80% brightness. Keyboard lights turned off. Do you think that there is a problem with it? Oh and I do calibrate my laptop monthly.
Thanks a lot!
I took it to the Mac store in Bangkok since I think that my battery drains very quickly. They run a test and told me that my battery is healthy.
I don't use heavy programs, internet (Facebook, gmail, very seldom watch movies etc.), sometimes Itunes etc. I think I can only use around 3 hours. Screen around 80% brightness. Keyboard lights turned off. Do you think that there is a problem with it? Oh and I do calibrate my laptop monthly.
Thanks a lot!