Does battery health gets affected if connected to power all the time?

[reynierpm]

So ... I got this new monster M1 Max with 64G and while the idea is to have it with me while I'm traveling ... for now and due to work and COVID restrictions I have the MB always connected to power. Will that decrease battery lifetime and health somehow? I have the MB configured to shut down every day at 11:30 PM when I go to sleep most of the time and wake up at 7:45 AM. However I am seeing the battery is charged at 100% while in my work MB Pro (Intel Processor), also connected to power, the charge never surpassed 80% which I don't know if it is good or not. Anyways, advice? thoughts?

Found this: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...battery-life-of-mac-airs-or-macbooks.2306747/ but it was not so helpful.

 

[chabig]

There are plenty of threads about this, and the answers are tribal. In my tribe, I say use the machine however you want and don't worry about the battery. I also think that shutting down and restarting is unnecessary. Let the machine sleep as it's designed to do.

 

[reynierpm]

Hmmm does it mean I should revert my changes to its default?

 

[chabig]

I use the optimized charging feature provided by Apple.

 

[reynierpm]

@chabig Ok I guess you're talking about that .. if so I have it too

 

[chabig]

That's all I do. Others will jump in soon with different ideas. But I believe in the KISS principle, which also happens to follow Apple's recommendations:

If you see Service Recommended on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro - Apple Support

Learn how to check the health of your battery and resolve charging issues.

support.apple.com

Batteries - Maximizing Performance

Maximize the life and lifespan of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in your MacBook, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

www.apple.com

 

[Weaselboy]

That's all I do. Others will jump in soon with different ideas. But I believe in the KISS principle, which also happens to follow Apple's recommendations:

If you see Service Recommended on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro - Apple Support

Learn how to check the health of your battery and resolve charging issues.

support.apple.com

Batteries - Maximizing Performance

Maximize the life and lifespan of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in your MacBook, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

www.apple.com

Same here... I just leave it plugged in in clamshell all the time and run on battery when I need to be portable. No fussing around or anything special.

 

[mwidjaya]

I have the MB always connected to power.

This above, is the killer.

Suggest to cycle in some disconnected state.

Quote from apple's guide:
Conversely, if you store it fully charged for an extended period of time, the battery may lose some capacity, leading to shorter battery life.

 

[chabig]

Conversely, if you store it fully charged...

The operative word there is "store". As long as he's using the machine normally, it's ok.

 

[darngooddesign]

I doubt it matters in the grand scheme of things; just replace your battery in five years if its bad.

 

[darngooddesign]

The operative word there is "store". As long as he's using the machine normally, it's ok.

This is where we can get into a pedantic and circular argument, but its impossible to store it at 100% for an extended period of time since all batteries will drain naturally so maybe store also incudes leaving it connected to a power source. But then again, that might also mean connected while off since the apple battery charging management software wouldn’t be running.

 

[mwidjaya]

This is where we can get into a pedantic and circular argument

Agreed.

I just go by my own practical experience.

Have had a battery killed from leaving it plugged in power all the time.

Cycling it disconnected seems to work in keeping it reasonably healthy. Below is an example, 2010 MBP with a replacement battery that is now ~7 yrs old and ~1000 cycles; now at 86% health.