Don't do what I did.

[MBAir2010]

Overthinking about macbook batteries is like
overthinking why would a dude name Neil Young sing a song about an Old Man.

 

[collin_]

Batteries are like muscles, they need to be used

This is true, but thankfully they don't need to be used much. IIRC, 1 full charge cycle per month is more than enough to keep them in great shape (which might mean that just charging one enough to keep it calibrated would suffice). Of course, they are going to slowly degrade whether they're used or not, but you can make them last way longer by following best practices (if feasible).

@Miltz I found this the other day. It's been working really well for me, and I haven't even updated to 1.3 yet (a recent major overhaul). Currently using the free version but I think I'm gonna install the paid one on both volumes when I reinstall macOS tonight or tomorrow.

 

[collin_]

Overthinking about macbook batteries is like
overthinking why would a dude name Neil Young sing a song about an Old Man.

Yeah I overthink pretty much everything and was about to just throw in the towel with MacBook battery longevity but I finally found an app that can fully automate it so thankfully I don't have to think at all anymore (no thoughts head empty).

 

[ctjack]

I had 2 laptops at the same time. One was main rig and sitted always connected to power and abused. Second one was a 13 incher who got only light use at first.
Habits:
15 inch - always plugged in. First year lost 15% and then 0% 2nd year, 7.5% every year after. So the average came out to be 7.5% of battery health lost per year up until 4 years. At year 4, with 28-30% of battery lost, health dropped suddenly from 70 to 56 then 50% in 1-2 years.
13 inch - always plugged in at 20% and charge to 80%. Each year steadily no matter what lost 7.5% of battery. At the year 4-5, battery take a serious hit/dive and plunged from 5 hrs battery to 2.5 hrs.
13 incher M1 Air - lost 14% in 1 year. Hope that it will stay the same for year 2. Habits: mixed, but mostly charge-discharge 20%-80% with only occasional plugged-in.

Verdict: Battery takes a big hit at year 4-5. That is when chemical processes really start showing age at that point. On average, battery loses 7.5% per year. It could be more than 7.5%, but then it will take a pause and stop degrading until it evens out at 7.5% per year.
The only battery which doesn't degrade - the one that is never used.

Since these experiences, I never bother myself thinking about battery, because either way of charging didn't make difference for me.

 

[Pskordilis]

I had 2 laptops at the same time. One was main rig and sitted always connected to power and abused. Second one was a 13 incher who got only light use at first.
Habits:
15 inch - always plugged in. First year lost 15% and then 0% 2nd year, 7.5% every year after. So the average came out to be 7.5% of battery health lost per year up until 4 years. At year 4, with 28-30% of battery lost, health dropped suddenly from 70 to 56 then 50% in 1-2 years.
13 inch - always plugged in at 20% and charge to 80%. Each year steadily no matter what lost 7.5% of battery. At the year 4-5, battery take a serious hit/dive and plunged from 5 hrs battery to 2.5 hrs.
13 incher M1 Air - lost 14% in 1 year. Hope that it will stay the same for year 2. Habits: mixed, but mostly charge-discharge 20%-80% with only occasional plugged-in.

Verdict: Battery takes a big hit at year 4-5. That is when chemical processes really start showing age at that point. On average, battery loses 7.5% per year. It could be more than 7.5%, but then it will take a pause and stop degrading until it evens out at 7.5% per year.
The only battery which doesn't degrade - the one that is never used.

Since these experiences, I never bother myself thinking about battery, because either way of charging didn't make difference for me.

Best examples so far. With m1 air you can try 40%-80% if you have time ofc.

 

[Adarna]

This laptop is nearly 5 years old when this thread was started.

So it isnt unexpected that it turned out this way.

Cycle count is only that important when selling a used laptops or other device.