How often do you NEED to run your MBP on battery?

[Basic75]

It is often pointed out how x86 laptops that can keep up with the Apple Silicon MacBook Pros all have abysmal battery life under heavy load and/or throttle when running on battery power.

I was wondering, how often do other people really need to run their laptops on battery? On the sofa with an outlet nearby doesn't count, but in a garden where you'd need a long extension cable does.

 

[OrenLindsey]

I always use it in the same place on power, but I use it on battery like once a week

 

[curnalpanic]

I'm on battery right now.

 

[MBAir2010]

Mac book pro only?

if im away from my desk: battery, but if im typing like now plugged in.
yesterday I was in our screened porch enjoying non humid weather and the battery of the MBAm1 hit 99% after 20 minutes of full usage, I was impressed!
My MacBook Air from 2010 finally received a battery replacement last December which was away plugged in.
then the iPads have great battery life as the 2017 still last several hours on battery power.

 really nailed the battery usage! :~)

 

[Fishrrman]

My 2021 MacBook Pro 14" (and my other MBP's before it) always runs "on the battery".

When it gets down to around 45% of charge, I connect the charger, charge it back up, and then remove the charger.

Works for me.

 

[Basic75]

My 2021 MacBook Pro 14" (and my other MBP's before it) always runs "on the battery".

Because there is no outlet nearby or because you don't want or like the cable attached?

 

[Basic75]

Mac book pro only?

No, but there's no overarching "all laptops" area on this site

 

[dmccloud]

I'm more likely to be using my MBP away from my desk than in the office. Given the battery life of this machine, I don't even worry about bringing the AC adapter with me unless I'm going to be gone on a trip for a few days or longer.

 

[tcphoto1]

I owned my Mid'15 MBP for seven years and used a Cinema Display with it on my desk, occasionally using the battery power. The battery health was still excellent when I replaced it with a '23 MBP M2 and I'll continue doing the same until I hear otherwise.

 

[Pakaku]

Why would I buy a laptop if I wasn't going to use it on battery most of the time in the first place

 

[Basic75]

Why would I buy a laptop if I wasn't going to use it on battery most of the time in the first place

I use my laptop in many different locations, but 99% of the time there's an outlet in range.

 

[ColdCase]

I don't bother plugging in even when there is an outlet in range, until battery is less than 20% or so. Don't like the cable clutter, but that may just be me.

I have a late 2013 MBP 15 inch that swells its batteries when plugged in most of the time (twice). I've recently read that you get better better battery life when you let the battery run down a bit. Bui I dunno what I dunno.

 

[scouser75]

So where posable, is it better to keep the MBP on charge no matter what?

 

[Pecka]

Don't really need it but I don't like to have a cord dangling from the computer.

 

[scouser75]

same here. But if it's better for the life of the Mac, then I'd happily keep it plugged in

 

[kschendel]

I need to run it on battery frequently when traveling, which is usually international a half-dozen times a year. Is that "Some of the time", or "just occasionally"? Outside of travel, I'd have to go for "Hardly ever", which is the invisible choice just above "Never".

 

[Sterkenburg]

I'm docked ~80% of the time at home, however I travel regularly either for business or to see family back home so for around 1-2 months per year I need to be portable and will often be on battery.

 

[MBAir2010]

I have 3 MacBooks which are always plugged for some strange reason, maybe that works?
seems to me we we weened on this manner since 2006 with our powerbooks since that was also was a power source for my iPod G4 and some other device. since then I alway kept my MacBooks plugged.

the results are good I think, the 2010 MBA original battery was replace last December
while the MBP12 is still going strong.
the M1 MacBook Air adjusted the battery life by itself so I keep that plugged in,
im using a Satachi power supply that deciphers how much "UMPH" is needed for th eMBA, iPad and iPhone.
and that looks gorgeous on the self near the desk!

hoped this helped!

 

[scouser75]

So the general consensus is that leaving our laptops plugged in a lot of the time is a good thing and it won't shorten the battery life?

Due to being told not to overcharge over charge our mobiles, I've always been paranoid.

 

[macsound1]

General people, I presume the most common place they use their laptop on battery is on the couch.
For business people, #1 place I use my laptop on battery is in meeting rooms, either individual ones so I can have a meeting without bothering my coworkers, or large group meeting rooms.

Both of these scenarios are where I'm dreadfully annoyed I still have a 2019 i9 and not a M1/M2.
Zoom obliterates the battery and if it's summer, my exposed legs are burned by the heat of the bottom case.

When I had an old Compaq laptop in 2002, it was just normal that you had to drag your power brick around with you from your desk, to the couch, to the counter, to the office.
Now, if I'm using my laptop away from my desk, it dying it an opportunity to stop working or return to the desk to plug in.

 

[arcite]

OSX manages battery health all by itself..... don't even think about it.

 

[scouser75]

OSX manages battery health all by itself..... don't even think about it.

How would I setup my Mac go do this?