Why are people using their MacBook Airs on battery?

[Howard2k]

BUT if I don't use it for a few days, the battery will drain down to zero. I'm thinking this is a battery safety feature Apple is using to preserve battery life (I'm a drone pilot and the expensive drone batteries do the same thing--you should not charge them unless you are about to fly because they self-discharge in about 3 days to preserve long term operation).

No, there's probably something draining your battery. I routinely take mine with me if I'm away for the weekend and if I don't use it I'll only lose a few percentage points. That's on an M1 Air. My previous Pro was the same, for the most part, though there were some minor drain issues on that one, would lose perhaps 20% over a weekend without use.

 

[n-evo]

It's $159+tax to replace a MacBook Air battery at Apple. This price includes parts and labour.

Bit late to the party. 😜

 

[myhaksown]

Apple should release a MacBook Air version that doesn't come with a battery to make it even lighter, I would buy one for sure.

You’d probably also be the first to complain when it shuts down suddenly from MagSafe disconnecting. For the record though they do! It’s called a Mac mini. Good news a new one came out today!

Who in their right mind would want to carry a laptop that would be similar in size and needs an external battery to work? Who’d want to risk breaking a port because your flights called and no time to save your work so you close the lid? You’re already upset that you “need” to carry a battery pack even though you’ve got a built in battery. 🙄

Apple must’ve missed the portable desktop trend, but hey, maybe the 2025 MacBook Air will skip the battery altogether…and have optional wheels for just $1,000. I can hear Tim now “Today, we’re thrilled to introduce the most portable MacBook Air ever. With an innovative battery-free design and optional $1,000 wheels, it redefines what mobility means in a Mac. Now, you can take your MacBook Air anywhere—with complete freedom from charging.”

I can see him saying that with a straight face too 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Technerd108]

You’d probably also be the first to complain when it shuts down suddenly from MagSafe disconnecting. For the record though they do! It’s called a Mac mini. Good news a new one came out today!

Who in their right mind would want to carry a laptop that would be similar in size and needs an external battery to work? Who’d want to risk breaking a port because your flights called and no time to save your work so you close the lid? You’re already upset that you “need” to carry a battery pack even though you’ve got a built in battery. 🙄

Apple must’ve missed the portable desktop trend, but hey, maybe the 2025 MacBook Air will skip the battery altogether…and have optional wheels for just $1,000. I can hear Tim now “Today, we’re thrilled to introduce the most portable MacBook Air ever. With an innovative battery-free design and optional $1,000 wheels, it redefines what mobility means in a Mac. Now, you can take your MacBook Air anywhere—with complete freedom from charging.”

I can see him saying that with a straight face too 🤣🤣🤣

Don't give Tim any ideas.

If he could sell laptop batteries as an additional item you would get the ibattery. Now do you want the regular ibattery or the ibattery pro, or the ibattery pro max.

It would certainly maximize profits! 😂

 

[n-evo]

Don't give Tim any ideas.

If he could sell laptop batteries as an additional item you would get the ibattery. Now do you want the regular ibattery or the ibattery pro, or the ibattery pro max.

It would certainly maximize profits! 😂

Right. They’ll just rebrand the external batteries of the unsold Vision Pros.

 

[bellflyer14]

Each time you put a cycle count on it, it lowers the resale value of your Air. It also shortens the lifespan of both the internal battery and the laptop. Simple way to prevent it, is by buying and using a battery pack on it when needed. I did this, got an Anker prime 27650mah portable battery bank and for any times that I need to use the Air on battery, I run it off here instead so that I don't put any wear on the internal battery. Much cheaper to buy a new battery bank than a new Air.

Just curious why more don't do this?

Ive heard if you use latex gloves when using your Mac, the battery won't drain

 

[DeepSix]

Ive heard if you use latex gloves when using your Mac, the battery won't drain

Here you go. This is a must for every MacBook user.

 

[n-evo]

Watch out you might scratch it with that brush.

 

[myhaksown]

Don't give Tim any ideas.

If he could sell laptop batteries as an additional item you would get the ibattery. Now do you want the regular ibattery or the ibattery pro, or the ibattery pro max.

It would certainly maximize profits! 😂

I can see him doing the hand movements, stance, and touting how portable it is with the wheels.

Here’s a mockup courtesy of ChatGPT

 

[whitestar27]

Buying a battery powered computer and then avoiding using the battery because you're obsessed with resale value seems to me like not having sex with your girlfriend so she will be in pristine condition for the next guy..

 

[DeepSix]

I use the Satechi usb hub that plugs into the two usb c ports and expands it with usb a, usb c, hdmi, sd, micro sd etc. Colour matched to the body of the macbook air and super small and light to just leave in my laptop case.

I'm really picky with USB hubs as I've had bad experiences with no names so I stick with Anker hubs now. I do like the ones that push into the ports though. Not willing to spend a lot of money on a hub so I stick with the models on sale but offer good enough ports.

 

[robvalentine]

I'm really picky with USB hubs as I've had bad experiences with no names so I stick with Anker hubs now. I do like the ones that push into the ports though. Not willing to spend a lot of money on a hub so I stick with the models on sale but offer good enough ports.

I think you have TB's confused with GB's in your signature

 

[loybond]

Why are people buying MacBook Airs and using them like iMacs?

 

[H3boy]

Because that defeats the whole purpose of getting a laptop, let alone a MacBook air. Let me guess, you pull your bicycle around in a wagon, so you don't wear out the tires.

 

[H3boy]

If you leave your MacBook Air in the original box with intact seals and never open it, then it retains even more of its resale value.

and the battery will still degrade 🤣

 

[H3boy]

I leave everything I buy new in the sealed box for maximum resale value, personally.

I leave all my condoms wrapped up in the box and don't have sex with her so the next guy that bangs my wife will have everything pristine.

 

[DeepSix]

The weird thing I've noticed is my 15" MBA has absolutely phenomenal battery life, the best of any computer or electronics device I've ever used.

BUT if I don't use it for a few days, the battery will drain down to zero. I'm thinking this is a battery safety feature Apple is using to preserve battery life (I'm a drone pilot and the expensive drone batteries do the same thing--you should not charge them unless you are about to fly because they self-discharge in about 3 days to preserve long term operation).

On the other hand, my Ipad Pro has absolutely horrible battery life, and has from day one. It barely lasts one day of heavy web browsing with all sorts of battery preserving settings turned on. Ridiculous!

Battery life on iPad pros is vastly overrated. When I had a M1 11" I could easily kill the battery in just over 3 hours.

 

[raythompsontn]

I leave all my condoms wrapped up in the box and don't have sex with her so the next guy that bangs my wife will have everything pristine.

So many possible jokes here that would get me banned for life.

 

[myhaksown]

I'm really picky with USB hubs as I've had bad experiences with no names so I stick with Anker hubs now. I do like the ones that push into the ports though. Not willing to spend a lot of money on a hub so I stick with the models on sale but offer good enough ports.

Satechi isn’t a no name brand. They are THE brand for Mac matched accessories. I have tons of adapters, car chargers, and high power usbc charging hubs. Not one satechi item I’ve bought has broken and they all worked as expected out of the box. What surprises me is that you say you’re really picky, have had a series of bad experiences, and yet you’re not willing to pay for a quality product. No wonder you have trouble.

I’m also interested in how you killed an m1 iPad battery in 3 hours. I can’t even get my 2017 pro to die in three hours and I’ve used the battery constantly since launch.

 

[DeepSix]

Just saw this article.

 

[DeepSix]

I think I may sell my Air now. With the announcement of M4 Air to come with 16GB ram as base model, as soon as that is on shelves, it pretty much kills the resale value on the M3 Airs. M3 Airs with 8GB ram will be worth nothing. So better to sell it now and go back to a PC laptop with 32GB ram. I knew I couldn't trust Apple. Good thing I got $200CAD off when I got it, I wouldn't have bought it at full price because I knew it was a rip off.

 

[Technerd108]

I think I may sell my Air now. With the announcement of M4 Air to come with 16GB ram as base model, as soon as that is on shelves, it pretty much kills the resale value on the M3 Airs. M3 Airs with 8GB ram will be worth nothing. So better to sell it now and go back to a PC laptop with 32GB ram. I knew I couldn't trust Apple. Good thing I got $200CAD off when I got it, I wouldn't have bought it at full price because I knew it was a rip off.

Think if you bought a new M2 MBA shortly after release? They are worth nothing in resale since Apple keeps cannibalizing M2 MBA MSRP. I did. I can't sell my M2 MBA in resale unless I want to get rid of it for half price or less of what I paid in a pretty short time for a Mac. Resale value on M2 MBA is terrible for owners who bought close to release. Feels like I got screwed.....

If I were you I would seriously consider if you should sell. It may make more economic sense to keep your M3 MBA for at least 3 years and then probably just trade it in? If you sell now you are still in a bad position since a lot of people will wait for m4 MBA instead of buying used or just buy a cheaper new M2 MBA so you won't get what you think 🤔??? What do I know?

I am just saying I have been in your shoes and selling my M1 MBP before M2 MBP came out and I still lost more money than I would have liked. It was better than I would have waited and I did enjoy the M2 MBA more but I am not sure I would do it again.

Good luck either way and of course if you have the funds you may as well get exactly what you want. Sometimes you just have to take a loss.

 

[DeepSix]

Think if you bought a new M2 MBA shortly after release? They are worth nothing in resale since Apple keeps cannibalizing M2 MBA MSRP. I did. I can't sell my M2 MBA in resale unless I want to get rid of it for half price or less of what I paid in a pretty short time for a Mac. Resale value on M2 MBA is terrible for owners who bought close to release. Feels like I got screwed.....

Why is the resale value so bad on the M2 Air? M2 and M3 came out a full year apart from what I remember.

I think I will put up ad ad for my M3 Air and see what I can get for it. I should be able to get $1100CAD with the accessories throw in (case, bag). Once the M4 Air comes out, my 2.5 month old M3 Air will be worth nothing. People are going to seriously lowball for it knowing they can just go to the store, pay the base level price and get a new one and one with 16GB ram.

 

[Howard2k]

Why is the resale value so bad on the M2 Air? M2 and M3 came out a full year apart from what I remember.

I think I will put up ad ad for my M3 Air and see what I can get for it. I should be able to get $1100CAD with the accessories throw in (case, bag). Once the M4 Air comes out, my 2.5 month old M3 Air will be worth nothing. People are going to seriously lowball for it knowing they can just go to the store, pay the base level price and get a new one and one with 16GB ram.

Make sure you tell them about the battery! Might even get it up to CAD$1,101!

 

[Technerd108]

Why is the resale value so bad on the M2 Air? M2 and M3 came out a full year apart from what I remember.

I think I will put up ad ad for my M3 Air and see what I can get for it. I should be able to get $1100CAD with the accessories throw in (case, bag). Once the M4 Air comes out, my 2.5 month old M3 Air will be worth nothing. People are going to seriously lowball for it knowing they can just go to the store, pay the base level price and get a new one and one with 16GB ram.

Because as soon as M3 came out M2 MSRP was lowered.

Sales at 3rd parties on M2 MBA and Pros were aggressive and deeper than Macs from Intel era. So resale value has several down facing pressures making my Mac worth less and less.

Now with 16gb RAM standard and M4 MBA around the corner and lower MSRP with 16gb RAM makes resale on all MBA lower.