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New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

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Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#91
post #9

Based on my (admittedly unusual) workloads, the effective charge time of the 2016 is awful. I already only get 4-5 hours out of a 2014 MBP. I bought a 2016 and only managed 3 1/2 hours. Maybe they've improved that with some software fixes, but it's still a non starter. So I returned it. I know I'm not a typical user, but I get much better battery life (with lower productivity) out of my windows laptop. Which was not…

what brand/model is the windows laptop? they are usually worse than mbp in battery life so i'm curious.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now that the MacBook Pro has USB-C is there any reason Apple couldn't implement some type of fast-charging technology like you find in smartphones? The OnePlus 3/3T in particular are amazingly fast. [1][2] Since getting my Pixel XL I have a noticed I rely on external battery packs less as I often have access to a power socket for at least an hour or two when I travel. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbELsT1hfnA […

The new MacBook Pro charges very, very quickly, 10 to 80% in 20-30 minutes by my estimation. I can count on running off the battery all day as long as I can get it plugged in while I fetch a sandwich for lunch.

Do you know if it will slow charge from a low power usb power source?

If I plug mine into a 2 amp usb A charger it says that it is not charging, but does that mean it is drawing zero watts, or only that it is only drawing 10 watts? It would be nice to charge it overnight if only a phone charger happens to be around, or even just slow down the discharge rate while using the laptop.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#93
post #89

I love the new 2016 MBP, and after using it think most of the purported issues are BS. That said, there is one very real issue that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere: because of how thin they are, many of the minor issues that could previously be fixed in the Apple Store now require sending it out. I had an intermittently working key on my keyboard and took it in for something I assumed would take half an hour to fix…

I'm still always amazed Apple doesn't offer better support packages for professional users, given that they clearly are in the premium market. Something like "we'll swap your SSD in a loaner device if we can't fix it immediately" sounds like it wouldn't be too expensive to implement.

Maybe with previous models, but considering the new MBP SSD storage is soldered in I don't think that would be practical.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#94

> Reducing mA (power draw) rather than increasing mAh (power storage) is the most effective way to increase battery life, which would go a long way to explain manufacturers’ obsession with thinness (which, in electrical terms often directly translates efficiency (i.e., smallness)) in their devices rather than just giving us something that endures. I think it goes the other way; the manufacturers' obsession with thinn…

Thinner also (usually) means lighter, and a lot of people prioritize light weight over longer battery life.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't speak for laptops but I can speak for the utility of having a thin phone and a battery pack that makes it thicker and heavier than it would be if Apple just included a bigger battery: I've only used my battery pack four or five times in the year and a half I've had my 6s. Most of the time I'm not far away from a plug - either at home, in my car, at work, etc. But when I travel, a slightly bigger battery would…

Or just have an external battery pack that powers any of your USB devices. As you say, this represents maybe 5% of my usage. Most of the time I don't worry about battery, but sure enjoy having a slim phone.

Honest question what do you enjoy about the super slim phone? In the last years have you seen any phone thats too thick to hold or hard to put in pocket or just about don't fit in any place? Why slimmer, I honestly don't understand since it only makes it more slippery, harder to grip, more fragile. I don't see any use for further slimming than making a fashion statement or a notch for the marketing team.

I can understand if someone says they want even lighter.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't speak for laptops but I can speak for the utility of having a thin phone and a battery pack that makes it thicker and heavier than it would be if Apple just included a bigger battery: I've only used my battery pack four or five times in the year and a half I've had my 6s. Most of the time I'm not far away from a plug - either at home, in my car, at work, etc. But when I travel, a slightly bigger battery would…

Or just have an external battery pack that powers any of your USB devices. As you say, this represents maybe 5% of my usage. Most of the time I don't worry about battery, but sure enjoy having a slim phone.

[deleted]

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#97
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see no reason why any of those people benefit from the slightly thinner form of the new mbp than they would benefit from better battery life. Everyone wants batteries that last longer. How often did you look at your last generation mbp and wish it was thinner?

These people are lugging their laptop around all day, from meeting to meeting, or airport to airport. If you can keep battery life constant at ca. 10 hours, which covers an extended work day, then beyond that most people would prefer to have lighter/slimmer/cooler (less hot) devices than one that runs for 20 hours.

I can agree on lighter, cooler or even smaller (in length/width) but really slimmer? As I said in another thread, what does a slimmer laptop gives you in present day.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#98
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The new MacBook Pro charges very, very quickly, 10 to 80% in 20-30 minutes by my estimation. I can count on running off the battery all day as long as I can get it plugged in while I fetch a sandwich for lunch.

Do you know if it will slow charge from a low power usb power source? If I plug mine into a 2 amp usb A charger it says that it is not charging, but does that mean it is drawing zero watts, or only that it is only drawing 10 watts? It would be nice to charge it overnight if only a phone charger happens to be around, or even just slow down the discharge rate while using the laptop.

It does slow charge, i use my external Anker Powercore Plus battery pack with it, while its not able to charge it while running because the MBP draws more Power than the Anker Battery can output it EXTENDS its battery lifetime very noticeably.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#99

I love the new 2016 MBP, and after using it think most of the purported issues are BS. That said, there is one very real issue that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere: because of how thin they are, many of the minor issues that could previously be fixed in the Apple Store now require sending it out. I had an intermittently working key on my keyboard and took it in for something I assumed would take half an hour to fix…

You love your new computer that has been in the shop for 13 days? May I ask, when did you buy it?

I thought that was strange too.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#100
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The new MacBook Pro charges very, very quickly, 10 to 80% in 20-30 minutes by my estimation. I can count on running off the battery all day as long as I can get it plugged in while I fetch a sandwich for lunch.

Do you know if it will slow charge from a low power usb power source? If I plug mine into a 2 amp usb A charger it says that it is not charging, but does that mean it is drawing zero watts, or only that it is only drawing 10 watts? It would be nice to charge it overnight if only a phone charger happens to be around, or even just slow down the discharge rate while using the laptop.

It does -- I travel with a 12" Macbook and the Google 15W USB-C charger. Take about 3 hours to charge from <10% to full.
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