Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#1

Post by uptown » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 5:18 PM UTC

Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health
sixcolors.com

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#2

Post by floatingatoll » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:19 PM UTC

Previously, iOS 13 (released in 19Q4) changed the default iPhone charging behavior to improve battery health:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210512

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#3

Post by rootusrootus » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:23 PM UTC

I wish they'd give us the option (on the iPhone and iPad as well) to arbitrarily set the maximum charge level. Just like on my Tesla, I'd like to be able to tell my phone not to charge above 80%.

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#4

Post by overcast » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:28 PM UTC

rootusrootus wrote: post #3

I wish they'd give us the option (on the iPhone and iPad as well) to arbitrarily set the maximum charge level. Just like on my Tesla, I'd like to be able to tell my phone not to charge above 80%.

Then 500M people complaining on Reddit that their phones only charge to 80% for some reason.

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#5

Post by dartdartdart » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:33 PM UTC

For people who use their laptops primarily as plugged in machines, there should be a 50% max charge mode.

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#6

Post by mc32 » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:35 PM UTC

overcast wrote: post #4

rootusrootus wrote: post #3

I wish they'd give us the option (on the iPhone and iPad as well) to arbitrarily set the maximum charge level. Just like on my Tesla, I'd like to be able to tell my phone not to charge above 80%.

Then 500M people complaining on Reddit that their phones only charge to 80% for some reason.

And then they’ll do the same thing they did to the antenna signal strength bars and fake it to make people happy...

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#7

Post by 6gvONxR4sf7o » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:36 PM UTC

PSA: If you have a thinkpad, the lenovo settings app lets you control this too. In lenovo vantage, go to Device > My Device Settings > Battery settings > Battery Charge Threshold.

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#8

Post by diebeforei485 » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:38 PM UTC

This makes a ton of sense. I assume it's smart enough to use data like your location to charge up all the way (or more than usual) if you're in some random hotel, instead of having to remember to turn it off when traveling.

If it's smart and takes all these things into account, that would be so much better than setting some arbitrary threshold (is 50% okay? is 80% okay?). Adding arbitrary options enables a lot of bullshit advice to spread.

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#9

Post by intopieces » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:43 PM UTC

dartdartdart wrote: post #5

For people who use their laptops primarily as plugged in machines, there should be a 50% max charge mode.

Why 50%?

Re: Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health

#10

Post by simonh » Thu, Apr 16, 2020, 7:45 PM UTC

6gvONxR4sf7o wrote: post #7

PSA: If you have a thinkpad, the lenovo settings app lets you control this too. In lenovo vantage, go to Device > My Device Settings > Battery settings > Battery Charge Threshold.

Except that's a fixed threshold you have to set manually. This tracks the thermal and charging profile of the battery, learns it's characteristics and adjusts the threshold dynamically.