MacBook – improving battery life for macBook Air M1

batterychargingm1macbook pro

Given that:

  1. My MacBook Air M1 chip has more than 70% battery
  2. The charging port is nearby and charging my Macbook Air while working does no bother me.

So in order to have prolonged battery life what should be done:

  1. While working with MacBook Air M1 chip, continue charging it whenever possible irrespective of battery level.

OR

  1. Charge battery only when below some threshold say 10%.

Best Answer

Just use the Mac! But you can help it with:

  • Make sure "Optimized battery charging" is on. System Preferences > Battery.
  • Avoid having power connected all the time, though this is mitigated by macOS and the setting optimise battery charging.
  • Avoid letting the battery go below 25%, but if needed sometimes don't worry.
  • If you are going to turn it off for many weeks, let it run down to 60% before turning it off.
  • Avoid high temperatures by keeping air flow around the MacBook - for example, don't rest it for long on soft bed covers.

Apple don't say, but battery is probably happiest between 40% and 80%.

Edit:

Apple are very reticent about precise advice regarding battery health. The most recent Apple battery support note has no advice on maximising battery health - only about battery life (time usable on battery power). The only reference to battery health is the tick box for "Optimized battery charging".

How to Prolong Lithium-based batteries is a relatively recent general discussion of strategies to assist battery health. In particular Figure 6 shows the effect on batteries due to to different use and charging strategies with maximum battery lifetime being from keeping the battery between 65% and 75% at all times. Read this (and some of its links) with interest and to gain some understanding of battery performance - but not to hamper use of the new MacBook Air.

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