batteryforpc

We just learned about how the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models are getting an all-new A17 Pro chip that’s incredibly powerful. Besides overusing the word Pro, Apple tells us this will lead to amazing new games like an Assassin’s Creed title that’s “console quality,” so you’ll essentially have a PlayStation or Xbox game that you can play anytime and anywhere.

This is pretty cool. I’m a fan of most of the Assassin’s Creed games, like a lot of others, and I could see myself checking it out if I ever bought an iPhone Pro something-or-other. Then I would get tired of trying to play an AAA game on a tiny screen and go back to wishing the battery lasted longer. We’ve reached the point where the chips that power our amazing phones are not the bottleneck they once were when it comes to performance. We needed to get here, and while Apple makes the “most powerful” phone processor, chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek are no slouch either.

A trade-off of cranking out bigger and faster CPU cores is that they use more power. A lot more power. This is mitigated by making newer chips better when it comes to how much power they consume, but we’re still talking about devices that run off of a battery. 

Your laptop or PC plugs into the wall, but you only plug in your phone because you have to.I think a lot of people agree that battery life is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to buying a new phone. I really like using the Galaxy Z Flip 5 that AT&T is letting me use, and I’ll miss it when I send it back. I also really hate the battery life it has when I actually do anything with it . It’s not Pixel 4 level of bad, but it’s close.

Rather than see a Galaxy Z Flip 6 that is so powerful it can play Elden Ring or something equally cool, I hope to see a Flip 6 that makes it through the day without needing to be charged if I need to use it a lot. I would play a console-quality game on my phone every once in a while, and it would be fun. But not plugging it in at 7 pm so it doesn’t shut down by 8 is a thing I would enjoy every day.

Charging the Moto G Power 5G
Having both is possible, just not with the current technology. One day, some company will make a phone chip that can do it all and not need charging every 10 or so hours. Years ago, when smartphones were new, nobody would have thought the chips we have now were possible, but tech advances. It will continue to advance.

Until then, I’m more interested in how SoC (System on Chip, a circuit that incorporates the Processor, memory, cache, and graphics in a single package) design improves my battery life. Each generation on all platforms is better than the last , but it seems that the companies making them rarely mention it, usually as a bit of text on some corporate infographic. Let’s bring it front and center. I want to know how much longer the A18 Pro or Snapdragon 9 will run before I need to plug it in.

I’m not saying newer processors aren’t efficient when it comes to battery life because they clearly are. A by-product of their design makes them use less power per unit of performance (we really need something like TDP measurements for phone chips) I’m saying that maybe it’s time to shift focus and efficiency becomes the selling point. Companies already do this when it comes to things like smartwatches.
Maybe the next time a tech company exec stands on a stage and tells us about a new chip inside the best phone, the first words we hear should be about how much of our battery it’s going to use.

Your MacBook battery life won’t last forever . When battery health degrades, leaving your charger at home becomes increasingly untenable since the time between charges can reduce dramatically.
The Obvious Sign: Reduced Battery LifeIt should go without saying, but a MacBook with greatly diminished battery life should benefit from a battery replacement. There are varying degrees of battery degradation, from “a few hours less than what I remember” to the machine lasting single-digit minutes when disconnected from power.
As your battery ages, it will lose capacity as part of the normal aging process. Modern MacBook batteries are good for 1000 cycles before needing to be replaced, while older models typically withstand 300 cycles. You can see how your battery is affected by usage using the graphs under System Settings > Battery.

Ideally, you want to see a steady decline rather than sharp dips in charge level (unless you know you’ve been doing something intensive like playing games or rendering video). Your Mac should remain relatively stable when not in use.

A “cycle” is one full charge from 0% to 100% and back to 0% again. Few people use their MacBooks in this way, but the cycles still add up. For example, two days of using half your battery life and charging from 50% to 100% would equal one cycle. You shouldn’t fear increasing your MacBook’s cycle count, since the battery is designed to be used.
RELATED:Debunking Battery Life Myths For Mobile Phones, Tablets, And Laptops
macOS Battery Service WarningYour MacBook should tell you when it’s time to replace your battery. Click on the battery charge indicator in the menu bar in the top-right corner of the screen. If you see a “Condition: Replace Soon” or similar warning, macOS has determined your battery is deteriorating to a degree where it will soon need replacing.

If you don’t see any such warning, your MacBook battery should be working as normal and not in need of replacement.
View macOS battery status in menu bar
You don’t have to replace your MacBook battery when this warning appears. Doing so will give your laptop a new lease of life when relying on battery power, but if you never leave your desk or find it convenient to carry a charger everywhere you go you can simply ignore it and carry on as normal.
High Cycle Count and Poor Battery HealthYou can see information about your battery under System Settings > Battery. macOS should report the overall condition, with an “i” information button you can tap to see your maximum capacity percentage.

You can also find this information under System Information. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen then hold the Option key on your keyboard. Click on “System Information” and then navigate to the “Power” section in the sidebar. Battery information will be displayed at the top of the information panel, with “Cycle Count” available in the “Health Information” section.
Consult Apple’s battery health guide to work out what sort of cycle count you should expect from your MacBook before needing to replace the battery. To find out which MacBook you have, click on the Apple logo in the top-right corner of the screen and then choose “About This Mac”.

Unexpected Shutdowns or OverheatingYour MacBook will turn itself off sooner than you’d probably like if the battery needs replacing. Unexpected shutdowns or heat problems could also be explained by poor battery health. For example, if your Mac reports that it has a moderate amount of battery left and then shuts down before giving you the low battery warning, a faulty battery could be to blame.
The same is true of unexpected power loss while using your MacBook on battery power. This is an extreme example of a battery fault, where the cell can no longer deliver the required power to keep the machine from shutting down. Even if this is the case , the MacBook should run fine on mains power (at least it does on our old MacBook Air that has no battery inside it).

Older batteries may also be more prone to overheating. You can check your MacBook’s temperature using a free app called Hot (for both Intel and Apple Silicon models). The normal operating temperature for an Apple Silicon (M1 or later) CPU at idle is around 68ºF to 95ºF (20ºC to 35ºC), and around 120ºF (50ºc) or less for an Intel CPU. Under load, both machines can spike to around 212ºF (100ºC) on the CPU.
Monitor temperatures with Hot for macOSTake these temperatures with a pinch of salt, since the ambient temperature and usage conditions (for example, full sunlight) can make a big difference to how hot or cold your MacBook runs. You’re more likely to notice sluggish performance as a result of thermal throttling or spontaneous shutdowns if your Mac is affected by heat.

RELATED:7 Tips To Keep Your Tech From Overheating
What to Do About Your Failing BatteryIf your MacBook is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+ or another insurance scheme, you may be eligible for a free battery  replacement if your maximum capacity has dropped below 80%. You can check your eligibility under System Settings > General > About under the ” Coverage” section. Make an appointment with Apple or an authorized service center using Apple Support.
Apple will test your battery and let you know if it needs replacing. If you’ve followed the instructions for checking your cycle count and battery health above, you’ll probably already know the outcome of this testing. If you have a 15-inch MacBook Pro manufactured between 2015 and 2017, you may be eligible for a battery replacement due to a recall.
It’s worth checking the Apple Service Programs website to see if your Mac is listed for a free battery replacement or affected by any other issues. If your MacBook isn’t covered by your original warranty or a service program, Apple can still replace the battery. This is the easiest way forward if you want your battery replaced, but it’s also the most costly.
You can check how much a battery replacement will cost using the Mac Repair & Service website. Expect to pay around $199 for a new battery, including parts and labor. In many cases, Apple will be able to fit a new battery on the same day , or you can use an authorized service center or mail-in service if visiting a retail location isn’t possible.

Finally, you can always replace the battery yourself at home. You can buy everything you need to do this (including the battery) on websites like iFixit or Other World Computing. Kits can cost from as little as $60 to around $100 and come with everything you need.

You’ll also find links to guides on iFixit’s website or YouTube demonstrating how to perform the replacement. Replacing a battery is considered a fairly advanced fix, so if you’re worried about things going wrong it might be worth getting someone else to do it That said, if it’s an old MacBook you’re happy to risk and you’re keen to hone your repair skills, a battery replacement might make a perfect Sunday afternoon activity.

Keep Your MacBook Battery in Great ConditionThere are a few basic practices you can employ to keep your MacBook battery in good condition. This includes making use of optimized charging, keeping the charge level between 40 and 80%, and avoiding extreme temperatures.

If you’re thinking about buying a second-hand Mac notebook, you need to know how to find the condition of the battery.This simple tip helps you do that.A friend of mine was considering purchasing an old(ish) MacBook Pro and wanted to check the battery life as they arranged the deal.

That’s when I thought it might be worth sharing this little tip, given lots of people will be selling Macs to get hold of a new MacBook Air.
Battery cycles for battery healthThat’s when I remembered this little-known, but really quite useful (and mercifully short), Mac tip that helps you get some kind of insight into your Mac’s battery health.
[Related: Apple’s place is in the enterprise ]The batteries used inside Macs are built to handle a number of battery cycles.
Apple advises that once your battery has used up all these cycles, it should be considered as needing replacement.
The company also says: “Your battery is designed to retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles.”
They usually work way beyond that number (it’s kind of notional), but you may experience increasingly low battery life between charges until you end up with a notebook you have to plug into power to use.

This is why you need to know how to find the battery cycle count data, particularly if you are about to purchase a second-hand Mac notebook. That way you know why what you are buying seems to be a bargain and can plan in advance for a battery replacement.
How to check the battery cycle count on MacsApple makes it easy to check the battery cycle count on Macs; you just need to follow these instructions:
Open About This Mac in the Apple Menu.General information about your system will appear in a small window.At the bottom left of that window you’ll find a button called ‘System Report’.Press this button, and a new window appears offering all kinds of hardware-related information about your Mac – choose the Power section.NB: Hold down the Option key when you press About This Mac to open the System Report directly.In the right-hand window in the next pane look for Health Information.This tells you your current cycle count and lets you know the condition of your battery.
What about the battery icon?You can also get a general sense of battery health using the battery icon.

Option-click the battery icon in the menu bar, and you will see one of these statements:
Normal: This is what you want to seeReplace Soon: The battery works but needs replacing.Replace Now: You can keep using the battery, but don’t expect too much time between charges, and you should look to replacing it.Service Battery: Don’t panic, you can keep using your Mac, but you really should take the machine in and get it services.
What is battery cycle?The batteries used in notebooks are not built to last forever.
Battery cycles are a shorthand used by manufacturers to estimate battery life. A battery cycle represents what happens when the battery is fully charged and then used until it empties – that’s one cycle.

If you use 90 percdent of your Mac’s power until it reaches 10 percent power, charge it to 100%, and then use a tenth of the power in the now charged Mac, that counts as a single charge (90 +10 = 100). Use up 50 percent four times running, and that’s two charges.

What is my Mac’s battery cycle?Most current Macs (MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros) use batteries assessed as having 1,000 battery cycles. That’s pretty much good enough for at least three years of regular use.
Older Macs (including the original MacBook Air) carried batteries with just 300 cycles inside. You can check how many cycles your Mac is meant to have here.

Despite the fact that Apple seem to be on a mission to make each new MacBook lighter and thinner than the previous version, today your typical MacBook boasts an impressive battery life, to the point where you can expect to get a full day’s work from a single charge. But it’s human nature to always want that little bit extra! 
That’s why in this post I’m going to be sharing 9 tips for getting the most out of your MacBook’s battery.
These tips are ideal
if you have an older MacBook; have recently noticed a decline in the running time you get from a single charge – or you’re just not in the mood to go hunting for your charger!Check how long your battery should lastBefore we start looking at tricks for getting the most out of your battery, it’s worth taking a moment to check how long the battery should last for your particular model.
If your MacBook is dramatically underperforming in the battery department, then this could indicate an underlying technical problem. If there’s a fault with your battery, then no matter how clever you are about how you use your Mac’s battery, you’re not getting to get the best results. If there’s a technical issue, then you’re better off taking your MacBook into your local Apple Store – especially if your laptop is still under warranty!

You can also check whether your battery needs to be replaced or serviced, by holding down the ‘option’ key on your keyboard and clicking the battery icon in your Mac’s menu bar. At the very top of the dropdown menu, you’ll see a summary of the current state of your battery.Ideally, this should read ‘Condition: Normal,’ but if there’s a problem you may see one of the following:
Replace Soon. The battery is holding less charge than when it was new, but is otherwise functioning normally. It may continue to lose charge.Replace Now. The battery is holding significantly less charge than when it was new, but is otherwise functioning normally. You should replace the battery as soon as possible.Service Battery. The battery isn’t functioning normally – it needs to be looked at by a professional.2. Keep up to date

Every new version of OS X introduces fixes and improvements, so it’s possible that upgrading to the latest version may fix any issues you’re experiencing, and could even extend your Mac’s battery life, depending on what’s included in the update.
Even if a new version of OS X doesn’t include any battery-related enhancements, it’ll include other improvements, so it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re running the latest version.

To check whether you’re fully up to date, click the Apple logo in the menu bar and select ‘App Store,’ followed by ‘Updates.’ If there’s an update available, it’ll appear under ‘Software Update.’
Similarly, make sure all your apps are up to date, as new versions may introduce improvements that’ll have a positive impact on how that app uses battery. Also, if you’re running the latest version of OS X, then the latest version of an app should be optimized to work with this version of the operating system – again, this may have a noticeable impact on that app’s battery usage.

3.Turn off Wi-Fi and BluetoothIt’s easy to get into the bad habit of leaving your MacBook’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth permanently switched on, even when you’re not actively using these connections. Leaving your Mac’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth running in the background is a surefire way to burn through your battery, so make sure you disable these connections when you’re not using them.
To turn off Wi-Fi, select the Wi-Fi icon from your Mac’s menu bar, and click ‘Turn Wi-Fi off.’
To prevent your MacBook from permanently scanning for other devices over Bluetooth, click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select ‘System Preferences…’ followed by ‘Bluetooth’ and ‘Turn Bluetooth Off.’

system preferences menu4. Unplug unnecessary accessoriesAs a general rule, anything that’s attached to your MacBook is going to drain your battery, whether it’s a USB stick, SD card, 4G modem or external drive. Make sure you disconnect any peripherals that you aren’t currently using. If you have a SuperDrive then it’s also a good idea to eject any CDs or DVDs that aren’t currently in use.  

And even though we’ve all done it at some point, avoid the temptation to charge other devices by attaching them to your MacBook, such as your phone, tablet, e-reader or iPod, as this will have a massive, negative impact on your Mac’s battery life.
5. Try the Battery Health AppBattery Health is a free app that displays a wealth of technical information about the state of your battery, including the original battery capacity vs. its current capacity, when the battery was manufactured, its temperature, and the number of charge cycles completed. This information can be invaluable for diagnosing problems with your battery.
Install and launch Battery Health, and you’ll notice a new icon in your MacBook’s menu bar. Click this icon to open a dialogue containing lots of useful information about the overall health of your battery.

battery health6. Close Unused Apps – particularly battery-hogging ones!It’s a simple fact of life that the more apps you have running, the quicker your battery is going to drain, so it’s crucial that you close any apps that you aren’t actually using – particularly apps that are sucking up more than their fair share of juice.
The quickest way to identify the biggest battery hogs, is to click the ‘Battery’ icon in your MacBook’s menu bar and check whether any apps appear under ‘Apps Using Significant Energy.’

For a more in-depth look at all the apps currently running on your Mac, and the impact they’re having on your battery, launch the Activity Monitor:
Open your ‘Finder’ window and select ‘Applications’ from the left-hand menu.Open the ‘Utilities’ folder, followed by ‘Activity Monitor.’Select the ‘Energy’ tab.activity monitorActivity Monitor lists all the apps that are running on your Mac, plus the amount of power they’re using. Again, you should close any apps that you aren’t currently using,particularlyif those apps are consuming a large amount of power.
7. Check for runaway processesWhile you have Activity Monitor open, this is the perfect time to look for any parts of the Mac operating system that are misbehaving and consuming unusual amounts of battery.

In ‘Activity Monitor,’ select the ‘CPU’ tab. In the ‘CPU’ column, look for any processes that are taking up more than 70% of your CPU.
activity monitor cpuTo close an item, select it and then click the ‘Quit’ icon towards the upper-left of the Activity Monitor window. However, be cautious about terminating processes at random, as some may be performing important work behind the scenes. If you’ re unsure about a particular process, it’s always a good idea to research it on Google, before terminating it.

8. Adjust Energy Saver on MacBookAnother method of conserving battery, is to limit the amount of time your laptop is stood idle, before the screen turns off:  
Click the Apple icon in your Mac’s menu bar.Select ‘System Preferences…’Select ‘Energy Saver’ from the menu that appears.Select the ‘Battery’ tab.energy saverThen, adjust the amount of time before your screen powers down, using the ‘Turn display off after…’ slider.

9. Dim Screen Brightness onMacBookIf you can cope with staring at a slightly darker screenwithoutgetting eye strain, then you may want to try reducing the screen brightness as this will make your battery last just that little bit longer.