MBP M2 plugged 24/7

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MBP M2 plugged 24/7

I have an MBP M2 with 16gb of ram. I use a belkin docking station with two external monitors. So the laptop is constantly plugged into the docking station and therefore the battery is always at 100%.

I have all the "smart charging" settings on but i know that a battery always at 100% is bad for the lifetime of the battery itself.

With my iphone 14pro max i stay between 50 and 80% all the time and the battery is still performing great after 7 months and 105 charge cycles.

Is it the case to use some external software like AlDente that make me able to set a max charging %, like, for example, 80%?

I will stay with this great machine for 4 years yet, so i want the keep it fully functional as long as i can.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Posted on Jun 18, 2023 12:42 PM

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Answer 1

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leroydouglas

Community+ 2025

Level 10

196,506 points

Jun 18, 2023 02:44 PM in response to jutah76

jutah76 wrote:

I have an MBP M2 with 16gb of ram. I use a belkin docking station with two external monitors. So the laptop is constantly plugged into the docking station and therefore the battery is always at 100%.

I have all the "smart charging" settings on but i know that a battery always at 100% is bad for the lifetime of the battery itself.

With my iphone 14pro max i stay between 50 and 80% all the time and the battery is still performing great after 7 months and 105 charge cycles.

Is it the case to use some external software like AlDente that make me able to set a max charging %, like, for example, 80%?

I will stay with this great machine for 4 years yet, so i want the keep it fully functional as long as i can.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I would not add any third party software to compete with Macs own build in Battery Heath Management software.

BHM is not static it is dynamic, I would not force your battery to 80%.

You do not have to micromanage the charging.

Nothing wrong with 24/7 on power. If you need the portability then run on battery, otherwise forget about it.

ref: w/ Apple Silicon

About battery health management in Mac notebooks - Apple Support

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Answer 2

jutah76 Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 20, 2023 01:49 AM in response to leroydouglas

The official page does not talk about a 24/7 device plugged in.

About the optimize charge it says:

Based on the measurements that it collects, battery health management may reduce your battery's maximum charge when in this mode. This happens as needed to ensure that your battery charges to a level that's optimized for your usage

While battery health management benefits your battery's long-term lifespan, it can also reduce the amount of time your Mac runs on one battery charge when capacity limits are applied.

Well, if you are plugged most of the time it never happen that the OC set your limit to 80%.

Keep the battery charged to most of the time harms the battery life.

So, even if i'm not a fan of external app on my mac, i do not see other efficient solution.

My previous MBP (intel, 2018) has a awful battery life, it drops to 85% after 18 months, keeping it plugged all the time.

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MBP M2 plugged 24/7

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