Battery capacity decreases quickly

Hi, I have purchased brand new MacBook Pro 14(2023; M2Pro; 32Gb Memory) 7 months ago for daily work. Now battery max capacity is 94% with 86 cycle counts and ac total 664.68; I suspect that battery is faulty. Could you please help?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Nov 3, 2023 06:04 AM

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Posted on Nov 3, 2023 09:12 AM


That your MBP's battery lost 6% in 7 months is somewhat worrisome, especially when you've paid a packet for the machine. Well, I am letting the macOS take care of the power management in mine, but I am using an Intel MBP, still at 91% after 4 1/2 years and with 210 cycles. I am keeping it continuously plugged in as it doesn't leave the desk.The battery % is between 78-80% practically all the time.


It is in Desktop Mode most of the time, which most probably means that the macOS is bypassing the battery most of the time. I don't know if the silicon MacBooks have that mode. I've asked that question, though.


In your case, it appears that you use your MBP away from a power socket. So, try not to let the battery drain less than 20% at most. Whenever you are near a power socket, it maybe prudent to keep the Mac plugged in.

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Nov 3, 2023 09:12 AM in response to faridmmv


That your MBP's battery lost 6% in 7 months is somewhat worrisome, especially when you've paid a packet for the machine. Well, I am letting the macOS take care of the power management in mine, but I am using an Intel MBP, still at 91% after 4 1/2 years and with 210 cycles. I am keeping it continuously plugged in as it doesn't leave the desk.The battery % is between 78-80% practically all the time.


It is in Desktop Mode most of the time, which most probably means that the macOS is bypassing the battery most of the time. I don't know if the silicon MacBooks have that mode. I've asked that question, though.


In your case, it appears that you use your MBP away from a power socket. So, try not to let the battery drain less than 20% at most. Whenever you are near a power socket, it maybe prudent to keep the Mac plugged in.

Nov 3, 2023 10:35 AM in response to faridmmv

Good day,


The problem with Health is that it is an inexact and unstable metric. It is current battery capacity divided by the design capacity (DC). And therein lies the problem.


Design capacity is the AVERAGE capacity value of all batteries of that model. "Average" always means some individuals will have higher DCs and others lower values, and that affects Health calculations. My 2012 Macbook Pro started life at 102% Health.


As for "unstable," I offer the following data read by the Coconut Battery app over about a year from my Macbook Pro battery, which is today over 10 years old:



Carefully note that, in a 20-day period between 5 June and 25 June, "Health" (in the yellow lines) plummets over 9 points, but then recovers. The numbers are all over.the place.


The battery was nine year old at the time. Only recently at 10-1/2 years old 😳 is the runtime on that battery getting low enough to remind me to take the charger occasionally.


And my computer is too old to have the very clever power management abilities that new Macbook Pros have.


IMHO, variations in Health due to the foibles of the numbers that feed it make Health not worth making withdrawals from your Worry Account. In my opinion that metric exists for one reason. It gives Apple a break point where they can see if a battery will be replaced under warranty. Their gauge has historically been "under 80% at under 1000 cycles" gets a replacement battery IF the computer is under warranty


That said, I always add: if this still concerns you and you are under warranty, by all means have Apple evaluate.


Nov 3, 2023 08:20 AM in response to faridmmv

faridmmv wrote:

I never tried to use MBP always plugged in, I keep charge between 10-90%. Usually it takes 8-9 hours of work between charges.

Stop trying to micro manage the poser/charging system. Let the MacOS manage the system. It does so very well. You can leave the computer plugged in whenever convenient to do so. There is no need to drain the battery to 10% or unplug it at 90%.

Nov 3, 2023 09:48 AM in response to chdsl

I didn't find "Desktop Mode" mentioned anywhere, now as it is first time constantly plugged in, it shows Power Source: Power Adapter, what means almost the same as I guess.

Probably after sometime system will "learn from my daily charging routine" and will charge till 80%.

Thanks for sharing!

By the way, are you letting MBP to discharge till 50% once a month, or it was almost always plugged in during 4 years.


Seems like I spoiled a bit a battery, but now I will change they way of charging. Better late than never =)

Nov 3, 2023 10:12 AM in response to faridmmv

Yes, I used it on battery time to time, even though it doesn't leave the desk. The last time it worked 7 hours (normal day's work) and, still had 25% of the battery charge. I actually measured it this time. My MBP's official work time is 10 hours on a full battery charge, so interpolating, it still has about 9 hours and 20 minutes, but of course, I'll never drain the battery to zero. The next time, I use it on battery, I'll use it until 30%. Yes, I'llkeep a reminder for that.


MacOS will help, if we help our own machine. 👌


Oh, I couldn't find the "Desktop Mode" anywhere in any documents, support or otherwise, or in any blogs or videos on MacOS/MacBooks. I asked others here about that, too.

Nov 3, 2023 10:48 AM in response to Allan Jones

Allan Jones wrote:
In my opinion that metric exists for one reason. It gives Apple a break point where they can see if a battery will be replaced under warranty. Their gauge has historically been "under 80% at under 1000 cycles" gets a replacement battery IF the computer is under warranty.

Warranty is a handshake.

But in the EU, it is 2-year legal guarantee. In some EU countries, that law is even tougher. That includes the battery, as the portable computer has to live certain desired years.

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Battery capacity decreases quickly

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