Mid 201 MBP 13 battery cycle count?

[Jonzjob]

I replaced the battery in my MBP 13 mid 2010 machine in 2015. It has started to show signs of lack of capacity and overnight in sleep mode drops to around 30 to 40%. It then charges up to 99% within an hour or so and doesn't reach 100% for an age, not sure how long?

I have had a look at the battery cycle count and it shows just 36 cycles. Obviously there have been 'several' more than that in 5 years Has the count got to the top and wrapped around to zero again?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to replace the battery, but I am quite curious as to why the count is so low? Any ideas please folks?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

That's definitely a lot cycle count for 4 years. My 2019 MBP that I've had for about 2 months now is at 29 cycles. A charge cycle is the number of times you take the battery up to fully charged. However, if you are noticing that your battery is staying at 99% and not reaching 100% that's likely leading to your low cycle count. As the battery begins to age out, the amount of charge it can hold as compared to what its design capacity is should start to diminish, but it should still hit 100% after a full charge.

You replaced the first battery about 5 years after ownership, so the second one seems to be reaching the same timeframe for replacement.

 

[ferrarr]

I don't think the battery count is wrong, especially if you don't drain the battery that much, in between plug in times. Do you know how low % you would drain the battery to?

You can also get CoconutBattery coconutBattery 3.8 - by coconut-flavour.com, and see what that has to say about it?

 

[MacInWin]

A charge cycle is the number of times you take the battery up to fully charged.

Not quite. From BU-1101: Glossary – Battery University, the definition of a "cycle" is not standardized, but what I have heard about Lithium batteries is that a "full" cycle is from near zero to a full charge (may indicate 99%, but it's full). If you only discharge to 50% and then recharge to that same level, that's a "half" cycle. 75% to 100% is a "quarter" cycle. It's not scientific, but that's how most of the articles I have read have described it. Simply reaching full is not going to be a cycle just because it's fully charged.

The best way to avoid early battery death is to keep the depth of discharge shallow. In fact, unlike NiCad batteries, Lithium batteries are perfectly happy never to go below 90%. Now Apple has, in iOS13, a new "intelligent" charging logic where they avoid holding the battery at 100% for long periods by "learning" your usage and adjusting accordingly. As it was described, if you put the iPhone on charge overnight, the charging circuit "learns" that you get up at a certain hour, so it charges the iPhone to about 90% until just before you usually get up and take the phone off charge, then applies a charge to get it to full just before your "normal" time. I guess nobody at Apple works moving shifts or variable hours. Fortunately, you can turn off this "intelligent" process and control the iPhone battery for yourself. I suspect this "intelligent" process will make it's way to macOS soon.

EDIT: Here is more on Lithium batteries and cycles: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

 

[Rod]

I think Jake has nailed it, thats sort of my understanding too. My 2105 12" MBPr was purchased in 2016 and the battery was replaced in 2018 (nearly 2019).
As you can see it has only had 6 Loadcycles as it is usually stationary and connected to AC power in just under a year of daily use.

 

[Jonzjob]

Well I bit the bullet, not a very expensive one, and bought a new battery. Now fitted, it only took about 15 minutes, and it all looks good again. So thank you folks for your hepl and info. I have to admit that I have never taken much notice of the cycle count and just go by the time it takes the battery to drop and the old one was loosing 20 or 30% overnight in sleep mode.

Ta again folks.

Quick edit : - I just noticed your signature Rod. I'm not perfect by and means but the last time I made a mastike was when I thought I had