All things that are born must also perish. The same applies to that MacBook Air battery. According to thefastcomputer.com, a laptop battery will last anywhere from 2 hours to 10 hours depending on the specific model/build. Does MacBook Air’s battery also fall into that range?
Well, the short answer is: no.
A MacBook Air battery lasts between 13 to 15 hours between charges, and its life expectancy is between 3-5 years.
I’m Ty, I have been in the IT field for a few years now, and a resident tech nerd since my adolescence. I know the ins and outs of recent tech and have been a Mac user for the last year.
In this article, I will not only answer the question of this post but also give you a little insight into why. I will even provide a few ways to prolong its life.
Let’s dive in!
Contents
Key Takeaways
- MacBook Air batteries should last anywhere between 3 to 5 years.
- With proper care, you can prolong the battery life
- If your battery kicks the bucket, it is not the end!
Understanding Battery Cycle
What exactly is a battery cycle exactly? A battery cycle happens when you use all of the battery’s power. Using your MacBook Air will use up its battery cycles.
This means from full charge to 0%, but that doesn’t mean literally letting your device die. If you use about half of the battery in one sitting and then charge it back to complete, this does not mean you just saved yourself from using a battery cycle.
If you want to check to see how many battery cycles your MacBook Air has, you can! Hold down the option key, and then select the Apple logo on the top left of the screen. Select System Information. Click “power” in the lefthand pane, and boom, you can see how many cycles it has!
As you can see above, I have gone through 86 cycles. My device was made in 2020 and has yet to reach 100 cycles. This is, of course, case by case. Since this is not my main laptop, and I use it much less, it will last me much longer.
If I continue using this MacBook Air at the rate I do, this battery will easily last me another five years.
Next time you get on your device and bring it down to half again that will complete the battery cycle. To determine the number of cycles your battery has before its performance is compromised, you can check here.
How to Extend Your MacBook Air’s Battery Lifespan
While we do only have a finite number of battery cycles, there are some ways that you can prolong your battery’s lifecycle before it eventually begins to wane. The best way to extend the lifespan of your MacBook Air is to use the least amount of battery possible. Here’s how.
Adjust Brightness Setting
Optimizing your MacBook Air’s settings depending on its environment will help you prolong each cycle. A straightforward way to do this is simply adjusting the brightness to a lower but still comfortable setting.
For example, if you are watching a movie in bed with dimmed lights, you most likely don’t need the brightness set to max. Lowering it to a softer, more comfortable brightness will help save some battery during use.
To make this easier on you, there is an energy-saver preference, which, when activated, will automatically adjust your brightness when you are on battery-only power versus being connected to an AC adapter.
Adjust Volume
Turning the volume down when you’re playing music or videos will also extend your MacBook Air’s battery charge.
Close Unused Apps
Making sure to close out of apps you aren’t using will also help quite a bit in the long run. If you have 18 tabs of Google Chrome open and are only using three while music is playing and you are exporting a video, the battery will drain much faster than if you were simply checking your email.
Turn Wi-Fi Off
Even having your WIFI on and running uses quite a bit of battery, so if you are writing a paper or doing something that does not necessarily require an internet connection, you can shut it off and save yourself some battery.
Plug-in When Using Wired Devices
Suppose you have any peripherals attached to your MacBook Air, like a wired mouse, keyboard, or even an external hard drive. It is best to plug in your MacBook Air with peripherals attached. It will take the stress off of the battery, as it will draw power from the outlet.
Only Use Apple Chargers
The price of an off-brand, 3rd party charger might be alluring, but don’t fall for it. Using an Apple charger is mandatory if you want to help prolong your time with your MacBook Air.
In some extreme cases, these non-named chargers aren’t up to regulation standards and could even cause irreversible damage to your battery.
These small things may seem inconsequential, but you will see that they all begin to add up over time. Practicing better battery habits will keep your battery alive a lot longer.
What to Do After Your Battery Dies?
Keeping your MacBook Air alive longer is excellent, but in the end, the battery will begin to deteriorate. Eventually, you won’t even be able to use it without plugging it into an outlet.
Does this mean you’re out of luck and need a brand-new MacBook Air? It can be tough to come to that conclusion. But luckily for you, there is an alternative to simply buying a new MacBook.
If your battery isn’t performing as well as it used to or isn’t turning on at all, you can get a battery replacement. There are a few ways to go about this, and they vary in price.
Apple Store
If you want to do this as simply as possible, you can make an appointment at an Apple Store, bring it in, and have it serviced. You come back in a few days, and your serviced laptop should be as good as new! All you have to do is pay the service fee.
You can get an estimate of how much the service will cost on Apple’s repair page.
Third-Party Repair Shops
Another option is using a third-party computer repair shop that works on Apple computers. You can quickly check online for 3rd party repair shops in or near your city. Call them and let them know the service you are looking for to get an estimate on the part and service cost.
Replace the Battery Yourself
This is for more intermediate people, as it will take some care and caution, but if you don’t want to pay the service fee, you can simply do it yourself. That’s right; YOU can swap the battery out.
Look up your MacBook’s model number, followed by Battery, and you can see how much the part itself will cost. Most come with a tool kit with the screwdrivers required to get into the device.
A trustworthy website for this is iFixit.
You can look up how to replace your MacBook Air’s battery on YouTube and follow along. While it is not novice-friendly, with some care and time, you can replace it with no issue. Take necessary precautions like grounding yourself and ensuring the device is powered off before proceeding with any repairs.
Grounding yourself is essential when working on any repairs within a device; you don’t want a random static shock from your fingertip to short any of the internals of your MacBook Air. Some easy ways to ground yourself include wearing an anti-static bracelet and an anti-static mat.
While it is much more dangerous since you will be going in and doing the replacement, it will be more cost-effective than servicing it through Apple or other means.
Final Thoughts
Batteries in a MacBook Air should last you 3-5 years, with proper care and attention, maybe even longer! Even after your battery starts to deteriorate, that does not mean it is the end. You can always get your laptop serviced with a new battery to give you even more time with your Device!
