The life expectancy of a MacBook battery is mostly based on the battery cycle count. Once the MacBook battery cycle count has reached the limit set out by Apple (between 300 - 1000), the battery is considered to be at the end of it's life.
As the battery gets cycled, it's performance gradually gets worse. Once the limit set by the manufacturer is reached, you'll notice that the battery depletes rapidly. At this stage, you'll typically only be able to get 1 - 2 hours out of your battery life.
To check your MacBook's cycle count, go to:
> About This Mac > System Report
Select "Power", located under the left Hardware tab
Once you've completed the above steps, you will see the following window:
As you use your Mac notebook battery, charge cycles are accumulated (unless you use BatteryBox). A charge cycle means a full discharge of your battery from 100% to 0%. If you use 50% of your battery one day, then charge it fully, you've only used half a charge cycle. In this example, a full charge cycle will occur once you've again discharged your battery another 50%.
ie. if you use only 50% of your battery, you've only used 1/2 of a charge cycle.
Once you've reached your device's charge cycle limit, it's recommended you replace your battery.
Computer | Maximum Cycle Count |
MacBook | |
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) |
1000 |
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008) | 500 |
MacBook (Mid 2009) MacBook (Early 2009) MacBook (Late 2008) MacBook (Early 2008) MacBook (Late 2007) MacBook (Mid 2007) MacBook (Late 2006) MacBook (13-inch) |
300 |
MacBook Pro | |
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) MacBook pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) |
1000 |
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2008) | 500 |
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.4/2.2GHz) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Core 2 Duo) MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy) MacBook Pro (15-inch) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008) MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4GHz) MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo) MacBook Pro (17-inch) |
300 |
MacBook Air | |
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011) MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010) MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010) |
1000 |
MacBook Air (Mid 2009) | 500 |
MacBook Air (Late 2008) MacBook Air |
300 |