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Tuesday, September 30, 2025

The truth about laptop batteries

Laptop charging

Modern laptops typically use lithium-ion batteries, and their management systems have improved over time. For lithium-ion batteries, it's generally okay to keep your laptop plugged in, and there's no need to regularly drain the battery to increase its lifespan.

Here are some considerations:

  1. Lithium-Ion Battery Characteristics:

    • Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in laptops, do not have the "memory effect" associated with older battery technologies. This means you don't need to completely discharge the battery before recharging, and doing so won't improve its performance.
  2. Charge Cycling:

    • Lithium-ion batteries have a finite number of charge cycles, where one cycle is defined as a full 0% to 100% charge. However, modern battery management systems are designed to optimize charging and prevent overcharging, helping to extend the overall lifespan of the battery.
  3. Optimal Charging Range:

    • Keeping the battery level between 20% and 80% is often recommended for optimizing battery lifespan. However, modern laptops are designed to manage charging and discharging automatically to help maintain the battery within a healthy range.
  4. Heat Management:

    • Heat is a factor that can impact battery health. If your laptop tends to get hot during use, using it while plugged in might generate additional heat. Ensuring proper ventilation and keeping the laptop cool can contribute to overall battery health.
  5. Battery Health Features:

    • Some laptops come with battery health management features that allow you to set preferences for battery charging. For example, on macOS, there is a feature called "Battery Health Management" that adjusts charging based on your usage patterns to improve long-term battery health.

While keeping your laptop plugged in most of the time is generally fine, it's a good idea to let the battery discharge occasionally, perhaps once a month, to around 20-30%. This can help recalibrate the battery gauge and provide a more accurate estimation of remaining battery life.

In summary, it's acceptable to keep your laptop plugged in for extended periods, and you don't need to follow the practice of fully discharging the battery regularly. However, allowing the battery to discharge partially every once in a while may help maintain accurate battery calibration. Always refer to your laptop's user manual and follow any manufacturer recommendations for optimal battery usage.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model

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