Apple is very sensitive to the quality of components in its products and this also applies to batteries. Offline time MacBooks work much more than other laptops, however, over time it slowly begins to decline. To ensure that this moment comes as late as possible, there are several simple tips, following which you can keep the battery in excellent condition throughout its entire service life, right up to the purchase of a new MacBook.

We will divide all recommendations into two categories, the first will help take care of your battery in the short term, that is, they are aimed at extending time battery life from one charge; the latter are more forward-thinking and more concerned with preserving battery life over a long period of time.

Part 1: Increasing battery life

Using Energy Saving Options

The power saving settings in OS X are essentially minimal, but they work and this is also one of the ways to increase battery life.

Open system settings and go to the section Energy Saving. Using the sliders, we specify the time after which the display will turn off and your Mac will go into sleep mode. Also here you can specify whether to wake the computer from sleep mode to access the network and disk slowdown, which also affects energy savings.

In addition, you can use the scheduler to set it to automatically turn on/off, go to sleep, or reboot at specified times and days. This will be useful if you don't have to keep your MacBook constantly on, for example if you need to connect to it remotely when you're away from home.

Disabling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and dimming brightness

Wireless interfaces are those features and technologies that continue to run in the background even when you're not using them, so you can safely turn them off if you don't need them. this moment. This way you can save about half an hour to an hour of battery life for tasks that do not require network activity. Experienced users know how to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but for beginners, I’ll remind you that this can be done by clicking the corresponding icons in the menu bar (you can also turn them on again there).

In addition to this, it is worth mentioning the brightness of the display, which also puts a significant strain on the battery and reduces battery life. If you have the auto-brightness option disabled, I recommend turning it on. Well, don’t forget about manual adjustment function keys. Sometimes, in emergency cases, you can reduce the brightness level to the minimum comfortable level and last 30-40 minutes longer.

Disabling unnecessary peripherals

Obviously, powering peripheral devices connected to your MacBook puts additional strain on the battery, reducing battery life. All USB flash drives, hard disks, disk drives and other equipment, it is advisable to turn off if you do not need them at the moment. If you have an internal SuperDrive installed, be sure to remove the drive from it as well.

Upgrading to OS X Mavericks

The current version of OS X 10.9 Mavericks, introduced last fall, is literally packed with features that are aimed at increasing energy efficiency. There is no point in listing them now, since we described in detail all the functions of Mavericks in large review, but take my word for it that even old MacBooks after an update get a “second life” in terms of battery life.

If for some reason you have not updated yet, I strongly recommend that you do so, especially since the update is completely free and you can easily download it from the Mac App Store.

Part 2: Extending Battery Life

Battery diagnostics and monitoring

It is very important to monitor the health of your MacBook's battery, so you need to take care of this first. Any specialized utility will be suitable for these purposes, for example the free Battery Diag, which will tell you literally everything about your battery: initial and current capacity, battery health, number of cycles and much more. After installation, the application icon will be placed in the menu bar, from where you can find out the most complete information.

Using Battery Diag, in combination with other tips in this article, will allow you to identify various problems that in one way or another affect the battery life of your MacBook and its battery life.

Impact of temperatures

Operating temperatures have a significant impact on battery life. They usually depend on how you use and store your MacBook. Apple clearly indicates these temperatures, for example, for my MacBook Pro (and for yours too), the operating temperatures in which operation is allowed are in the range from +10º C to +35º C. It is emphasized that the best temperature is considered to be as close as possible to room temperature, that is +22º C. Basically, these recommendations are followed “automatically”, since we are all living people and we are also uncomfortable working at high or low temperatures. However, this should not be completely neglected, since there are people who like to lie with their MacBooks on beds or soft sofas, where they feel “hot” surrounded by pillows and due to the lack of natural air circulation. In such cases, it would not be superfluous to use a hard surface, a special stand or table.

Prevention

It is believed that modern lithium batteries do not require maintenance and therefore do not require special attention to charge-discharge cycles. However, some experts still recommend adhering to reasonable rules, namely: avoiding deep battery discharge and long-term operation from the network. With a deep discharge, I think it’s clear that this has a detrimental effect on the battery capacity. But periodic disconnection from the network and operation from the built-in battery is necessary because the MacBook is constantly connected to the network, the battery works under more difficult conditions than with slow charging and discharging in the range of 40-80%.

Thus, it is advisable to unplug your MacBook at least once a week and work on the battery, discharging it to 40-60%. And twice a year it is necessary to carry out a full cycle of discharging up to 20% (when the poppy itself asks for charging) and charging up to 100%.

Long-term storage

Poppy farmers rarely part with their pets for more than a few hours, but there are still situations when we have to go somewhere for a long time, leaving our aluminum friend with a bitten apple at home. In this case, as in operation, you need to adhere to simple rules.

Firstly, do not forget about the temperature regime. Apple allows storing its devices at temperatures from -25º C to +45º C, however, it is recommended that the temperature be as close as possible to +22º C. That is, you should not leave them in the summer sun on a windowsill or in an unheated room in winter.

Secondly, you need to remember about the battery, since during long-term storage it is the battery that suffers the most. Before leaving your MacBook for a long time (more than 6 months), discharge it approximately halfway and store it in this state; charging it to 100% is not recommended. And, of course, don’t forget to turn it off completely to avoid deep discharge and possible loss of your data.

Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Welcome to the comments - I'm always happy to chat and help. Stay tuned, there is still a lot of interesting things to come!

The new MacBook Air, whose long-awaited release is due to take place soon, has caused a lot of controversy. The most criticized was Apple's decision to abandon all ports except the headphone jack and USB Type-C. The latter, due to its capabilities, should become a universal connector, responsible not only for connecting peripherals, but also external displays, as well as charging. Many were outraged, how can MagSafe be taken away from us? But let's not get excited and consider possible solutions, which Apple will use.

Perhaps the new MacBook Air will have battery life like an iPad

iPads have never had MagSafe, but hardly anyone complains about it. Tablet more mobile device with long battery life that is usually not used while charging. Following this logic, we can assume that the mobility of the new MacBook Air will be sufficient to change the usage scenario as in the iPad. The differences between MacBook and iPad lie in the form factor, as well as their use for different tasks and in different conditions. We hold the iPad in our hands while using it, so MagSafe is not necessary. Not so with the MacBook Air, and even assuming phenomenal battery life, you'll still need to charge it sometimes, which is where MagSafe would come in handy.

Additionally, the iPad's Lightning cable is significantly shorter than the MagSafe cable. If the new MacBook doesn't come with MagSafe, then perhaps Apple will provide it with a shorter cable, like the iPad, which in itself will reduce the possibility of tripping over it while charging.

Perhaps Apple will put MagSafe on the cable

If MagSafe does not fit into the case, which prevents it from being placed somewhere on the cable, at the adapter USB Type-C or at the charger itself? The adapter is not a very elegant solution, and it is also easy to lose. MagSafe at the charging connection point is also unlikely, so most likely it will take its place somewhere on the cable, closer to the laptop body.

Perhaps the new MacBook Air will be equipped with inductive charging like in Watch

A great idea that will appeal to most users, but there is one catch - there is no inductive technology yet that can provide enough current to charge a laptop. If any company could deliver something like this this year, it would be Apple. But there is another difficulty here - it is difficult to imagine the location of such a charger. If you place it at the bottom, the notebook will stand at an angle, the sides are too thin for this, and placement in the lid behind the display, for example, in the logo, would be ridiculous.

The charger for Apple Macbook Air (MacBook Air, MacBook Air) is a very reliable thing. However, since nothing ideal exists in nature, this accessory may fail and you will need to purchase a new one. In addition, the user can easily lose the charger and then, again, it will be necessary to purchase a replacement. In this article we will talk about the basic rules for purchasing a charger for Macbook Air.

In fact, there are no set rules for how long a Macbook Air charge can last. The cable and adapter should serve the user reliably for many years of use, regardless of the number of recharges.

Some owners of Apple laptops mistakenly blame charging for poor performance at the moment when the accumulator battery. Here there are certain restrictions on the number of cycles recharging macbook. However, there is also no exact answer to the question of how many recharge cycles a battery should work properly, but it is known that after a couple of years of operation, the battery takes longer to charge and discharges faster.

However, as you probably understand, replacing the charging cable will not help in this case; you just need to change the battery.

But let's return to the question of when to change Charger. This accessory should be replaced only if the charging process either does not occur at all or is constantly interrupted, and it has been diagnosed that the laptop battery has nothing to do with it. How to check who is to blame - the battery itself or the cable? Very simple! Try to charge the device with a different charger - if everything is in order, run for a new adapter, otherwise - for new battery. However, sometimes with the described behavior it is not even the battery that is to blame, but other “hardware” faults; a service center will help you figure out the specific problem.

Rules for purchasing a charger for Macbook Air

Buying the right laptop charger is very important - not certified accessories may not work correctly and render the device itself unusable.

First of all, before purchasing, you need to determine the laptop model. In order for a store consultant to sell you the correct accessory, he may need to either serial number, either the model identifier or its article number. You can view these parameters on the laptop body itself, on the device box, or in the device menu (Apple section, then “About This Mac”).

If you are going to purchase a charger in a specialized store, then the preparatory work is completed. Next, you simply go to the store, provide the information you found to the consultant, and they should sell you the correct charger.

If you want to order the accessory yourself via the Internet, you will need to independently determine which type of adapter is suitable for your model. But there is nothing complicated here, don’t be alarmed, your main guideline is the power of the adapter - there are six types - 29, 45, 60, 61, 85 and 87 Watts (W). Each MacBook group has its own power. For example, for a Macbook Air 13 inches A1466 a 45W adapter is suitable, but for the newest Macbook Pro you will need 87W. However, if we talk specifically about chargers for Macbook Air, and this article is dedicated to them, then it is important to note that 45W is a power that is suitable for all “air” laptops, and not just the A1466. The only point is that for models released after mid-2012 (A1466 is one of them, for example), you will need a 45-watt adapter with a Magsafe 2 magnetic connector; for those released earlier, you will need an L-shaped Magsafe connector, but also at 45 Watt.

Read more about how to determine the Macbook model and the adapter it needs in a special section of the official Apple website - here and here.

Where is the best place to buy a charger?

Well, now about the most important thing - where is the best place to buy a new charger for Macbook Air. This is a very important question and here's why. Network adapter for a MacBook, this is not a car charger for an iPhone - the device is not cheap, and therefore you should trust only proven resources. However, you shouldn’t overpay unnecessarily either.

An official charger, which you can buy, for example, on the Apple website, will cost 6,490 rubles! Not a little, you will agree. At the same time, in Chinese store On AliExpress, adapters are sold at prices of about 1000-1500 rubles.

However, we do not recommend either the first or the second. The “golden mean” is a cable that is not original, but certified. Such an accessory is guaranteed not to damage the laptop, which you are not insured against when purchasing cheap Chinese ones, but it will not ruin it either. Prices for certified chargers, depending on the model and store, range from 2000-4500 rubles.

Let's summarize

If the charger for your Macbook Air laptop is broken or lost, you will need to purchase a new one. The adapter type depends on the device model. The model is indicated in the device menu, on its body and the box in which it was supplied. Having determined the model, you should either go to a specialized store and ask a consultant to sell a charger suitable for your model. If you want to order an adapter via the Internet, two parameters will help you make sure that the accessory is suitable for you - the required power, for all Macbook Air - this is 45 Watts and the type of connector - for old models Magsafe L type, for new ones - MagSafe 2.

Important! Buy a certified cable, it is cheaper than the original one, but guarantees quality!

For any portable device, maximum battery life, charging speed and battery life are among the most important criteria. However, not everything depends on the manufacturer - proper operation and storage of the device will help to significantly increase the battery efficiency. And how to properly charge laptops Apple?

In contact with

Apple uses chemical batteries in its laptops that are designed with industry leading technologies. According to the developers, such a battery after 1000 complete charge/discharge cycles will reduce its maximum capacity by only 20%. In addition, with the transition to adaptive charging technology, the company's engineers managed to increase the overall battery life to 5 years. However, as mentioned above, these indicators imply correct operation of the device.

Common Use

So, the first time you turn it on, fully charge the battery and update the software (Apple quite often releases its devices that optimize their power consumption). When using the laptop further, keep in mind that for batteries prolonged downtime is extremely harmful. Apple describes the ideal user as someone who runs the device on battery power for part of the day and then places the batteries to charge. Apple does not recommend keeping your laptop plugged in at all times. If you rarely use your laptop without connecting to a power outlet, it is recommended to perform a full discharge/charge cycle at least once a month.

Long-term storage

If you need to “mothball” your MacBook for 6 months or more, it is recommended to discharge its battery by half. If the device is left idle for a long time with an “empty” battery, the device may stop charging (we will not mention traditional methods of “reanimation”), and long-term storage with a full charge can reduce the maximum capacity of the battery. In addition, it is necessary to remember the ambient temperature - in theory, Apple laptops can be stored at temperatures ranging from -25 to +45 degrees Celsius, but the ideal temperature is close to room temperature.

Operating system settings

As mentioned above, the developers software Apple is constantly trying to improve the energy efficiency of the system, but the user himself can influence the battery life of the device. Below are parameters that can be adjusted to help save battery power.

• Energy saving. This settings section allows you to define a number of parameters that automatically take effect when the MacBook is disconnected from the power supply. For low battery consumption, the device can reduce screen brightness, performance, resource consumption, etc.;
• Brightness. Apple developers recommend using the minimum comfortable level of screen brightness even in cases where it is important to maintain the functionality of the laptop for as long as possible;
• AirPort and Bluetooth. Wireless modules are constantly searching for connections and consume battery power even when there is no need for it. Disable these features to reduce your computer's power consumption;
• Applications and peripherals . Disconnect all unused devices (speakers, external keyboard, Bluetooth keypad, etc.) and close unnecessary applications - even in background they can affect the battery life of a MacBook.

With a little attention, you can increase your laptop's battery life (how long it can run on a single charge) and its lifespan. The most important thing is to use your Apple laptop within the acceptable temperature range (see Laptop Temperature Range). Do not leave your laptop in a closed case in summer as it may overheat.

New laptop

New Apple laptops use the latest chemistry technologies to significantly increase battery life. The built-in battery in MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air will last up to 1,000 full charge cycles before its capacity drops to 80% of its original capacity. In addition, adaptive charging technology has reduced battery wear - now their service life is up to 5 years. When you turn on your laptop for the first time, be sure to fully charge the battery and update the software. Apple periodically releases updates that can help optimize power consumption.

Standard routine maintenance

For supporting lithium battery in good condition it is necessary that the electrons in it are periodically in motion. Apple does not recommend keeping your laptop plugged in at all times. From this point of view, the ideal owner is a person who uses a laptop in transport and then puts it in the office to recharge. This way the battery does not stagnate. On the other hand, if you work on a desktop computer and only use your laptop occasionally when traveling, Apple recommends fully charging and discharging the battery at least once a month. Do you need to be reminded of this? Create an event in your iCal. If you find that the battery capacity is no longer sufficient for operation, you can replace it. Built-in batteries can only be replaced by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Long-term storage

If you know you won't use your laptop for more than six months, Apple recommends storing it with the battery at 50% charge. If stored with a completely discharged battery, it may enter a deep discharge state and lose its ability to charge. Long-term storage with a fully charged battery can lead to a partial loss of its capacity and a reduction in operating time. Always store your laptop at the proper temperature. (See Notebook Temperature Range section.)

Optimal settings

You can use your Apple laptop to get the longest battery life possible.

Energy. The Energy Saver panel has several options that let you determine the energy consumption level for your Apple laptop. Your laptop can detect when it is connected to the network and change its operating settings accordingly. When the laptop is running on battery power, the screen brightness decreases and all other components are used more sparingly. If you change the settings to ensure maximum performance, the battery will drain faster.

Brightness. Reduce the screen brightness to the minimum comfortable level, then the battery life will increase. For example, when watching a DVD on a flight with the cabin lights turned off, full brightness probably isn't necessary.

Wireless connection AirPort. When AirPort is turned on, more power is consumed - even when you're not using it. wireless connection. This function can be turned off on the relevant control panel to reduce energy consumption.

Bluetooth wireless connection. Likewise, you may want to turn off Bluetooth to improve battery life because the feature consumes power even when not in use.

Applications and peripherals. Disconnect any unnecessary devices and close apps you don't use. Remove CDs and DVDs if the laptop cannot access them.

Also, to save power consumption, you can reduce or turn off the keyboard backlight when it is not needed, for example, during the day.

You can select and purchase a MacBook in this section of our online store.