The latest MacBook Pro with Touch Bar launched by Apple last month isn’t off to a fleeting start. A handful of users who’ve purchased this new model are now taking to internet forums to complain about the shorter-than-expected battery life of their devices. The development was first reported by Apple-focused publication MacRumors.
While the Cupertino had advertised the new MacBook Pros to have a battery life of up to 10 hours, the users claim that they’re able to get only a mere 3 to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is far less ( <50 percent) than the company advertised at the launch event.
Here are a couple testimonials from forum users, who’re unable to get past the 3-hour mark when regularly using Chrome or playing a game on the MacBook Pro.
Currently, I’m powering a 1080p external monitor and casually browsing with Chrome. At full charge, I’m getting an estimate of 3 hours battery life. With gaming, it’s even less,
says forum member SRTM.
This is the case when using the 15-inch model extensively. But users with the maxed out 13-inch Touch Bar model have also been witnessing around 5 to 6 hours of battery backup on a single charge. This is the reported average time for a regular user. Other MacBook Pro users have also been posting screenshots of their batteries depleting faster than usual in mere minutes. While surfing on Chrome, users have reported a 5 percent drop in battery life in just 5 minutes.
Apple describes the process of testing the advertised battery life as follows:
The wireless web test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing 25 popular websites with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%. The iTunes movie playback test measures battery life by playing back HD 1080p content with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%. The standby test measures battery life by allowing a system, connected to a wireless network and signed into an iCloud account, to enter standby mode with Safari and Mail applications launched and all system settings left at default.
The average battery life is expected to vary from one MacBook Pro to another, depending on screen brightness, background processes, and other factors. The switch from the usual Intel integrated graphics to the new memory and power intensive AMD Radeon Pro 460 graphics is being cited as the primary cause of the same.
In addition, the new graphics processor is also being linked to another major problem with the MacBook Pro. Several other users of these devices with the Touch Bar are also experiencing graphical glitches while using certain apps and programs on the system.
We’ve contacted Apple for a comment on the battery life situation and will update you once we hear back. But, is Apple looking to follow Samsung and compete to see who can deliver a more defected product? Lol, just kidding.
The Cupertino giant has detailed numerous tips and method to enable users to maximize the battery life of their MacBook Pros. This includes updating to the latest version of macOS, optimizing Energy Saver settings, dimming the screen brightness to the lowest comfortable level, and turning off Wi-Fi while not in use.
