Core i7 MacBook Pro Battery Life Not Close to 8-9 Hours?
Apple is claiming that their new MacBook Pros will run for up to 8-9 hours†on a single charge. With regular use, including benchmarking, editing video, typing and surfing the Internet, the battery on a 15-inch MacBook Pro configured with the Intel Core i7 processor ran for only 5:18, according to a review at Engadget. That should not at all be surprising to seasoned notebook computer observers. Most companies claim up to†a certain level of battery life and usually you can be certain that it will only get 60-75 percent of that figure. Using the 8 hour mark, 5:18 is about 66 percent of the claimed battery life.
With the release of the iPad, Apple not only met the the advertised battery life, but in the experience of many users exceeded it. In my own test my iPad got 11:15. The iPad has a very controlled set of conditions in which it operates making predictions of things like battery life easier to make than on a less controlled platform like a notebook computer. But the iPad figures still had some hoping up to†8-9 hours meant we would see very close to 8-9 hours. Unfortunately, it is back to the norm of over promises from the marketing department.
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- 15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Life As Advertised | Notebooks.com | April 16, 2010
I think that's why they put a disclaimer on the bottom. You should try the tests again with usage close to the disclaimer, you will still probably be under the advertised time if you upgraded hardware in your macbook.
“Testing conducted by Apple in March 2010 using preproduction 2.53GHz Intel Core i5–based 17-inch MacBook Pro units. Battery life depends on configuration and use. See http://www.apple.com/batteries for more information. The wireless productivity test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing various websites and editing text in a word processing document with display brightness set to 50%.” They used a 17″ with an i5 Processor, 50% screen brightness, 5400 RPM Hard drive, and did not do any benchmark tests or video editing.
Is this even all that surprising though. In the rare cases when devices exceed their manufactures predictions, but that's usually only on small/portable devices similar to the iPad.
Laptops on the other hand have always been 'blessed' with shitty predictions which is why you shouldn't ever be surprised by these numbers.
Of course Engadget is only ONE source that you've taken these figures from, for example other websites that have reviewed the same configuration of laptop have received different results, 6 hours video run-down, 7 hours surfing the web at 75% nit.
Apple's website, much like the previous commenter do specify that they tested this battery at 50% brightness and doing simple tasks; email, web-browsing and word processing.
It's always a sticky issue when you advertise numbers. If everybody inflates numbers, you look bad if you don't. That's why you see mini-trucks today with advertised load ratings that border on criminal recklessness.
I've been doing my own test with a new 13″ MacBook Pro (advertised 10 hours). But I blew it. I started at 12:00 noon, did a 2.3 gb download, some compiling, some video some web browsing. Probably 4.5 hours worth. Then I got called away, and left the computer sitting there with work on the screen. I started using it again (man, it wakes up fast compared to PC's) at 3:00 am, and now it's 4:30 am. So 6 hours of solid use, and 10.5? hours of sitting on standby. The indicator says 20%.
What that tells me, is for my use, I can expect a full days work before recharge, even if I don't turn it off. So far, it has better life than any of our other notebooks or even a small Netbook with an extended battery pack. In particular, the 17″ Dell with extended battery pack sitting right here is lucky of go 4 hours of solid use, sometimes as low as 2.5.
This might be the first notebook I've owned in 10 years that I don't have to bring the charger with me.
What is causing the battery life issues seems to be apps that use certain graphics frameworks that trigger the MBP to switch to the discrete graphics. I've identified several apps that do this and have been switching to alternatives that don't trigger the switch when I'm concerned about battery life.
When running on the integrated graphics, I'm easily seeing 6 to 9 hours (and even saw 11.5 hours when running just Safari) on my 15″ i7 MacBook Pro.
The battery's red warning light on my 17″ i5 popped on after surfing the internet after only 4 hours at most. In addition to safari being open, I also had photoshop (small screen rez file) and dreamweaver open. I am a bit disappointed but not surprised. Glad to see that I am not the only person with the same issue.
I agree, the tests given that show a shorter battery life don't compare to the tests the manufacturer gives. I own a 17″ uMBP with 7200rpm HHD. The computer was manufactured in November 2009, and I have gotten a few minutes over 9 hours out of the battery life, after a full calibration, running 50-75% brightness on the screen, depending on the light around me. I also ran the keyboard between 25-50% brightness. I was doing little more than websurfing (wireless), text editing, and organizing folders, and transferring some items to and from my other computers (wireless).
With my average use, I usually get 4-5 hours out of the battery, but that includes playing online games and editing photos & video.
Just got back from the 'genius bar' at the Apple store. The tech said that my 17″ i5 was running perfectly but that the 8-9 hour battery life is based on the monitor at half brightness and 1 or 2 simple tasks, such as emailing. That probably does't include Safari. Sucks!!! Ain't that speciall?!!!!!. EEEeeeeeeeerrrrRRRRRRRRR!!!
my 15'' says 8-9 and I get 7-8 on wireless. Add flash and I get 4. Not very happy with that as well as 70degrees running youtube
Anyone else having problems with there MacBook Pro battery not holding a charge for more than 10 minutes? UGGGG
what the??~~ the review clearly stated that 5:18 hr was a 15″ macbook pro i7 stand def video rundown test. why is this article claim that it was a 17″??
what the??~~ the review clearly stated that 5:18 hr was a 15″ macbook pro i7 stand def video rundown test. why is this article claim that it was a 17″??
When my core i7 Mac Book Pro (17″) is fully charged (100%) I am in operation for just minutes before it says I only have about 6 hours remaining on the battery. As far as I am concerned the Mac Genius (??) is merely spouting the company line. I am not using heavy graphics. That's a far cry from the promised 8-9 hours, and the excuses sound like weasel-wording to me. I have been cheated, and so have you who sit back and accept the excuses. Promises were not kept. Either that, or Apple is guilty of false advertising. All 1–800-SOSAPPLE to complain loud and long.