Unofficial archive. This is a read-only, community-run archive of the Apple Support Community. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.
ArtizanX
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

MacBook Pro M5max battery health dropping quickly

Hi I just bought the Macbook Pro M5max back on around April.

My scope of use are as per below.

  • Photo editing via LR Classic 1-2 times per week. Each time edit around 3-400 images and export around 20% of the editing images.
  • Short video editing via Capcut less than 1 hour per week.
  • Use most of the time in Clamshell mode.
  • Mostly charged to 100% and it was set to bypass the battery.
  • EOD no power off just put it on sleep.
  • Around end of Aug battery heath was showing as 99% from the 100% with 12 cycle count
  • So i just turn on the optimize charge to be at 80%.
  • However, again today as per check it showing that it now drop to 98% with just only 13 cycles.

Is this expected ? Do anyone know what I might missed to setting to avoid the bettery health drop so fast.

Also, while charging I turn it to the HIGH power mode.

Posted on Sep 19, 2026 1:12 AM

1 reply

leroydouglas
User level: Level 10 (208,430 points)

Sep 19, 2026 11:22 AM in response to ArtizanX

ArtizanX wrote:
• Hi I just bought the Macbook Pro M5max back on around April.
My scope of use are as per below.
Photo editing via LR Classic 1-2 times per week. Each time edit around 3-400 images and export around 20% of the editing images.
• Short video editing via Capcut less than 1 hour per week.
• Use most of the time in Clamshell mode.
• Mostly charged to 100% and it was set to bypass the battery.
• EOD no power off just put it on sleep.
• Around end of Aug battery heath was showing as 99% from the 100% with 12 cycle count
• So i just turn on the optimize charge to be at 80%.
• However, again today as per check it showing that it now drop to 98% with just only 13 cycles.
Is this expected ? Do anyone know what I might missed to setting to avoid the bettery health drop so fast.
Also, while charging I turn it to the HIGH power mode.


Seems normal enough. I would not worry about.

It is not necessarily a linear progression downward. Just use you Mac as you see fit.


The rule of thumb—if you are near the mains leave it plugged in, if you need the portability then run on the battery only—this is how you help optimize your battery charging and extend the working life of your battery by reducing the cycle count.


About Optimized Battery Charging and Charge Limit on Mac

About Optimized Battery Charging and Charge Limit on Mac - Apple Support



Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256360300