The latest version of macOS, Sonoma, includes an unforeseen solution for improving battery life on the 13-inch MacBook Air.
Macworld
The latest 13-inch MacBook Air will receive a targeted upgrade in Apple’s new macOS Sonoma software update, released on Tuesday. The update includes a feature that improves long-term battery health on these specific machines, as noted in the release.
The exact changes made to improve this feature, initially reported by MacRumors, are not fully known. Apple does not provide details on how these optimizations were achieved, only mentioning an update to battery health management in the final line of the release notes. This feature was first introduced in a Catalina update in 2020.
Battery health management does not immediately impact the lifespan of a Mac’s battery. Instead, its purpose is to slow down the deterioration of battery performance. This function reviews the charging history and typical temperature levels of your Mac, and then modifies the charging process to minimize harm to the battery.
It is unclear why Apple specifically chose to prioritize the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air over the 15-inch Air and 13-inch Pro, as they all use the same chip. There are no commonly known problems with this machine or its battery performance. However, since it was released last summer, any potential long-term issues may not have surfaced yet. In our review, we commended its exceptional battery life, but this was based on intensive testing for several weeks, not months.
There is a possibility that Apple is proactively addressing a potential issue that has not yet been recognized by the general public or media. However, it is also possible that we are overanalyzing a minor improvement that the company did not heavily promote because it is not significant.
The macOS Sonoma is a no-cost update for software that is compatible with the following devices:
- MacBook (2015 or newer)
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The MacBook Air released in 2012 or later.
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Newer models of the MacBook Pro that were released in 2012 or later.
- Mac mini (2012 or newer)
- iMac (2012 or newer)
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The iMac Pro released in 2017 or later.
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The Mac Pro released in 2013 or later.
Follow our easy tutorial to install Sonoma on your Mac.
