u/xShadowPro

I just want to make sure I understand how Apple’s battery management works on modern MacBooks, especially the M5 air.

I originally had my charge limit set to 90%, but macOS seems to have lowered it to 80% because it detected that my Mac would stay plugged in for a long period of time. From what I understand, this is intentional and actually encouraged for battery longevity.

My understanding is:

• Keeping the Mac plugged in while at a desk is fine
• Limiting the battery to 80% helps reduce long-term battery wear
• Once the battery reaches the limit, the Mac primarily runs off AC power instead of constantly cycling the battery
• Modern MacBooks are smart enough to manage this automatically without “overcharging”

Coming from years of older laptops where keeping them plugged in 24/7 absolutely cooked the battery over time, this feels almost backwards compared to old advice. But from everything I’ve read, Apple’s current battery management system seems designed specifically for this use case.

Also, I want to be clear, I have zero complaints about the battery life, it’s honestly incredible. I’m mainly trying to fact-check whether keeping it plugged in at my desk with the charge capped is actually the healthiest long-term setup for the battery while using it at home.

Am I understanding this correctly?

Thank you :)