MacBook Pros Battery Life Problems Cost Lack of Recommendation from Consumer Reports

By Precious Gem de Peralta
13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Consumer Reports has not given the new MacBook Pros a "recommended" rating. Based on the evaluation done by the non-profit organization, the latest Apple laptops suffered on its "highly" inconsistent battery life based on the three consecutive they conducted. salchuiwt via Flickr

The review of Consumer Reports on Apple’s new MacBook Pros has just been released. Unfortunately, the battery woe of the latest Apple laptops has cost the lack of a recommendation from the non-profit organization. The Consumer Reports is not the only that has taken noticed of the MacBook Pros’ battery problem. In fact, a lot of users have also expressed the same thing.

According to the Business Insider, this is actually the first time for an Apple device to not receive a “recommended” rating from the Consumer Reports. Based on their evaluation, the new MacBook Pro laptops have done well when it comes to performance and display quality. However, the lab tests also revealed the inconsistency of the device’s battery life. The Consumer Reports used the 13-inch model without the Touch Bar, the 13-inch model with a Touch Bar and the 15-inch model. They were all purchased from a retail store.

They did three consecutive tests that involved downloading a series of 10 web pages sequentially and setting the laptop’ screen to remain on. It turned out that the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar lasted for 16 hours in the first trial, 12.75 hours in the second and only 3.75 hours in the third. As for the 13-inch model without the Touch Bar, it worked for as much as 19.5 hours and at least 4.5 hours in the next trial. The battery life for the 15-inch model was within 8 to 18.5 hours.

Apparently, the Consumer Reports had already informed Apple of the test results. However, the tech company declined to comment. They only said in an emailed statement “Any customer who has a question about their Mac or its operation should contact AppleCare.”

It should be noted that Apple has recently rolled out a MacOS 10.12.2 Sierra software update. Those who are using the new MacBook Pros will no longer find the “time remaining” battery indicator. Instead, the new battery life status will display a percentage of the remaining battery life, according to 9to5Mac. Apple mentioned that this change will lead to a more accurate prediction of how long your battery will last. The Apple Insider reported that this might have been driven by complaints of the new MacBook Pro’s short battery life. The company previously pointed out that the problem is not with the hardware.

The battery life is one of a few issues on the new MacBook Pro. Such review on Apple’s latest laptops might be the reason why more people are switching to other devices such as Microsoft's Surface Book. In fact, Microsoft said that the success of their Surface models was somewhat caused by the “disappointment of the new MacBook Pro”. Microsoft boasted on its website that November became their best month for Surface sales. The tech giant also has a trade-in program for MacBook.

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo