MacOS 10.15.5 to include new battery management tool to increase battery lifespan

The next update for macOS 10.15.5 Catalina will be a boon for those that plan on holding onto their MacBooks for a long time. The next version of macOS 10.15.5 will include a new tool that will help lengthen the overall lifespan of a lithium-ion battery.

The new battery health management tool is “designed to improve your battery's lifespan by reducing the rate at which it chemically ages,” according to support documents on Apple’s website. 

The new battery health feature will monitor some aspects of the laptop’s battery like temperature and charging patterns. According to Apple:

Based on the measurements that it collects, battery health management may reduce your battery's maximum charge when in this mode. This happens as needed to ensure that your battery charges to a level that's optimized for your usage—reducing wear on the battery, [sic] and slowing its chemical aging.

Don’t think this new feature will help your MacBook last longer between recharges. On the contrary, Apple says the feature may “reduce the amount of time your Mac runs on one battery charge when capacity limits are applied.” The feature can be turned off to maximize individual charges. 

What are your thoughts on the upcoming battery health management tool? Will you leave the feature on to extend your battery’s overall life or turn it off to extend runtimes? Let us know in the comments below.