Magic Trackpad Battery Life

I'm adding this question to the group in spite of the several existing inquiries that have been submitted over the year or so since the TrackPad has been introduced by Apple because none of them have received a suitable response to the original question.
There appears to be a common theme and after my 3rd TrackPad (yes three), I have drawn the conclusion that this is a design and not a manufacturing defect causing these TrackPads to consume battery life very rapidly. In the past there was a firmware update that I thought would fix the issue but it never really did. I can't seem to find any other details on this from the Apple site and hope someone from Apple are reviewing this to provide further guidance.
Here's what I'm wondering:
Is there some way to help those of us who really enjoy using the TrackPad, to change some settings, or perhaps some CLI in Terminal to help reduce the rapid consumption of power by the TrackPad?
Is there an unadvertised firmware update that maybe we're missing?
Fortunately I had to move to rechargeable batteries because I just couldn't afford to keep regular batteries in the TrackPad. But that said, has anyone have recommendations for a great rechargeable battery that maybe holds a charge longer than others?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Regards

Happens all the time. The various means of reading battery strength are notorious for their inaccuracy. I put a new pair of rechargeable batteries in (100%) this morning and they are already down to 80% after about four hours work. But that of course is the value of the rechargeable batteries; you take out the expired ones and re-charge them immediately, so you always have batteries available.
If you have a few £s/$s/€s on hand, why not buy a respectable battery reader and compare the differences.

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Lost my magic trackpad battery cover

Hi,
I lost my magic trackpad battery cover. So, what should I do? Any suggestion? I don't want to buy a new one. Without the pad, it's really inconvenient.
Thanks.

This resource may be able to help.
https://www.ifixit.com/Store
And if you have a Premium reseller near you, they sometimes have their own workshops and may take one from a 'write off' for you.

Magic Trackpad battery usage

Hello Apple Discussions,
I am a brand new Magic Trackapd user (since 13th of August 2010), but I already noticed something strange. My battery power dropped from 100% to 89% for less than 4 days of continuous usage. My trackpad has been delivered with Energizer Alkaline batteries. I hope that situation will be better with Energizer Lithium batteries, but most of all should like to see a firmware update that is fixing the issue as soon as possible.
I also have Apple Wireless Keyboard (latest two battery release) which consumes less power. There are almost two months since I got the keyboard and battery dropped with only 1%. Hope to see the same with the Magic Trackpad as this tiny gadget is really working one of my favorite things having the Apple logo.
Anyone of you noticed the same higher consummation of power with the Magic Trackpad or it is just me?

chillvisio wrote:
Hello Apple Discussions,
I am a brand new Magic Trackapd user (since 13th of August 2010), but I already noticed something strange. My battery power dropped from 100% to 89% for less than 4 days of continuous usage. My trackpad has been delivered with Energizer Alkaline batteries.
Here's my battery life story.
Obviously, days between battery changes depend on use. I started with Alkaline batteries (Duracell) when I got the MT (Magic Trackpad) working. Battery life was about a month on the first set. I use the trackpad exclusively (of my three different devices- Magic Trackpad, Wacom tablet, Logitech S530 wireless mouse+keyboard) now, on my desktop MacPro.
I am now trying the Sanyo brand Eneloop batteries to compare. I didn't even notice the battery warnings until the screen flashed a battery low indicator. I also have been using two Eneloop's in my Logitech keyboard, with I think, excellent results (about three months of constant use, and the charge indicator does gradually falls off in that time until blinking a warning).
When I first inserted the rechargeable batteries their charge level said 83%. So I don't know if the life expectancy of the rechargeables will be close to that of alkaline (which said 98% when first started). Certainly it's more economical to use rechargeables. I use the mouse a lot. I see in this thread that results vary from a week or two to months.
Questions:
Does turning off the Trackpad make a big difference compared with leaving it set unused?
Does a rechargeable give way lower life than an alkaline?
What is the comparable battery life between the types of power sources- Alkaline, Eneloop, NIMH, Lithium?
Is there an app for archiving battery life information on the MT? There is one for the laptop and there is history in Profiler, so it seems there could be a way to get the data. Has anyone done it?
Is the low battery indicator (1.0V??) a false indication?
Henry
about the battery indicator...Message was edited by: HenryS

Trackpad battery life/death

Hello All,
My magic trackpad is eating my batteries quicker than I can buy them.
I just put in two brand new Duracell Plus Power Alkaine batteries and it is immediatly showing only 76% battery life.
Anyone else having this problem?
Steve

That's a little short for the trackpad but since it was the factory batteries, it's hard to tell if they truly had a full charge before you started using them. I typically get about 6 months on standard AA batteries for my trackpad. I've had my iMac for about a year now and I just replaced the batteries in my keyboard while I've replaced the batteries in the trackpad twice.
I'm not an egineer but thinking about it, it kind of makes sense that the trackpad would use batteries faster than the keyboard. With the keyboard, nothing really happens until you press a key. That completes a circuit on the board and sends data out the bluetooth radio. With the trackpad, it has to continually sense touches on it's surface. It's continually checking for a touch whether a touch is happening or not. Again, I'm not an engineer but that's what makes sense to me.

Magic Trackpad battery level nagging

I'm using a Magic Trackpad which sadly exists in BT version only.
Under 10.6, I'd be informed once in a while that the battery level was getting low, and those notifications would be once a day at most, and disappear automatically.
A true reminder for something not quite urgent that requires immediate attention.
With 10.9, those reminders have morphed into something really too intrusive. They keep coming back much more frequently, and require user intervention to disappear. That would be OKish if the level estimation were reliable (and then only under a really low value, say 3% or so). But they aren't: yesterday I got several messages interrupting my workflow and user experience (watching a movie) suggesting the batteries (Apple rechargables) were indeed dying rapidly, but after removing and putting them back they have now been at 14% for approx. 2h . The OS appears to consider that low; knowing how long you can still run on that kind of remaining juice I disagree.
So the question is: can these reminders be configured - if not specifically (per sender), at a user-wide or system-wide level?

This is getting ridiculous. The battery dropped to 2% last night, so I put in another charged pair of Eneloops, confirmed battery level at 100%, and put the laptop to sleep from the menu. This morning ... they're at 0%. (and disconnect immediately, so it's not just a monitoring problem).
If seems as if the trackpad never goes to sleep. Anyone else having these issues, or should I just contact Apple and see if they'll replace a 3 day old trackpad?

Improved Magic Mouse Battery Life

For me the late 2009 Aluminium Keyboard firmware update seems to have had a positive effect on the battery life of the Magic Mouse as well. Anyone else noticed this?
I actually didn't have problems with my keyboard battery life - still showing 72% on the first set after nearly 4 months, but I was guzzling batteries with the Magic Mouse - about 6 sets in the same period. Now a week after doing the update I've still got 100% on my Magic Mouse - woohoo!

Good to hear. I still have the same batteries in my keyboard since I bought the iMac on Dec. 28. Almost 2 months and they're at 58%. I obviously did the update so I don't know how its affected the battery life. I put lithium batteries in the mouse a week ago and they're still at 100%. Looking forward to seeing how long they will last. I was getting a month with alkalines before the update and I was fine with that but this should blow that away.

Magic Mouse Battery Life Is Poor

I'm using Duracell, Ultra Advanced AA batteries and I'm finding they last approximately on average 21 days.
Is anyone else seeing the same type of battery life on their Magic Mice?
Thanks!

Hello m:
21 days - if you use the computer quite a bit - is pretty good.
I stopped using regular batteries quite awhile ago. I use 2650 mAh Duracells and a 15 minute Duracell charger. I bought all of them on eBay (new) at a very reasonable price. Your overall cost when using rechargeables is lower and they are environmentally friendly. Rechargeables do not last as long as regular batteries (different voltage) but 15 minutes is as long as I am out of service.
Barry

Magic Trackpad battery issue: should I get a new one?

Hi,
I think my Magic Trackpad is dying... It started eating regular batteries, since I coulld not work more than 8 hours with them on the MT. I bought the Mobee Power Bar, but it dies in 3 hours...
http://www.mobeetechnology.com/the-power-bar.html
So, I guess my MT is dying. Any possible solutions? Thanks

Depends to some degree on the batteries, the means of charging (if they are rechargeable) or the level of quality if they are not. Rechargeable batteries have worked well for me though they do not give anything like the advertised working rate, I'm lucky to get 14 days. Alkaline batteries are often promoted 12 for the price of 6 or some equally stupid rate and are often substandard because of it.
What type are you using?

Trackpad battery life

I have a Trackpad that I use pretty heavily for software development and use the Apple rechargeable batteries/charger to power it. I seem to be "always" changing the batteries so I put a voltmeter on the batteries. A theoretically fully charged battery right off the charger measures 1.36 v. A nearly expired battery according to Preferences/Trackpad measures 1.26 v. This seems like an awfully narrow range. I would have expected operation down to 1 volt or so. It almost makes me want to use regular alkaline batteries.
Has anyone else been anal/crazy enough to note the voltage and/or life of recharged batteries?

That's a little short for the trackpad but since it was the factory batteries, it's hard to tell if they truly had a full charge before you started using them. I typically get about 6 months on standard AA batteries for my trackpad. I've had my iMac for about a year now and I just replaced the batteries in my keyboard while I've replaced the batteries in the trackpad twice.
I'm not an egineer but thinking about it, it kind of makes sense that the trackpad would use batteries faster than the keyboard. With the keyboard, nothing really happens until you press a key. That completes a circuit on the board and sends data out the bluetooth radio. With the trackpad, it has to continually sense touches on it's surface. It's continually checking for a touch whether a touch is happening or not. Again, I'm not an engineer but that's what makes sense to me.

My magic trackpad battery leaked and now I can't get it out.. Is my trackpad ruined?

The NiCad battery in my trackpad leaked, is the device ruined? Or can I pry it out, find some way to clean it, and use it again? I hate to have to buy a new one.

It's probably OK. Put on rubber gloves and goggles, punch a small hole it the battery, and pull it out with a corkscrew. (Clean the corkscrew before using it for wine.)
Holding the trackpad with the battery opening facing down, clean the battery compartment with a rolled up paper towel moistened first with vinegar or lemon juice, then plain water, then dry.

Why Is My Magic Mouse battery life draining rapidly?

I am using the mouse with a apple wireless keyboard which is 100% (battery) but the magic mouse is 83%.

common
Ive got 2 mac mini
the magic mouse is a tad of a battery hog.
My magic mouse (both of them) use batts. about 3X as fast or more than keyboard, for obvious reasons.
Mouse is perpetually sending signal when moving and gets a lot more transmission output than typing by a long shot.
Magic mouse is transmitting about 20X as much as a keyboard is, why would you wonder why its using more batteries?

Magic Mouse Battery Life

Got an iMac 27'' late 2013 recently. Serial number says that machine was built in April. Bought it in July. And after two weeks of usage batteries in mouse died. I use Windows 7 64-bit for most of my time. For like 16 or even 18 hour everyday. For work and heavy gaming. Thought batteries were old or something. Bought 2400 mAh Durecells. Looking on percentage, they are going to die in ten days or less. Having quite busy days now, can't relly measure thing in OS X. Any tips? Windows? Too heavy usage? Faulty? People are talking about some marvelous four month! What the ****?

Four months with a magic mouse. Not a hope. Here are a few notes I made a while ago that may be of some guidance. ***** Whether you use regular or rechargeable batteries you should buy the best. Discounted or unbranded batteries are more likely to give a depleted performance and may be of irregular size, often leading to connection problems. Apple’s own brand, Eneloop and Energiser appear to be the best. Rechargeable batteries for the standard Magic mouse are unlikely to exceed eighteen days before needing a recharge although the mouse itself can be a limiting factor. I have seen reports that some Logitech mice vastly exceed this. Apple may suggest more in their sales blurb but this is a realistic expectation. The benefit (if you are organised) is that you can always have charged batteries available. Regular batteries will give you between 25 and 35 days before they need to be replaced. Note. Never mix old and new batteries or rechargeable and regular. The notes above are based on my personal experience, not shutting down my machine and using it for around four hours per day. Note. Monitors do not always faithfully report battery strength, particularly the rechargeable ones. When checking your mouse or keyboard batteries ... Turn off the device. Remove the batteries, Clean the terminals both inside the battery compartment and the batteries themselves. Replace or renew both batteries. Turn on the device. You should get a blinking green light if the device is paired. Click the mouse to activate it. The green light becomes steady.

Magic Mouse Battery Life & Preferences in 10.6

Hello everyone.
I have two questions that I hope someone can help with. First, my magic mouse seems to need new batteries every two weeks. Are you supposed to turn off the mouse overnight or just let it run and does two weeks seem normal?
Also I know that there are a bunch of preferences that can be ignored when repairing them in Disk Utility but lately, I've been getting what seems like hundreds. Any new thoughts on preferences?
Thanks. Rich

WZZZ,
If you're still there, I'm sorry I got back to to this topic so late. A month ago, I started using rechargeable batteries and I'm happy to say that they last anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks depending on computer usage. This compares to regular alkaline which I was replacing every 2 weeks or so. Apple sells them but I use the rechargeable batteries from my digital camera.
In regard to Permissions, I repair them while booted from the actual drive and not from an external drive. In Tiger, I seldom got more than a few using Disk Utility but in Snow Leopard, I get at least 25 or so every time. I repair them before and after installing updates.
After updating to 10.6.7, I got one message which I had never seen before. While the Permissions were repaired by Disk Utility, one message said,"Warning: SUID file System/Library/Core Service" has been modified and will not be repaired. While this has never happened before, I have been informed that this sometimes happens and is normal and that I should not be concerned. Any thoughts on this?
Rich

Magic mouse battery life question

I've used my mouse for ~20 hours and its life has dropped from 100% to 85%. I've read other posts about buying lithium-ion AAs but is 133 hours of mouse life normal? My keyboard is still at 100% for the same 20 hours of work.
Thanks,
RLK

Lithium batteries definitely last the longest in a MM but they're not cheap, and they're also not good for the environment when they end up in a landfill either. I suggest acquiring a set of high capacity NiMh rechargeables - four ought to be enough. Each pair wont last anywhere near as long as the disposables, and due to the way the MM measures the remaining charge wont even start at 100% when you first put them in either, but they'll save you tons of money in the long run, as well as being a lot greener. I keep a pair lightly trickling in the charger to avoid self-discharge, ready to swap over the moment they're needed. Works a treat.

Horrible Bluetooth Keyboard Battery Life - Since Magic Mouse?

I'm having a weird issue that is driving me nuts. I've noticed that over the past couple weeks I've had to replace the batteries in my Apple bluetooth keyboard several times because it is draining at a rate of about 18-20% a day, even when I'm not at home using it or using it much at all. I have the first version of the mini keyboard, the one that takes three batteries. I used to get great battery life and only had to replace them maybe once every few months so something is definitely wrong. The only thing that I can think of that has changed is that I went from the bluetooth Mighty Mouse to the Magic Mouse. As a result I had to install the update that came out to support it and then shortly after, 10.6.2.
I have tried all the typical stuff like removing both the keyboard and mouse from Bluetooth setup, doing fresh pairings, etc. Nothing has helped. At this point I've deleted the Magic Mouse and gone back to the Mighty Mouse to see if that makes a difference, but I already hate it and greatly prefer the Magic Mouse. I'm hoping that someone here has seen or had this issue before and can point me in another direction that helps.
Thanks!

Cross posting:
Perhaps inquire directly of Apple Care. Gizmodo's review (http://gizmodo.com/5386202/apple-magic-mouse-review ) relays a claim about the Magic Mouse battery life saying, "it's powered by two AA batteries, which get up to four months of use per charge, according to Apple."
Engadget's preview (link follows) included the same reference, the related headline read, "Apple's Magic Mouse: one button, multitouch gestures, Bluetooth, four-month battery life."
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/apples-magic-mouse-multitouch-gestures-blueto oth-four-month/
Finding support for Gizmodo's reference ("according to Apple") and Engadget's headline may be a little more difficult. Perhaps I haven't read the press release carefully enough. Clip below, from that Apple press release:
"Apple Introduces Magic Mouse," press release, 20 Oct 2009, Apple.com (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/10/20magicmouse.html : accessed 24 Nov 2009), in part, "Magic Mouse uses Bluetooth wireless capabilities to create a clean, cable-free desk top and its secure wireless connection works from up to 10 meters away. To extend battery performance, Magic Mouse includes an advanced power management system that works with Mac OS® X to automatically switch to low power modes during periods of inactivity. The wireless Magic Mouse is powered by two AA batteries which are included."
Hope this helps.

Magic Trackpad Battery Life

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