Tech watchers already know that Apple has been facing a barrage of complaint due to the inaccuracy of the 2016 MacBook Pro battery estimate feature. The company has addressed this problem with the release of the macOS Sierra 10.12.2 update.
Unfortunately its solution is not a fix as the feature has been eliminated for good.
Users will no longer find it in the dropdown menu once the battery icon is clicked on the taskbar. Certainly, that would not appease restless consumers who already depend on that feature when using the MacBook Pro. It used to help in estimating the time left before the need to recharge. One could also turn to it to determine whether it is time to wrap up tasks if no power outlet is in sight.
Cause Of The MacBook Battery Estimate Inaccuracy
Based on reports, Apple is said to have repeatedly checked the MacBook Pro's battery and found that there is no problem on that front. The company purportedly discovered that the battery estimate discrepancy is largely caused by the relationship dynamics between the Intel Skylake-based chips and the battery life estimate algorithm itself.
macOS Sierra can only calculate battery life based on the on-going or open processes at one particular moment. Now, the Intel chip outfitted in the 2016 MacBook Pros has highly dynamic power states.
So consider the fact that your MacBook Pro's battery has sound health. It will be translated in actual use but it is not reflected in the battery estimate if the system is running in full steam.
MacBook Pro Bug Fixes
Apple may have ditched the battery estimate feature but it has not given up on other problematic areas. The macOS Sierra update provides several patches to a number of issues and these include the graphics bug that triggers the so-called visual artifacts.
The system update also added to the list of fixes, the update that solves files syncing problem so that unsuspecting users are no longer alarmed if, during an iCloud backup process, files seem to disappear.
There are also performance enhancements such as the improved Bluetooth audio for FaceTime conversations or when using Siri. In addition, the MacBook Pro will now support the installation of Windows 7 or 8 via Boot Camp.
These changes would probably outweigh the disappearance of the battery estimate feature especially for those who are not overly concerned about battery life estimates. It is not yet clear, however, if the update will fix the battery life problem that has been plaguing some users. Several users claim that they can only eke out three to six hours from their MacBook Pro.
