How to Check Battery Health and Cycle Count on a MacBook or iPhone
Battery condition is the biggest single difference between two used devices of the same model, so it is one of the first things we check when we buy and state when we sell. Here is how to read it yourself on a MacBook and on an iPhone.
MacBook: cycle count and condition
- Hold the Option key and click the Apple menu › System Information.
- Choose Power in the sidebar.
- Under Battery Information, read Cycle Count and Condition (Normal or Service Recommended).
On recent macOS versions, System Settings › Battery › the (i) next to Battery Health also shows the maximum capacity as a percentage.
iPhone: battery health and cycle count
- Open Settings › Battery › Battery Health (Battery Health & Charging on older iOS) to see Maximum Capacity as a percentage.
- On iPhone 15 and later, Settings › General › About also shows the Cycle Count.
What the numbers mean
- Maximum capacity: 85% or more is good for daily use. Lower still works, but runs out sooner.
- Cycle count: one cycle is 100% of the battery used, even across several charges. Low numbers on an older device usually mean it was kept on the charger.
- Service Recommended (Mac) or a service message (iPhone): the battery needs replacing. It lowers a buyback offer but does not stop the sale.
Selling? Screenshot these screens and send them with your sell request. Buying? We state battery health on every used MacBook and used iPhone.