Use the information in this section to achieve the best balance between performance and power efficiency.
Rechargeable battery pack
Your computer includes a built-in, rechargeable battery pack that makes mobile computing a reality. When the computer is plugged into an electrical outlet, the battery charges. If you use the computer when you don't have access to an electrical outlet, the battery discharges to supply electricity that the computer system requires for operation.
You can charge the battery any time you want. The battery packs of Lenovo computers support multiple charging modes that are suitable for different power usage habits. You can switch the battery’s active charging mode in Lenovo Vantage, Lenovo PC Manager, or Lenovo Smart Engine.
Battery charging is also affected by its temperature. The recommended temperature range for charging the battery is between 10°C (50°F) and 35°C (95°F).
- You can check the battery temperature in Lenovo Vantage.
- To maximize the life of the battery, once the battery is fully charged, it must discharge to 94% or lower before it will be allowed to recharge again.
Normal mode
Normal mode is the most basic charging mode. In normal mode, it typically takes 2 to 4 hours for the battery to charge from 0% to 100%.
Rapid charge mode
If you want the battery to be charged faster than in normal mode, switch the battery charging to rapid charge mode. The following table lists the typical time needed for batteries in rapid charge mode to be charged to 80% and 100% respectively.
Table: Reference charge time for batteries in rapid charge mode
| Mode | Time needed to charge from 0% to 80% | Time needed to charge from 0% to 100% |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid charge | Less than 1 hour | Less than 2 hours |
Conservation mode
If your computer is constantly plugged into an electrical outlet, consider switching the battery charging to conservation mode. In conservation mode, the battery will not be fully charged. Instead, the battery’s charge will be kept within 75%–80%. This is beneficial to the long-term health of the battery.
If you want the battery to be fully charged before bringing the computer to work, disable conservation mode by switching the battery charging to normal or rapid charge mode.
Nighttime charge optimization
Some people follow a regular pattern when using their computers. They finish their workday with the computer at a low battery charge level. They plug in their computers at night and need the battery to be fully charged the next morning so they can unplug the computer and bring it to work. These activities happen at approximately the same time each day. If this sounds like you, consider enabling nighttime charge optimization for the battery.
Nighttime charge optimization affects battery charging during the night hours, the time when you’re usually asleep. When it is enabled, the computer regularly adapts its charging behavior based on observation of when you plug in the computer at night and unplug it in the morning. During the nighttime, the battery is charged to a particular range and is kept within that range for an extended period, before being further charged to 100%. Nighttime charge optimization ensures safe charging during the night and is beneficial to the long-term health of the battery.
With nighttime charge optimization enabled, if you break your routine one day by unplugging the computer much earlier than usual in the morning, you may find that the battery is not fully charged.
If the battery pack of your computer supports nighttime charge optimization, it can be enabled in Lenovo Vantage, Lenovo PC Manager, or Lenovo Smart Engine.
Recover full battery capacity
If your computer is constantly plugged in to an electrical outlet and the battery rarely discharges, the battery may not be charged to its full capacity even if the battery meter reports 100% charge. You can recover the battery’s full charging potential simply by discharging and re-charging the battery.