Bug 443761

Summary:	Optional "smart" time-based charging to 100% when charge limit feature is in use
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	Jessica <kde>
Component:	Power management & brightness	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	CONFIRMED ---
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	nate, nicolas.fella
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.2.4
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	unspecified
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Jessica 2021-10-15 05:44:36 UTC

SUMMARY

As of macOS Big Sur, Apple has introduced a feature that helps prolong battery life on its MacBook laptops and its mobile devices. Basically, it adds some smarts to hold the battery charge at 80% while plugged in, and will then at some statistically determined time charge the battery to 100% so your battery will be fully charged by the time you to regularly take it off the charger. If you need to fully charge it sooner, you can do that, and it will incorporate that into its statistics.

I thought it would be super neat for KDE to have such a feature.

I have uploaded a bunch of screenshots of the interface on macOS - link to album: https://imgur.com/a/lBbaHDL (I used Imgur, because unfortunately I can't seem to upload multiple attachments to this bug report?) :

1) Screenshot #1 (1-holding at 80 percent.png; from the system tray) shows the battery being held at 80% charge. Note the "Will be charged by 6:00 PM" info, and the option to "Charge to Full Now".

2) Screenshot #2 (2-charging.png; from the system tray) shows the regular, currently charging interface.

3) Screenshot #3 (3-fully charged.png; from the system tray) shows the interface when the battery has been fully charged.

4) Screenshot #4 (4-battery settings.png; from system preferences) shows the Battery Settings. Note the "Optimised battery charging" setting.

5) Screenshot #5 (5-battery health settings.png; from system preferences / battery settings) shows the Battery Health settings (from the Battery Health button in Screenshot #4 above).


LINKS

* https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT211832 (linked to from "Learn More..." button from Screenshot #5)

* https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT212049 (info about the smart charging)


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Note, I am a current macOS user and former (+ current on occasion) KDE user. But I think it's a good thing to highlight positives from other OSes for potential incorporation into KDE :)

Unfortunately I don't have the technical ability to do this :(

Thank you so much!

Comment 1 Jessica 2021-10-15 05:55:50 UTC

Oh, another screenshot which I forgot to add: https://imgur.com/a/Q75U0ol

6) Screenshot #6 (6-uncheck optimised battery charging.png) When unchecking the "Optimised battery charging" checkbox in Screenshot #4, this dialog pops up confirming your choice, asking to turn it off permanently, or only temporarily until tomorrow.

Sorry!

Comment 2 Nicolas Fella 2021-10-15 12:02:19 UTC

Plasma already supports battery charge limits, but only if the hardware supports it

Comment 3 Jessica 2021-10-15 12:08:00 UTC

(In reply to Nicolas Fella from comment #2)
> Plasma already supports battery charge limits, but only if the hardware
> supports it

Hi Nicolas!

I was thinking more around the smarts aspect of it, learning your charging routine, etc. :)

Also to clarify, is that charge limit when the laptop will start charging the battery (i.e. instead of charging at like 95%, it will start charging at 80%)? If so, that's a bit different to this feature request.

Thanks!

Comment 4 Nate Graham 2021-10-15 17:15:34 UTC

Yeah, Android does this too.

Comment 5 Jessica 2021-10-16 02:18:53 UTC

(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #4)
> Yeah, Android does this too.

Thanks Nate!

I can't seem to find any unified implementation for Android. It seems it's a custom feature added by manufacturers to their phones and goes by many names (e.g. "Battery Care" for Sony devices, "AI Charging" for ASUS devices, etc). The implementation may not be consistent across all Android platforms.

It seems Google's Pixel 3 and above have a _somewhat_ similar feature, detailed here ( https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6090612 ) under "“Optimizing for battery health” (Pixel 3 & later)", and only activates when either one of the conditions below are met:

* Continuous charge under high battery drain conditions, like game play.
* Continuous charge for 4 days or more.
* Battery temperature reaches 95°F (35°C) for over 6 hours.

Those make more sense for mobile devices, as you're less likely to have one plugged in all the time I guess? Whereas a laptop is a markedly different device, which is why I think Apple's implementation on their MacBooks is optimal. Having said that, the points from above (a la the Pixel 3+) would make more sense for a device like the SteamDeck while plugged in.