Conventionally, Apple products feature lithium-ion batteries to run the system and perform other tasks. A new user would assume that the same case applies to the iMac. If you are very curious about the internal composition of your desktop, read on to find the answers you seek.
So, do iMacs have batteries? iMacs only have a tiny, embedded battery known as a PRAM that runs and manages vital system settings. These batteries check the smooth operation of the date, time, and other configurations. However, this battery is too small to run the entire device, unlike MacBooks or iPhones, and cannot solely power up the computer. These tiny batteries usually last for 5-10 years, after which they fail and require a replacement.
Computers need power to run, and an iMac is no different. Since it needs to remain plugged constantly, many new users believe it doesn’t have an inbuilt battery. Considering all the internal components of the desktop computer, here is what you need to know.
Intel-based iMacs have a small coin-shaped battery that supports the system’s settings. The cell ensures that the computer smoothly operates, as it keeps the time, date, and other factors in check.
Unfortunately, the battery has a smaller capacity, unable to support all the computer operations. Therefore, it may be functional but cannot independently power up your dead desktop. The iMac’s cell is responsible for a fraction of all the tasks of the entire device and lasts for several years before requiring a replacement.
The cell is inside and within the iMac components, specifically on the logic board. Therefore, you cannot tell whether your computer has batteries by merely looking at it. Most older iMacs are PRAM-enabled, meaning that the memory requires a functional cell for powering and allowing the RAM to retain the computer settings and system controls. It stays intact during restart or shutdown; otherwise, you may lose essential data.
Note that the current generation iMacs are different. Newer iMac computers use non-volatile RAM to access settings faster and use them without charge to initiate the process. The NVRAM can single-handedly take care of all the data relating to the operating system, including display, timing, date, and resolutions. The latest iMacs, on the contrary, lack the cell that most of the Intel-based iMacs use to charge the PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory).
Thankfully, the current iMac versions have a robust memory that doesn’t need power, enabling you to use the computer for a long time without replacing the internal battery, unlike its older counterparts.
Therefore, not all iMacs will have an inner cell to keep the memory chips powered whenever the computer shuts down. It is advisable to let the computer sleep when you have finished using it to avoid lags and data losses since battery failure may deter the system from switching on.
Looking at the chip, you can tell whether your iMac has an internal cell. Also, note that the older Intel-supported Apple desktops are likely to use the cell to power their memory. The newer and advanced desktops can hold onto the vital system controls even when you cut the energy passing through the chips.
Generally, the iMac’s primary power source comes from the wall inlet. The additional battery, if available, charges the system’s memory to retain settings and system controls whenever there is a power outage.
How Long Does an iMac Battery Last?
Batteries are one of the essential components of any Apple product, without which some operations would crumble. Now that you know how the iMac’s battery works, you should know how long it lasts. This will help you prepare for the inevitable and teach you how best to look after it.
Depending on several factors, your iMac’s Parameter RAM (PRAM) battery should last 5-10 years. If you don’t use it often or always store it, it will only survive for a few years. However, if you constantly plug and unplug it while using it regularly, the chances are high that it will serve you longer.
If you religiously update your software and keep the computer away from extreme temperatures, the lifespan will also increase. Regardless, the iMac battery will eventually die and require replacement.
The iMac has a tiny battery called the clock battery or PRAM. Its primary purpose is to preserve the memory state that holds some systems settings like a clock. Consequently, it manages several start-up functions and controls such as the date and time. No matter the size, it is an essential component of your computer, and it is advisable to always keep it safe for your device to serve you longer.
There is no fixed lifespan for the PRAM because it depends on your usage habits and how long you have used the iMac. Generally, experts state that it can serve you for 5-10 years, although it may be less or more depending on how well you take care of it. If you don’t use your computer and have it sitting somewhere in storage, you can expect the battery to die faster. It gradually dies if no one uses it since it doesn’t power up or run its functions on the computer.
On the other hand, it will take its entire course if active since the user will have the iMac plugged in and out, enough to keep it operating for longer. Conversely, the more you use it, the shorter the lifespan. It may last the minimum duration of five years, but it may or may not extend past the 10-year maximum limit. Some precautions are handy to expand your iMac battery life or any other Apple gadget.
For one, you can update your software as often as Apple releases it. The company usually improves gadget operations through these updates, including integrating energy-saving systems.
Therefore, it is advisable to watch for these macOS improvements and promptly make them. Secondly, keep your iMac safe, especially from direct heat, because Apple has designed the hardware to work within a specific temperature range.
Exposing the system to more heat than it can manage may ruin the battery’s performance. Remember that the battery will eventually die no matter how well you take care of your iMac. You can then think about replacement options; you can do it yourself if you know your way around, call in an expert, or ask Apple for help if you are within the warranty.
Can You Replace the Battery in an iMac?
Updating and upgrading your computer is vital to keep it supported by the manufacturer and ensure that your hardware is always in shape. Apple’s iMac has numerous replaceable components, but most users are concerned about what happens when the battery fails. Can it also get a replacement?
The iMac’s PRAM battery can be replaced whenever it becomes faulty or stops working altogether. If the warranty still covers you, you can get a charge-free swap from Apple’s staff, but if it is past the warranty frame, you will have to foot the bill since the service isn’t program-related.
The batteries are tiny and coin-like, making it challenging to notice them. It hides below other components such that most users fail to see it. Ultimately, you can exchange the battery after several years of use if you detect something wrong.
The battery on the iMac cannot power the computer; its sole purpose is to keep the time and dates in check and monitor other system controls that shouldn’t turn off. The battery lasts longer (almost ten years), but it may die earlier than expected. Once your iMac begins to show the wrong time and dates before you connect to the internet, the chances are high that you will need a new battery.
Failure to replace the hardware may cause system issues whenever you restart or power the computer. Moreover, not all iMacs have batteries on their motherboards. The older generation models have this tiny, embedded hardware to ensure that the RAM remains active as the memory needs power to keep the proper settings. If the battery fails, you may experience system issues, including difficulties launching the operating system.
In contrast, the newer iMac models don’t need batteries since they run on Non-volatile RAM that doesn’t require power to keep the system controls running. Replacing the battery on Intel iMacs is quite involving and mainly needs a professional’s services. Many cautious users avoid dismantling their iMacs to avoid damaging some components and instead take their devices to Apple or a trusted expert.
However, you can do it if you know how to disassemble the iDevice. You will need to carefully lay the computer face up using suction cups to remove the glass. Next, unscrew the display from the outer case and pull it out gently from the edges.
Once the whole system is open, begin by detaching the sync cable tethered to the LED drive and remove the line from its sockets but avoid cutting the wires. Next, disconnect the LED power supply by pulling the lock away from the socket.
The display data cable is protected using a plastic tab which you should remove to allow you to detach the display data cable. Remember to handle the wires carefully and the display screen, disconnect the LED thermal sensor from the logic board, and pull out the whole screen. Pay extra attention to any cable held down, take a sharp end blade, carefully extract the battery from its socket, and swap it with a new BR2032 coin-like dry cell.
How To Tell That Your iMac Battery Is Failing
The iMac desktop relies on electricity to run the whole system, but the memory has a smaller cell to manage some essential functions. Like most batteries you have used before, this type also drains power depending on how much you use it. It is necessary to know all the symptoms that show when something is wrong to help you prepare for a replacement.
If your iMac requires you to press the power button several times before it switches on, this is a clear signal that your PRAM batteries are weak and failing. Additionally, something is amiss when you notice the screen displaying the wrong time and date. Another reason warranting replacement is when the screen appears unusually dark for a moment before resuming its previous state after a successful power-up. There is also a need to worry if some functions like printing settings fail.
Newer iMacs don’t use the Li-ion cell for memory backup; hence you may not experience the symptoms above with these versions. Otherwise, if your computer uses an Intel chip, you can expect these signs of battery failure when the cell is slowly dying. Luckily, sometimes, the cell may last longer than the lifespan of your iMac and not require any replacements.
If you want the battery to serve you longer, it is best to observe proper care and maintenance of your computer. Some users even avoid shutting down the iMac often and resort to putting it in sleep mode. However, it may not be easy to check for the signs that your iMac’s battery is starting to fail, especially if you don’t have information about the PRAM.
Therefore, you need to pay attention to how your iDevice behaves when you power it up or restart it. You can look at the display, check that it doesn’t appear dark, or switch to black and white.
The computer may also exhibit video playback issues since signals disappear whenever the cell fails to support the memory. Additionally, when the iMac isn’t on any network, a wrong time and date is a true sign that the battery is dying.
If you want to access the actual state of your iMac’s battery, you can disconnect the iDevice from an internet source to ensure that the time and date don’t update through the server. Now power down the computer, switch it back on, and check the time and date readings. If it resets to an old default date, there are high chances that the battery needs a replacement.
Wrap Up
If you have never seen a battery on your iMac, you should know it is present, though concealed in the internal components. It may not work as the regular cells in laptops or phones, but it also has essential tasks in the system.
Without it, you will lose settings like date and time and run into several issues during restart and powering up. Luckily, it has a long lifespan that may even surpass the iMac’s service. With proper care, it can function for 5-10 years.
However, if you detect problems when the system turns on or shuts down, you can conclude that it is slowly dying. When this happens, you can take the iMac to Apple if you are within warranty; otherwise, ask for an expert’s help.
