Surface Pro 3 battery degradation

Anonymous
2016-05-11T07:37:37+00:00

I've been using Microsoft Surface Pro 3 for a year, and shortly after the warranty expired I noticed my Surface Pro 3 can only last about 1-2 hours after a full charge. At first I thought this was a problem with background process draining the battery so I disabled everything running in the background. It didn't helped. Then I found out about the powercfg utility and run powercfg /batteryreport on it, and this was the result:

A full charge capacity has degraded by over 80% in just few weeks and continue degrading. I tried to "recalibrate" the battery by doing full charge then full drain multiple times, and it didn't helped. Talk with Microsoft via chat support and they insist this was a software problem and reinstalled the driver and asked me to wait few days to see if things improve. Not only it didn't improved, but now my Surface can only last 30 minutes.

Few days after chat (today), I called Microsoft support and they were being extremely unhelpful. Insist that this was a software problem (which the chat support person already did) and it's "perfectly normal" for battery capacity to degrade. I insist that I've already done the software "fixes" and it didn't work and tell them this is definitely hardware problem, but the person on the phone tell me there's nothing I could do except to order the out of warranty exchange (which cost about $560 in my local currency). 

Is there anything else I should do? My country has no Microsoft Store which I could take the machine for them to take a look. Phone/online support were the only option, and none of them could understand the issue.

Surface | Surface Pro | Power and battery

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2016-07-26T21:31:16+00:00

Hello everyone,

Thanks for your continued patience here. We have now completed our testing of the update and it has passed our quality assurance process.

The update, “System Firmware Update - 8/29/2016”, is now available to install from Windows Update.

Before installing this update, ensure that your Surface Pro 3 is plugged directly in to AC power using the standard AC power adapter (do not use the Surface Docking Station), disconnect any USB devices or external monitors, and check that Windows shows a 40% charge or greater when you hover over the icon in the taskbar before you begin.

Once you install the update, please select Restart now (do not shutdown). After your Surface restarts, please manually restart it a second time to complete the process. For more information, please see our Surface Pro 3 Battery FAQ article.

If you’re having trouble charging your Surface, you get a low-battery error, or your Surface turns off when you unplug it, the steps in our Surface battery won’t charge article can help you pinpoint the problem. Should you need any further assistance, please contact us. 

Thanks again.

Greg

Updated 8/29/16.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

1,459 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-25T05:45:17+00:00

    If you guys look at everyone's charts, it seems to be a problem in 2016. The past years in those charts seem fine, but if you look at 2016, there's a huge degrade. I'll safely assume it's due to Windows 10 or the firmware updates.

    Also, it like it not a thing for the SP4.

    Note: I don't own a Surface at the moment but i'm for sure getting a SP4 later this week.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-24T20:56:21+00:00

    Adding this information to my post and replies.

    Definitely: Microsoft, we have an issue.

    Installed batteries

    Information about each currently installed battery

    NAME X898289
    MANUFACTURER SIMPLO
    SERIAL NUMBER 1165367812
    CHEMISTRY LION
    DESIGN CAPACITY 42 mWh
    FULL CHARGE CAPACITY 3 mWh
    CYCLE COUNT 609

    Battery capacity history

    Charge capacity history of the system's batteries

    2015-11-22 - 2015-11-29 40 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-03-21 - 2016-03-27 42 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-03-27 - 2016-04-03 42 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-04-03 - 2016-04-10 41 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-04-10 - 2016-04-17 35 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-04-17 - 2016-04-24 31 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-04-24 - 2016-05-01 30 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-05-01 - 2016-05-08 29 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-05-08 - 2016-05-15 24 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-05-15 - 2016-05-22 22 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-05-22 - 2016-05-29 16 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-05-29 - 2016-06-05 18 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-06-05 - 2016-06-12 22 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-06-12 - 2016-06-19 22 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-06-19 - 2016-06-26 19 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-06-26 - 2016-07-03 15 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-03 - 2016-07-10 10 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-11 8 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-12 8 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-13 7 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-14 7 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-15 6 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-16 6 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-17 6 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-18 6 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-19 5 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-20 5 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-21 4 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-22 4 mWh 42 mWh
    2016-07-23 4 mWh 42 mWh

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-24T19:30:09+00:00

    Same story, same graph. About a month ago, a steady decline, cant unplug the tablet or it instantly dies. SIMPLO battery inside. The deal is, most people buy these to last at least 3 years pushing 5 on most high end equipment. And I got the maxed out version, all stops pulled.

    If it is not a firmware issue, there should be a mail-in replacement program with extended warranty, or a lot of professionals will cross Microsoft off the list, and switch to Apple. Not kidding. The repair offer at any cost is a slap in the face to those that invested in the product.

    As an example, HP recalled a massive amount of zd7000 laptops due to failed graphics chip, all expenses paid. So did Sony with their laptops. Microsoft best take example there if they want to save face at all.

    What future device can they advertise for us to buy next, if their tablet becomes a desktop in one years time?

    Microsoft is no small fish, they should claim responsibility before a class action lawsuit.

    Mine just became 'true' desktop replacement, literally.

    Sad Panda...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-24T16:06:29+00:00

    I have my Surface Pro 3 Windows 10 now just over 18 months and have the issue where my battery lasts only 15 minutes after a full charge.

    Have been trying many options, starting with the default power settings, then lower energy consumptions but nothing improved.  Other Surface Pro 3 computers, older then the one I use last over 2 hours.

    With this issue, the "tablet" can only be used as a desktop, always plugged in.

    Is there something else that could be checked to improve battery at least 8 fold?

    When originally purchased, we expected the system, would last comfortably at least 3+ years.

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments