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

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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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-06-30T05:24:09+00:00

    I am located in Singapore. There is a repair shop that can replace the battery. klazz.biz. They advise it will cost S$180.00 including battery and cost of labor.

    However, they advised that only 1 model of the battery is available. I believe it is Model 1645. Unfortunately, my model is 1631. No luck. If any of you reside in Singapore and has battery model 1645, you can check them out...

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-30T17:33:14+00:00

    Just started seeing this problem in the last week. I thought it was a bug or firmware update, but it seems the battery has been degrading for a couple months now without my realization. So much for the 4.5 years and maintain 80% claim. Who do I have to contact to get my "$200 replacement" mentioned here, Panos Panay? https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/26m9cu/we\_are\_panos\_panay\_and\_the\_surface\_team\_at/chsei5u?context=10000 

    My SP3 was purchased late Dec 2014.

    My general use is 4-5 days a week, 8-10 hours a day, usually plugged into AC power.

    Installed batteries

    Information about each currently installed battery

    NAME X898289
    MANUFACTURER SIMPLO
    SERIAL NUMBER x
    CHEMISTRY LION
    DESIGN CAPACITY 42,157 mWh
    FULL CHARGE CAPACITY 1,239 mWh
    CYCLE COUNT 200

    Battery capacity history

    Charge capacity history of the system's batteries

    2014-12-28 - 2015-01-04 42,455 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-01-04 - 2015-01-11 42,321 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-01-11 - 2015-01-18 42,312 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-01-18 - 2015-01-25 42,332 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-01-25 - 2015-02-01 42,110 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-02-01 - 2015-02-08 41,940 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-02-08 - 2015-02-15 41,915 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-02-15 - 2015-02-22 42,052 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-02-22 - 2015-03-01 41,838 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-01 - 2015-03-08 41,493 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-08 - 2015-03-15 41,678 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-15 - 2015-03-22 41,330 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-22 - 2015-03-29 41,723 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-03-29 - 2015-04-05 41,713 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-05 - 2015-04-12 41,879 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-12 - 2015-04-19 41,801 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-19 - 2015-04-27 41,750 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-04-27 - 2015-05-04 41,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-04 - 2015-05-10 41,762 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-10 - 2015-05-17 41,720 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-17 - 2015-05-24 42,000 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-24 - 2015-05-31 42,131 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-05-31 - 2015-06-07 42,303 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-07 - 2015-06-14 42,248 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-14 - 2015-06-21 42,096 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-21 - 2015-06-28 41,653 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-06-28 - 2015-07-05 41,800 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-05 - 2015-07-16 41,845 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-16 - 2015-07-19 41,646 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-19 - 2015-07-26 41,639 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-07-26 - 2015-08-02 41,491 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-02 - 2015-08-09 41,264 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-09 - 2015-08-16 41,420 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-16 - 2015-08-23 41,372 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-23 - 2015-08-30 40,814 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-08-30 - 2015-09-06 40,835 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-06 - 2015-09-13 40,641 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-13 - 2015-09-21 40,694 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-21 - 2015-09-27 40,936 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-09-27 - 2015-10-04 41,193 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-04 - 2015-10-12 41,585 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-12 - 2015-10-18 41,434 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-18 - 2015-10-25 41,317 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-10-25 - 2015-11-01 41,786 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-01 - 2015-11-08 41,662 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-08 - 2015-11-17 41,642 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-17 - 2015-11-22 41,540 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-22 - 2015-11-29 41,804 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-11-29 - 2015-12-06 41,743 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-06 - 2015-12-13 41,542 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-13 - 2015-12-21 41,876 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-21 - 2015-12-27 41,582 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2015-12-27 - 2016-01-03 41,739 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-03 - 2016-01-10 41,376 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-10 - 2016-01-17 41,917 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-17 - 2016-01-24 42,575 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-24 - 2016-01-31 42,583 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-01-31 - 2016-02-07 40,324 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-07 - 2016-02-14 36,360 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-14 - 2016-02-21 32,530 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-21 - 2016-02-29 29,409 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-02-29 - 2016-03-06 25,958 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-06 - 2016-03-13 23,561 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-13 - 2016-03-20 25,337 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-20 - 2016-03-27 33,115 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-03-27 - 2016-04-03 39,243 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-03 - 2016-04-11 38,006 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-11 - 2016-04-18 32,685 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-18 - 2016-04-24 28,311 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-04-24 - 2016-05-02 25,084 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-02 - 2016-05-09 22,080 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-09 - 2016-05-16 18,712 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-16 - 2016-05-23 15,718 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-23 - 2016-05-30 13,267 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-05-30 - 2016-06-06 9,264 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-06 - 2016-06-13 5,517 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-13 - 2016-06-20 3,429 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-21 1,822 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-22 1,701 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-23 1,617 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-24 1,588 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-25 1,588 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-26 1,568 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-27 1,469 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-28 1,379 mWh 42,157 mWh
    2016-06-29 1,300 mWh 42,157 mWh

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-01T16:56:11+00:00

    I bought my Surface Pro 3 in December 2014. It's 1.5 years old. A month or so ago, the battery all of the sudden started dying and died quickly. Ironically, this occurred shortly after I received and started using the replacement charger they mailed me, which I received due to an email from them stating the original charger was a fire hazard. 

    From everything I've been able to find, they want to charge $450 for a battery replacement. This is a complete and total racket I believe! I have an iPhone and iPad, frequently used and much older, that have no battery issues whatsoever. With the amount of complaints starting to roll in, this is an obvious defect on Microsoft's end, which they need to make right. These things are not cheap and the battery should last much longer than 1.5 years. If not, this information should be disclosed before you spend $1,300-$2,000 on this bunk product. I'm ticked off about this and want it corrected quickly!

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-02T04:10:52+00:00

    Same problem here.  Microsoft is saying pay the $450 for an out of warranty replacement.

    So pissed

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