Can anything cause the battery “cycles count” to appear higher than it really is?

Question

Is there anything that could cause the battery's "cycles count" in the Power section of System Information app to report number of charge cycles greater than the actual number?

I ask because the number of charge cycles displayed for my MacBook Air is greater than the number of days I have owned the computer, and I certainly have not used it every day, nor charged and then used the battery more than once a day. What could cause the number to be so high?

Answer 1

A faulty sensor could do it. Apple says:

"A charge cycle means using all of the battery’s power, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a single charge. For instance, you could use your notebook for an hour or more one day, using half its power, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two, so it may take several days to complete a cycle."

Looks like a good case for a visit to the Genius Bar, and perhaps having your battery replaced. I agree it does not seem at all plausible that your cycle count is higher than the days you have owned it.