What kills your phone battery life: Top tips
Charging your phone overnight, or up to 100% constantly? Read this
Juicing up your phone overnight isn’t just a pointless habit – it’s a fast track to aging your battery. If you're aiming to extend the lifespan of your battery, steer clear of those full charging cycles—no more going from 0 per cent to 100 per cent.
Samsung has made it clear: regularly pushing your battery to the max at 100 per cent can take a toll on its overall longevity.
Below are certain practices that can help you maximise both battery life and battery lifespan, allowing you to get the most out of your device – no matter which ones you own.
“Battery lifespan” is the amount of time your battery lasts until it needs to be replaced.
While modern electronics automatically stop pulling current once their batteries reach a full charge, charging your smartphone to full capacity each time is not ideal for battery longevity.
For those daring to defy the limits of battery chemistry and crave optimal battery life, here's a simple rule: avoid letting your phone plummet below 20 per cent, and go no higher than the 80 per cent max when juicing up.
Is it safe to charge phones overnight?
It’s generally safe to charge your devices overnight, as they are designed to prevent damage by ceasing the charging process when the battery is fully charged.
Yet, while leaving your phone plugged in overnight is considered safe, there are certain things to keep in mind:
- It’s recommended to place it on a flat, hard surface to dissipate heat easily and prevent potential overheating.
- Phones today can charge quickly, eliminating the need for extended charging times (more on this below)
- Important note: Constant connectivity, such as leaving your phone on all night, contributes to energy consumption and can lead to a decrease in battery life, necessitating more frequent charging.
Why frequent short charging is a good practice
Engaging in frequent bursts of short charging sessions is not just a quirky habit—it's a battery-saving practice. Unleashing the wear and tear moments on your battery occurs during the draining and charging processes.
One issue with these packs of electrons: those last 20 to 30 per cent of a charging spree inflict the most damage. Hitting the illustrious 100 per cent mark constantly is like unleashing an unnecessary “battery beating” – causing about 10 times more wear than a modest 70 per cent charge.
What happens when a battery dies, or goes down to 0%?
For those daring to defy the limits of battery chemistry and crave optimal battery life, here's a simple rule: avoid letting your phone plummet below 20 per cent, and go no higher than the 80 per cent max when juicing up.
And neither go into the extremes, for the bottom 0 per cent and the top of 100 per cent, as these are battery-beating levels. If your device hahs a feature like the “Optimised Battery Charging” (more on this below), it also helps.
Leaving it on during the night – and hooked up to a charger – means it's lying dormant but still using energy, while juicing up. If you need an alarm clock, buy one. Don’t use your phone to wake you up
What if I chage my phone overnight?
Today’s batteries tend to charge rather quickly, through charging speed depends on the type of charger you wield. A fast USB-C charger reigns supreme, eclipsing the standard Micro USB counterpart in speed. The time required for a complete revival varies, spanning from a 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. The ultimate duration is dictated by your device’s battery capacity. So, you don't really need to leave it charging for 8 hours while you sleep.
Leaving it on during the night – and hooked up to a charger – means it's lying dormant but still using energy, while juicing up. If you need an alarm clock, buy one. Don’t use your phone to wake you up. Constant connectivity can have a knock-on effect on the device’s battery life.
What if I don’t use my phone for long periods of time?
The Apple Support Community offers this advice: “Never leave a phone unused for weeks or months on end without periodically recharging it. If it is going to be unused for a long period, Apple recommends leaving it at around 50% charged (not full, and not empty). You should only use high quality USB power sources to charge your iOS device.”
At what percentage should I charge my phone?
For optimal battery health, it’s recommended to charge your phone between 20 per cent and 80 percent. The industry blog site Batteries Plus recommends that it’s best to avoid extremes (i.e. completely draining battery to 0 per cent or constantly charging it to 100 per cent). It also advises mobile phone users to avoid overnight charging at 100 per cent.
In general, lithium batteries suffer wear when charge goes below 20 per cent or above 80 per cent.
In general, a high-quality charger can last for 2 to 3 years, while a cheaper charger may only last for 1 year or less.
Why should we not use phone while charging?
Reason: Using your phone while charging generates heat. This is because the charger is converting electrical energy into heat as it charges the battery. If your phone gets too hot, it could damage the battery at the very most, or put stress on the battery at the very least.
Can a charger damage your phone?
Yes. Using a different or substandard charger can cause all sorts of problems. If the voltage is too high, it can fry the battery. If the voltage is too low, your phone is good as a doorstop. And if the connector is the wrong type, it might not fit into, even damage, your phone's port, or it might not make a good connection.
“Optimised Battery Charging” (available on all platforms as of iOS 13, watchOS 7, and macOS Big Sur) and “Optimised Charge Limit” adapt to your daily usage and preserve your battery lifespan over time.
Certain devices can “learn” when to charge to an Optimized Charge Limit and when to allow for a full charge.
Based on your daily charging routine, it may automatically defer charging to 100% until shortly before you need to use the battery.
Charging may pause temporarily while in extreme temperature conditions, and resume once the battery’s temperature returns to its normal operating range.
Starting in iOS 16, you may see a notification appear on the lock screen when charging has paused for this reason. Starting in iOS 16 and watchOS 9, paused charging information is also available in Settings > Battery.
Why avoid charging at high temperatures
Apple gives this advice: Avoid charging in high temperatures, as it exacerbates damage. Storing batteries in hot environments causes irreversible harm. Cold environments temporarily reduce battery life, but normal performance resumes as the battery warms up.
Ideal performance occurs in temperatures between 62°F to 72°F (16°C to 22°C). Steer clear of conditions exceeding 95°F (35°C), as it can harm your battery permanently, reducing its battery longevity.
Should I “rest” or “power down” my device?
Yes, It’s actually a good practice to power down – daily. Tech experts increasingly advocate for this simple practice. Hhere's why:
Resolving network issues: Powering down daily can resolve network issues, ensuring smoother connections and avoiding slow downloads. (Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster)
Reduced Hacking Risks: Daily shutdowns reduce the chances of device hacking, especially crucial for frequent travelers using public Wi-Fi. - Nihinlola Adeyemi, ErrandPay Limited
Cached Data Deletion: Regular shutdowns remove cached data, preventing future crashes and optimising device performance. (Kison Patel, DealRoom)
Enhanced Performance and Efficiency: Daily shutdowns lead to improved performance, memory optimisation, and extended battery life. (Aleks Farseev, SoMin.ai)
Time for Recharging and Updating: Turning off devices provides time for recharging, rebooting, and updating, essential for both users and devices. (Gregory Todd, DXC Technology)
Personalised Daily Briefings: Powering down enables the device to compile a personalised daily briefing, saving time and keeping users informed. (Jagadish Gokavarapu, Wissen Infotech)
Prolonged Battery Life: Regular shutdowns increase battery life by cooling down the device and minimising “background processes”. (Neelima Mangal, Spectrum North)
Improved Device Security: Powering down regularly contributes to better device security by installing updates and patches. (Cristian Randieri, Intellisystem Technologies)
“Health Benefits” for Device and User: Powering off allows devices to clear RAM, preventing overheating, while users benefit from reduced screen time. (Aswin Sarang, Reliable Robotics LLC)
Improved Sleep Quality: Powering off before bed reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and improves sleep quality. The light from phone, tablet, or screens may impact the ability to fall asleep. Small amounts of artificial light may cause a delay in the circadian rhythm. (Satish Shetty, Codeproof Technologies Inc.)
Uninterrupted Time for Productivity: Device shutdowns create uninterrupted periods for deep work, critical thinking, and focused tasks. (Shelli Brunswick, Space Foundation)
Maintaining a Good “Work-Life Blend”: Turning off phones at night helps leaders maintain a good work-life "blend" and prioritize health. (Jordan Yallen, MetaTope)
Changing Habits: Disconnecting helps recalibrate habits, making users aware of their instinctive reach for devices. (Lewis Wynne-Jones, ThinkData Works)
Face-To-Face Interaction: Disconnecting fosters meaningful human connections, creativity, and improved cognitive abilities. (Gaurav Aggarwal, Avanade Inc.)
Freeing Up “Mental Bandwidth”: Powering down conserves battery, enhances performance, and frees up mental bandwidth for creative thinking. (Andres Zunino, ZirconTech)
Mental and emotional recharge: Regular shutdowns offer moments for mental and emotional recharge, fostering a healthier relationship with technology. - Johan Nilsson, Convolo
Fostering Creativity:Device downtime fosters creativity by encouraging awareness of surroundings and promoting personal connections. - Rachel Lyubovitzky, Setuply, Inc.
Quick takes
- To maximise your battery's lifespan, it's advisable to avoid full charging cycles (going from 0% to 100%).
- Frequent charging up to 100% may have a negative impact on the overall longevity of the battery, as noted by Samsung.
- In a world surrounded and inundated with technology, the wisdom in taking a "retreat" or detox from our devices each day becomes increasingly evident.