As your smartphone ages, you may notice a decline in its performance, indicating wear on the battery. To preserve its functionality and prolong its lifespan, heed this straightforward advice from tech experts.
Your smartphone’s battery is delicate, requiring careful attention. You’ve likely experienced it yourself: over time, your device’s performance gradually diminishes. This is a natural outcome as lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in smartphones, degrade with use and charging. After numerous charge and discharge cycles, they gradually lose efficiency.
To mitigate this inevitable decline, implement some simple strategies. One such strategy is adhering to the 80/20 rule, a principle endorsed by experts. Essentially, this rule dictates maintaining the battery level between 20% and 80% of its capacity—neither exceeding nor falling below these thresholds. This practice prevents subjecting the battery to higher voltages, which occur when it’s charged beyond 80% or discharged below 20%, consequently reducing wear and tear.
Acknowledging this common issue, smartphone manufacturers have introduced solutions to simplify your experience. Since iOS 13, Apple has introduced the “Optimized Battery Charging” feature for iPhones. To access it, navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. This feature delays charging beyond 80% overnight, ensuring your iPhone reaches full charge just before you wake up. With the latest iPhone 15s, Apple now also offers the option to halt charging at 80%.
Similar functionalities are available on the Android platform. Google provides “Adaptive Charging” on Pixel devices, mirroring Apple’s approach. Samsung also offers a feature blocking charging at 85% on select models. If you own a smartphone from another brand, explore the battery settings to activate a comparable option if available.
Additionally, there are straightforward methods to prolong your battery’s lifespan. High temperatures can adversely affect batteries, so refrain from engaging in demanding tasks like playing 3D games while your smartphone is charging, or unplug it if it becomes excessively warm.
Another effective approach to alleviate battery strain is conserving power usage. Consider utilizing the Power Save mode even when your phone is fully charged, reducing screen brightness, or switching to airplane mode, which significantly reduces energy consumption when your phone isn’t immediately needed. Your battery will appreciate these efforts.
In essence, charging your phone overnight after a full day’s use may not be optimal. Once the battery reaches 100%, the phone maintains a high voltage, accelerating battery degradation. Similarly, leaving your phone plugged in continuously while using it should be avoided. Instead, consider charging it more frequently throughout the day, ensuring it doesn’t reach a full charge.