Popular Myths About Smartphone Charging: Many Still Make these Mistakes and Damage the Device
For years, advice on how to best charge our phones has been passed down, often based on older battery technologies. However, modern smartphones utilize lithium-ion batteries, and many commonly held beliefs about charging them are actually detrimental. Here’s a breakdown of popular myths and the truth behind keeping your battery healthy.
Myth: Entirely discharging the battery is good for it.
This advice stemmed from the days of nickel-cadmium batteries. If these older batteries were repeatedly fully discharged, they would “remember” a lower capacity. However, this is harmful to lithium-ion batteries.Completely draining a lithium-ion battery, especially down to 0%, can damage it’s chemistry and shorten its lifespan. It’s now recommended to begin charging your phone when it reaches around 20-30%.
Myth: The phone must be charged up to 100 percent.
while many are accustomed to charging their phones “to the end,” consistently doing so isn’t ideal. Some battery maintainance systems even limit charging to 80% to extend battery life.Frequent charging to 100% can contribute to increased battery wear over time.
The sweet spot for long-term battery health is ideally keeping the charge between 20 and 80 percent. while consistently achieving this can be difficult, occasionally allowing the battery to reach 100% isn’t detrimental, especially for older phones where maintaining maximum capacity is a priority.
Myth: Charging the phone overnight is bad.
This is a widespread concern, with many fearing overnight charging will “overload” or even “burn” the battery. Modern smartphones have integrated overload protection that automatically stops charging once the battery reaches 100%.
However, prolonged charging, especially if the phone heats up due to being under a pillow or covered by bedding, can negatively impact the battery. Temperature is a critically important enemy of lithium-ion batteries. Utilizing smart chargers or enabling the “optimized charging” feature (available on many phones) is recommended.
Myth: It’s better not to use the phone while charging.
This myth originated from reports of exploding phones, but using your phone while charging is generally safe provided you use a quality charger and cable. Cheap, uncertified accessories from unknown manufacturers can be unsafe and perhaps cause overheating or short circuits.
Using original or certified chargers allows for safe phone use during charging. It’s certainly worth noting that intensive tasks like gaming or video editing can generate significant heat, which can affect battery condition.
Myth: Quick charging is damaging to the battery.
Despite sounding logical, this myth lacks substantial evidence. Manufacturers implement fast charging technologies designed to operate safely. The initial charging phase,when the battery is nearly empty,is faster,but the charging speed decreases as it approaches 80-90% to protect the battery’s chemistry.
However, consistently using fast charging can contribute to increased battery degradation over the long term. When time allows, charging in normal mode is preferable, and many phones offer a “slower” charging option in their settings.
How to Make your battery Last Longer:
The key is to avoid extremes. Avoid complete discharges and consistently overcharging. Minimize overnight charging if the device heats up significantly. Use quality charging accessories, disable fast charging when not needed, and aim to keep the battery stored between 30-80% whenever possible.
Many phones also offer software solutions like “battery maintenance” functions or smart charging schedules that learn your usage patterns and optimize charging accordingly.
