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Fully recharging smartphone battery is not recommended, even though many people wait until their device is completely drained before charging it back to 100%. This habit can actually harm your battery over time. In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s better to avoid this practice and provide tips on how to extend the life of your phone’s battery.
The Problem with Fully Recharging Smartphone Battery
Waiting until your smartphone battery reaches 0% before recharging it to 100% was a common practice with older battery technologies. However, most modern smartphones use lithium-ion batteries, which perform better with frequent, partial charging cycles rather than being fully discharged and recharged.
Lithium-ion batteries degrade less when charged in shorter cycles. So, by continuing to drain and fully recharge your smartphone, you may be slowly damaging the battery’s overall lifespan.
The Ideal Charging Range: 20% to 80%
To prolong the health of your battery, it’s recommended to keep the charge between 20% and 80%. Regularly keeping your battery within this range can slow down the wear and tear, ensuring that it lasts longer. In fact, both Apple and Samsung offer settings to limit charging to 80% to help maintain battery health.
Battery Optimization Features from Apple and Samsung
Apple has included this feature in their latest iPhone models, starting with the iPhone 15. However, even for older models running iOS 13 or later, Apple introduced a feature called “Optimized Battery Charging”. This function is enabled by default and is designed to slow down battery aging.
With this feature, your phone will pause charging at 80% and only resume when it detects that you need a full charge based on your usage patterns. Essentially, it helps regulate how the phone charges after reaching 80%, making charging more efficient and battery-friendly.
Conclusion
While it might seem convenient to wait until your smartphone battery is fully drained before recharging, it’s not the best approach for your phone’s longevity. By keeping your battery charge between 20% and 80%, you can prevent unnecessary damage and extend the lifespan of your device. So, next time, think twice before fully recharging your smartphone battery!
Why is it bad to fully recharge my smartphone battery?
Fully recharging your smartphone battery to 100% can lead to increased stress on the battery cells, causing them to degrade faster over time. Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in smartphones, perform best when kept between 20% and 80% charge levels.
How does charging to 100% affect battery lifespan?
Charging your smartphone battery to 100% can cause chemical reactions that lead to capacity loss. Repeatedly exposing the battery to high charge levels can shorten its overall lifespan and reduce its ability to hold a charge.
What is the optimal battery level to maintain?
To prolong your smartphone battery’s lifespan, it’s best to maintain the charge between 20% and 80%. This range minimizes stress and helps preserve the battery’s health over time.
Are there any exceptions to avoiding full recharges?
While it’s generally best to avoid fully recharging, occasional full charges may be necessary for specific scenarios, such as preparing for a long day without access to a charger. However, regular practice should focus on partial charging to maximize battery longevity.
What settings can I adjust to save battery life?
You can save battery life by adjusting several settings, including lowering screen brightness, enabling battery saver mode, turning off location services when not needed, and disabling background app refresh for apps that don’t require constant updates.
How does screen timeout affect battery life?
The screen timeout setting determines how long your display remains on when not in use. Shortening the screen timeout to 30 seconds or 1 minute can significantly conserve battery life, as the screen consumes a lot of power.
Should I close background apps to save battery?
While closing unused background apps can help save some battery, it’s not always necessary. Most modern smartphones manage background processes efficiently. However, if an app is consuming excessive resources, closing it can help conserve battery life.
Do certain apps drain my battery more than others?
Yes, some apps are known to drain battery life more than others, especially those that use location services, push notifications, or require constant internet access (like social media and streaming apps). Monitoring battery usage in your settings can help identify and manage these power-hungry apps.