We all need our phones for multiple things throughout the day. Whether it’s calling and texting, directions, calculators, using them to find information or take pictures, most of us have our phones by our side 90% of the day. We rely so heavily on them that we need to make sure they are not only charged but charged properly.
Smartphones use a lithium-ion battery that degrades over time. The more we use and recharge them, the less battery power they hold. An iPhone battery can sometimes hold 80% of the power after a year than it did when it was first purchased. There isn’t a way to combat this problem without getting a new battery every year or so, but there are ways to slow it down. Charging your phone properly is the best way to ensure optimal performance from your battery.
How Not To Charge Your Phone
Overnight Charging
Everyone has a nightly routine. They brush their teeth, drink water, watch TV, and plug their phone in for the night. The last one is something that should change. Overcharging your phone does more damage to it than it might seem.
If you go to bed at 10 pm, your phone will likely be fully charged by 11:30 pm-12 am. If you don’t get up until 6 am, that’s an extra six hours of charge that your phone doesn’t need. If this happens regularly, you’re degrading your battery capacity significantly.
Full Discharge
You may have heard the rumor that it’s best to charge your phone after the battery hits 0% or nearly 0%. That just isn’t true. A full discharge and recharge doesn’t help. It makes the situation worse. By letting the battery get all the way down to 0, you’re degrading it more. It does the opposite of what most people think is best.
Keep an eye on your battery life and try your best not to let it get so close to dying. The only time you should let it die is if you are trying to recalibrate some internal sensors, but the average person doesn’t need to worry about those things.
Fast Charge
Newer phones have the option of a fast charge. It’s a high voltage charge process that does work great in a pinch. You can up your battery percentage in minutes. This is perfect for people who need an extra 30%-40% to get somewhere on public transportation or driving directions.
If you are going to fast charge, only let it charge up to about 80%-90%. Once your battery gets to those percentage numbers, the high voltage hurts your battery tremendously. You’ll find yourself needing a fast charge more often because the capacity will shrink the more often you fast charge it to 100%
Best Way To Charge your Phone
Partial Discharge
Unlike the full discharge, partial discharge is the best option for charging. What this means is to charge your phone BEFORE it hits below 20% battery life. You will keep the battery at a stable usage rate, and it slows down the degrading process.
You’ll find that your phone will not only charge up quicker but over time will last longer. By keeping your phone in the stable 30%-80% range, you’re not straining or overpowering the battery.
Use The Proper Chargers
Chargers can be expensive, and for good reason. The cables and boxes that plug into the walls are important factors in how your battery will perform. For Apple products, all of the Apple chargers are specifically made for the Apple iPhone batteries. This means that the chargers themselves are designed to do as little damage to the battery life span as possible.
Those knock-off chargers that we find all the time aren’t necessarily made for that. They use a type of lightning port cable with the proper voltage output and it charges the phone. If you need a new charger but honestly can’t afford a new one from apple, just make sure the cheaper one is at least MFi certified (Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod).
If you are going to continue to charge your phone overnight, then try to find a smart plug. They actually will recognize when your phone is fully charged, and stop sending power to it. If it gets below 98%-99%, then it will send a little jolt of power to make it 100%. This prevents the overcharging problem and delays the degrading process of the battery.
Wireless Charging
If you’re someone who frequently forgets to plug in, a wireless charger may be the right choice for you. When you use the best wireless chargers, all you have to do is place the phone on a pad or stand and it will begin charging. Many wireless chargers are also smart chargers that won’t overcharge your battery.
Final Thoughts Of Best Ways To Charge Your Phone
Our phones are so important to our daily lives. We rely on them for so much, the least we can do is take care of them properly. Keeping your battery life in mind is the best way to ensure you get the most out of your phone. Follow these tips as best as possible and save yourself time and money in the future.
