A malfunctioning battery is the most common reason for replacing a smartphone with a new one. Many people do not know how to charge a mobile phone properly. As a result, improper charging methods can significantly shorten battery life. What bad habits to avoid and how to properly care for lithium batteries?
Most Smartphones contain lithium batteries, which begin to reduce their original capacity after 500 charge and discharge cycles. That means after less than two years of daily recharging.
And although the battery still charges and can still serve, it doesn’t use one hundred percent of its original performance. Many people do not know that the phone battery is damaged by some bad habits and can significantly shorten its life.
1. There is no need to fully discharge the battery
Each full charge reduces the battery life by one cycle. The generally established rule that it is advisable to always charge the phone to the maximum and, conversely, to start charging when the battery is fully discharged, is therefore not entirely correct. “It’s always better to charge the battery to only 80 percent, for example, and not let it discharge completely, but keep it charged at all times. Extreme transitions from a fully discharged phone to a fully charged battery do not work and, on the contrary, there is a gradual decrease in battery capacity, ”explains Radim Tlapák from the BatteryShop.cz online store.
However, this certainly does not mean that people should charge the phone when the battery capacity drops by a few percent. It is optimal to connect the device to the power supply when the battery capacity drops to 10%.
2. Beware of charging at night
Charging your phone overnight is a common habit. This greatly damages the smartphone’s battery, as it is charged for hours even after reaching full capacity. People should disconnect the charger from the phone at the latest when it reaches 100% charge.
However, recharging is not as big a problem with modern phones as it used to be. “Modern smartphones use technology that allows you to monitor the user’s daily routine and monitors what hours of sleep they go to and when they wake up. The device thus charges up to approximately 70 percent quickly and then the whole process slows down so that the battery reaches full capacity approximately when the user gets up, ”points out Radim Tlapák. Although modern technology reduces battery degradation, they are still not perfect, so it is better to disconnect your smartphone from the charger after charging.
3. With the power bank cautiously
In many cases, the power bank can pull the thorn out of its heel (for example, when traveling), but it is not good to use it to charge your phone for a long time.
Although better powerbanks can charge the phone well, they are not a full-fledged power supply and cannot guarantee a permanent and stable power supply. In addition, the power bank generates a large amount of heat during charging, which can damage the smartphone’s battery.
4. Do not use the phone while charging
Some users are used to exposing the phone to heavy loads while it is charging – and this is a mistake. “Playing games, using the camera or other demanding applications causes the smartphone’s processor to generate a lot of heat. However, heat is also generated during charging, which can significantly worsen battery life, ”says Radim Tlapák. It is the increased amount of heat and the irregular charging of the mobile phone battery that is the most harmful.
5. Protect your phone from overheating
People do not normally realize what can cause the phone to overheat and therefore damage the device. For example, during charging, it is better to take the mobile phone out of the case, which limits the heat dissipation from the charging device. It is also dangerous to place a charging phone under the pillow.
The device generates heat during charging, and when under the pillow, it cannot dissipate heat and becomes extremely hot. In some cases, the pillow may ignite. If people want to have a smartphone always at hand, it is better to put it on the bedside table, for example. It is also a mistake to place the phone close to a heat source. Therefore, if you normally charge the phone from the socket at the radiator, it is better to look for another place in the apartment.
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