Battery life is a very tricky subject. So many tips, so we dug into the claims of different expert-recommended battery guides. Then went through the suggestions given by the companies making mobile phones. Know further about the ways through which you can improve the battery life of your device.
Before you follow the tips, it is very important to know about some facts. Lithium-ion batteries are used in our smartphones, tablets and laptops. These batteries lose their capacity over time.
By following the suggestions given below, you can slow down this process but cannot stop it completely. Batteries are designed in such a way that they retain 80% of their capacity through regular charge cycles. This number can be higher for larger batteries or the more expensive batteries found in tablets and laptops. For example, Apple claims that the iPhone retains 80 percent of its capacity for 500 charge cycles, while the iPad and MacBook have 1,000.
Now the question in your mind might be, “Is this a charge cycle?” If you charge it only up to 50 percent and then use it completely, then the half charge cycle is complete. Well in reality things are a bit more complicated, but it’s important for a basic understanding. This means that you can’t avoid charge cycles by repeatedly charging your phone to full again after reaching 90 percent. Doing this 10 times completes the charge cycle.
Tips to increase battery life
You can’t change the laws of physics, but you can reduce the damage to your battery with regular use. You just have to be aware of a few things, such as the temperature and the level of charge in the mobile phone. To keep your battery healthy, you have to keep these things in mind.
1. Take care of the temperature
Temperature has a big effect on the battery life of any device. If you live in a place where the temperature often exceeds 35 degrees or below zero, the battery capacity will decrease faster here. If possible, keep the phone or tablet out of direct sunlight and freezing cold. Although extreme heat is more harmful to battery capacity than extreme cold, but both are harmful. Battery University has come up with an excellent guide to extending battery life, through which you can learn about the effect of temperature on battery capacity.
2. Partial Discharge vs Full Discharge
By now, you must have got the suggestion to charge the phone after it is completely discharged, but the fact is that partial discharge cycles are better than full discharge cycles in many ways. While this is not the case with all lithium-ion batteries, it is generally useful to keep the battery charged in the range of 40-80 percent. This means that as soon as your phone’s battery reaches 40 percent, put it in charge and remove it from charge as soon as 80 percent is completed. Although it may be slightly different in different devices, all these have to be reconciled. Practical use also has to be taken care of. Suppose you are going somewhere and will not be able to use the charger for a long time, in such a situation, instead of getting stuck in the numbers game, you need to recharge your phone up to 100 percent.
3. Do not leave the phone connected to the charger all the time
The phone’s battery is fully charged, yet leaving it plugged in to the charger is detrimental to battery life. Battery University says that overcharging is not good for battery health. There are also advantages to not letting it fully charge, with some companies deliberately lowering the charge threshold to extend battery life. Li-ion batteries do not overcharge, and it is essential to remove the battery from the charger when it is fully charged. Continuously charging a fully charged battery causes the plating in the metallic lithium to build up, and this also compromises your safety.
While this advice is easy to follow for smartphones and especially tablets, it is not practical for laptops. If you leave your laptop constantly on charge, it will damage your battery in the long run. It would be better if occasionally you discharge your battery up to 40 percent. On the other hand, discharging the battery as soon as it reaches 100% charge will use up charge cycles, which is also harmful over a long period of time. The best option is to be practical. Discharge it occasionally, but you have to take care of your usage as well. Suppose you have to attend a meeting, then it would be better if the battery is fully charged at such a time.
4. Avoid using ultra-fast chargers
Some devices can be charged faster using an ultra-fast charger, but this is not good for the health of your device in the long run. Battery University has good advice on this topic, “If an underpowered engine is pulling a large vehicle, the thrust is too high and the engine will not last long.”
5. Don’t use fake chargers
You can buy fake chargers from any roadside shop for just Rs 50. And use it to charge a phone bought for Rs 50,000, but we wouldn’t suggest doing that at all. Apple even ran a third-party charger trade-in program to ensure that its customers used only genuine chargers.
6. Medium-to Long-Term Storage
If you are not going to use your device for some time then you should keep the battery up to 50% before switching it off. Or if you are going on a long trip and want to keep your phone in storage, most companies recommend that you keep the device in a cool place (temperature below 32°C) and ideally Battery is half charged.
It is written in Apple’s battery guide that if you are not going to use your device for more than 6 months, then you should charge it 50 percent every 6 months. Regardless of the brand of device you have, definitely follow this suggestion.
Sadly, batteries have a limited life, after which they will fail and cannot be stopped. However, by following these simple tips, you can keep it in use for a little longer.