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There are few things more frustrating than a phone that refuses to hold its charge. But changing the way you actually charge your device can make an impact on your battery. Tech Expert Israel Gaudette, founder of Link Tracker Pro, spoke to SHEFinds.com about the best time to charge your iPhone to save battery power (spoiler alert: it probably isn’t the time you think).
Are you in the habit of waiting until bedtime and then charging your phone for the entire night after letting the battery power fall below 10 percent? You aren’t alone, but there’s a better way to care for your device. For starters, there is no such thing as the perfect time of day to charge your device, according to Gaudette — who recommends charging your phone whenever you can.
“When your phone loses more than 10 percent of its charge, plug it in,” Gaudette says. “If you’re at your desk and you’re not using your phone, leave it plugged into the charger. If you’re driving, plug it in to top up the battery.”
Plugging and unplugging your phone multiple times a day is totally fine as long as you’re not letting it charge fully 100 percent each time, according to Gaudette. “Periodic top-ups will not only keep your phone charged throughout the day, but will also make the battery perform optimally longer,” Gaudette says.
That being said, there are a few charging habits you can change that will help conserve your battery life. One of the best things you can do is leave your phone alone while it charges.
“Avoid watching videos or playing games while charging. It’s bad for the battery and will distort charging cycles,” Gaudette says.
Finally, there’s a good reason why it’s better to periodically charge your device, rather than wait until nighttime: doing so prevents it from fully charging to 100 percent.
“Keeping it plugged overnight is a big no,” Gaudette says. “It will not only damage the battery but may heat up and might cause combustion as well. The key thing here is to always keep your phone cool at all times while charging it.”
These few simple steps can make a big impact on your iPhone battery.
