The longer lasting your iPhone is, the less money you’ll need to shell out on new devices and the more satisfying your overall experience with your phone will prove to be. Helping to ensure your phone stands the test of time requires attention to detail: including being mindful of the settings that you enable and the maintenance you put into your phone every week (yes, every week!).
But there are a few do’s and don’ts that every iPhone owner should be aware of — these are the deal breakers that can help prolong the life of your battery or, conversely, run it down to the ground much sooner. These tips are easy to follow, won’t take up time or require spending money, and can make the biggest difference in the life of your phone and battery.
Don’t: Charge Your Phone in High Temperatures
It’s really important that you avoid placing your phone in an environment with high temperatures — and it’s even more important that you don’t charge your device in a high temps. Charging your phone by itself raising the internal temperature of your device. If you’re choosing to charge it in direct sunlight in a hot car, that’s just playing with fire (no pub intended). Extreme temps will reduce the longevity of your battery — there’s no question about it.
Do: Keep Your Phone at Room Temperature
According to Apple, iPhones work best between 32° and 95° Fahrenheit ambient temperatures. Their ideal storage temperature is between -4° and 113° Fahrenheit. Be mindful about leaving your phone in enclosed spaces and in direct sunlight.
Don’t: Fully Deplete Your Battery
Not long ago, iPhone users were encouraged to deplete their phone battery completely (to 0 percent) so that when they charge the phone, the percentage of charge they gain is more accurate. This is not a standard anymore and it’s actually one of the biggest killers of a phone battery.
Do: Charge Your Phone Throughout the Day
Instead of waiting for your phone battery to drop to 0 percent, give your phone periodic charges throughout the day that ensure it stays within a sweet zone of 30 to 80 percent charged.
Don’t: Charge to 100 Percent If You’re Storing Your Phone
If you’re planning on storing your phone for some amount of time, don’t charge it to 100 percent. This can actually hurt your battery.
Do: Only Charge Your Phone Halfway
A better way to charge your phone for storage is to only charge it to 50 or 75 percent. Then turn it off and store it.
