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No one sets out with the intention of destroying their iPhone. But there could be one critical mistake you’re making that you think is actually helping your device. Something as simple as your everyday charging habits — and the accessories you use to charge your phone — can make a dramatic difference in how your battery runs, both in the short and long term. As with every mistake you could make with your iPhone, there’s very good news here: a few simple changes will rectify the problem and you’ll be well on your way toward protecting your expensive investment. This is the scary charging mistake you could be making that’s destroying your iPhone — and the low-down on how to fix it.
You Are Using Cheap Chargers
There’s a reason Apple makes its own chargers. Sure, the brand gets to sell them for a premium and make more money, but that’s not the only reason. An Apple-brand charger is designed to handle your iPhone’s specific charging needs. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case with other chargers.
“Everyone needs to charge their iPhone — in fact, depending on the model you have, you might need to charge your iPhone a few times a day,” says Cybersecurity Analyst Eric Florence at Security Tech. “But there are millions of people who make a critical mistake when purchasing and using a charger for their iPhone. It's true, there are countless faulty iPhone chargers on the market that actually do harm to your device instead of properly charging it.”
According to Florence, buying inferior chargers is a major mistake that is committed again and again and most people don't even know they're doing it. “A seemingly endless flow of cheap, inconsistent chargers have flooded the marketplace and, because of their low price, people are buying them left and right,” Florence says. “But these chargers are not made with the technological specifications to actually charge phones. This impairs the phone's battery at best and, at worst, permanently damages the device's ability to charge.”
So, what's the best way to avoid this? When you are shopping, make sure to look for accessories that have MFi certification. That's a program that Apple started way back in 2005, ensuring that any product with MFi certification would be able to work properly with Apple devices. If you are taking a change on those cheap, dollar store chargers, you will eventually pay for it. Name: Eric Florence Website: https://securitytech.org/ Title: Cybersecurity Analyst
So, what's the best way to avoid this? The answer is simple, though it may cost you a little more money in the short term (but a lot less headache in the long run): “When you are shopping, make sure to look for accessories that have MFi certification,” Florence says. “That's a program that Apple started way back in 2005, ensuring that any product with MFi certification would be able to work properly with Apple devices. If you are taking a change on those cheap, dollar store chargers, you will eventually pay for it.”
While you are swapping out inferior chargers for those that have the Apple stamp of approval, remember another golden charging rule that several tech experts mentioned: never let your phone drop below 30% or hit anywhere near 100% while charging it. The 30-80% range is your phone’s happy place and maintaining this charging range will ensure that your battery keeps running well.
