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An iPhone battery seems like a fickle thing. It does what it wants, when it wants, and then shuts down just when you need it to keep ticking.
At least that’s what it seems like at times.
Unless you outright need a new iPhone battery, there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of battery drainage you experience. But the one mistake you’re making that’s ruining your iPhone battery is one you’ll need to stop if you want a healthy battery that keeps going.
Some of the more common reasons why your phone battery won’t keep up and seems to die after a few hours include keeping your screen too bright, constantly streaming videos and music, using navigation apps without keeping your phone charged in at the same time, and never turning off Wi-Fi, even when you’re in a place that has a weak hotspot.
But the mistake you may be making that’s killing your battery is one you might not even regard as a mistake.
When you notice your iPhone’s battery has dropped to 10 percent, it’s tempting to make a mad dash around your office and ask to borrow the closest lightning charger. But there’s a reason why Apple makes its own charger — sure, offering a range of accessories helps turn a profit, but Apple products are designed to work with other Apple products. Deviating from this course can cost you in battery power.
According to Reader’s Digest: “If you have an iPhone 6S, 7, or 7S, charging your iPhone with a third-party charger could ruin your battery, experts say. In fact, it’s recommended that you use only Apple MFI certified lightning connectors. Not only could using a third-party charger affect your phone’s warranty, but on the rare occasion that your iPhone actually explodes, Apple can turn you away if they find damage to the charging circuitry.”
Fake Apple chargers have made the news in the past for failing basic safety tests, according to Gizmodo. In a lawsuit Apple filed against Mobile Star LLC, a company that passed off fake chargers as the real Apple Deal, Apple cited a UL that called some of the adapters, “so poorly designed and constructed that they posed a risk of lethal electrocution to the user.”
While the chances of your phone’s battery exploding are pretty low, it’s not worth taking a chance with a third-party charger. The simple fact is that it can damage your battery and Apple is under no obligation to help you rectify the problem.
Always play it safe by purchasing an Apple charger straight from Apple or from a UL-certified third-party like Amazon Basics or Monoprice.
