It’s 2024. This means you’ve possibly owned an iPhone for 15 years by now. And yet, some of us are still continuing to make the same charging mistakes we’ve always made and then becoming frustrated when our batteries slowly show signs of degradation and cause our phone experience to be less than stellar.
For such an expensive device, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to figure out which mistakes we’re all making when we power up our phones so that we can do better. Good charging habits can help us hold onto our devices for as long as possible before needing to replace the battery or phone itself.
Tech experts have identified a few of the most common charging mistakes that wear down a phone’s battery. Here are three unexpected errors you may be committing without even knowing it.
1. Charging Your Phone to 100 Percent
Many of us have the habit of plugging in our phone before bed and allowing it to charge all night long. But the problem with this charging habit is that it puts unnecessary stress on your phone’s battery and can cause degradation in the long term if it becomes a repeated habit. Studies are finding that smartphones work better when you charge them for shorter bursts during the day. Aim to keep your phone’s battery charge between 30 and 80 percent for the best battery outcomes.
2. Allowing Your Battery To Dip to 0 Percent
Similarly, it isn’t a good idea to drop the ball completely when it comes to your phone and its charge and allow it to dip all the way down to 0 percent. Every time you allow your battery to die completely, you are actually shortening the phone’s lifespan little by little, according to Tech Expert Shane Starnes. If you stick to the sweet zone of between 30 and 80 percent charged, your battery will retain its healthy state.
3. Exposing Your Phone to Heat
Extreme temperatures, including heat, are enemies of your phone’s battery. The ideal temperature range for your phone battery is between 32°F and 95°F. When you leave your phone in the car for even a short time or expose it to direct sunlight, it can rapidly heat up and that temperature increase can be enough to put a massive strain on your battery. If you are routinely charging your phone in a heated environment, or with the phone case on, this can also contribute to overheating and eventual battery degradation.
Correcting these mistakes and swapping one habit for another won’t take a lot of time out of your day and it will eventually become second nature. Best of all, it can save you a ton of money in the long run.
