Battery life is a very complicated topic. As many people, so many suggestions, so we studied the claims of battery guides suggested by different experts. Then we also explored the suggestions given by mobile phone manufacturing companies. Let us know further about those methods through which you can improve the battery life of your device.
Before you follow the tips, it is important to know some facts. Lithium-ion batteries are used in our smartphones, tablets and laptops. The capacity of these batteries decreases over time.
You can slow down this process, but not stop it completely, by following our tips below. Batteries are designed to retain 80% of their capacity for a regular number of charge cycles. This number can be higher for larger batteries or more expensive batteries found in tablets and laptops. For example, Apple claims that the iPhone retains 80% of its capacity for 500 charge cycles, while for the iPad and MacBook this number is 1,000.
Now the question that might be arising in your mind is, “what is this a charge cycle?” A battery completes a charge cycle when you charge it up to 100 percent, then use it fully and bring it down to zero. If you charge it only up to 50 percent and then use it fully, then half the charge cycle is completed. Although in reality things are a bit more complicated but this is important for initial understanding. This means that you cannot avoid the charge cycle by repeatedly charging your phone’s battery till it reaches 90 percent and then fully charging it again. Doing this 10 times will complete a charge cycle.
Tips to increase battery life
You cannot change the laws of physics, but you can definitely reduce the damage to the battery during regular use. You just have to be aware of some things, such as temperature and the level of charge in the mobile phone. You have to keep these things in mind to keep your battery healthy.
1. Keep an eye on the temperature
Temperature has a huge impact on the battery life of any device. If you live in a place where the temperature is often above 35 degrees or below zero, the battery capacity will decrease rapidly. If possible, the phone or tablet should be protected from direct sunlight and freezing cold. Although excessive heat is more harmful to battery capacity than extreme cold, both are harmful. Battery University has provided an excellent guide to increase battery life, through which you can learn about the effect of temperature on battery capacity.
2. Partial discharge vs. full discharge
By now you must have been advised to charge your phone after it is fully discharged, but the reality is that partial discharge cycles are better than full discharge cycles in many ways. Although this is not the case with all lithium-ion batteries, it is generally useful to keep the battery charged in the range of 40-80 percent. This means that as soon as your phone’s battery reaches 40 percent, put it on charge and remove it from charge as soon as it reaches 80 percent. Although this may be slightly different in different devices, adjustments have to be made regarding all this. Practical use also has to be kept in mind. Suppose you are going somewhere and will not be able to use the charger for a long time, in such a situation, instead of getting stuck in the number game, you need to recharge your phone up to 100 percent.
3. Do not keep the phone connected to the charger all the time
Leaving your phone battery fully charged, even if it is plugged in, is detrimental to battery life. Battery University says that overcharging is not good for battery health. There are some benefits to not fully charging, some companies have intentionally lowered the charge threshold to increase battery life. Li-ion batteries cannot be overcharged, and it is imperative to remove the battery from the charger when it is fully charged. Continuously charging a fully charged battery causes plating in the metallic lithium, and also compromises your safety.
While this advice is easy to follow for smartphones and especially tablets, it is not practical for laptops. If you leave your laptop constantly charging, it will damage your battery in the long run. It is better to discharge your battery up to 40% occasionally. On the other hand, discharging the battery as soon as it is 100% charged will use up the charge cycles, which is also harmful in the long run. The best option is to be practical. Discharge it occasionally, but you also have to take your usage into account. Suppose you have to attend a meeting, it would be better if the battery is fully charged at that time.
4. Avoid using ultra-fast chargers
Some devices can be charged quickly using ultra-fast chargers, but this is not good for the health of your device in the long run. Battery University has a good advice on this topic, “If an underpowered engine pulls a large vehicle, the stress on it is very high and in such a situation the engine will not run for long.”
5. Do not use fake chargers
You can buy a fake charger from any roadside shop for just Rs 50 and use it to charge a phone bought for Rs 50,000, but we would not recommend doing this at all. Apple even started a third-party charger trade-in program to ensure that its customers use only original chargers.
6. Medium-to-Long-Term Storage
If you are not going to use your device for some time, you should keep the battery at 50 percent before switching it off. Or if you are going on a long trip and want to put your phone in storage, most companies recommend that you keep the device in a cool place (temperature below 32 degrees Celsius) and ideally the battery should be half charged.
Apple’s battery guide says that if you are not going to use your device for more than 6 months, then you should charge it 50% every 6 months. No matter which brand of device you have, definitely follow this advice.
Sadly, batteries have a limited life, after which they will start to wear out and this cannot be stopped. However, by following these simple tips, you can make it last a little longer.