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Why does my iPhone power drain so quickly? Here’s how to care for your phone battery

QUESTION: Why do I have occasional days where my iPhone battery is suddenly low on power by midday when I’m not doing anything unusual?
ANSWER: The single biggest issue for every smartphone user is battery life. No matter what type of device you have, it’s going to diminish over time.


How old is it?Whenever I’m asked this question, I always start by focusing on the age of the device. If it’s relatively new, it’s probably related to app usage. If it’s older, it’s probably suffering from diminished battery capacity.
Start by checking the battery’s maximum capacity, which is a measure relative to when it was new or at 100%.

Tap Settings, then Battery, then iPhone Battery Health to get your current status. If it’s under 80%, it may be time to replace the battery. If it’s well above 80%, your issues are probably app usage related.
chemical ageAll rechargeable batteries are considered consumables, meaning there’s a finite limit to their usefulness. As time goes on, the physical age isn’t as important as the chemical age of the battery, which is primarily determined by charge cycles and how it’s been cared for .

Charge cycles

Apple’s guideline for battery lifespan is based on 500 complete charge cycles. A charge cycle is when you’ve discharged 100% of the battery’s capacity, but not necessarily in one day. For instance, if your battery level is at 50% when you recharge on two consecutive days, that would represent one charge cycle. If you are down to 25% every day when you charge, you’re using just over five charge cycles a week.

After 500 charge cycles, your battery will likely be at or near 80% capacity. For most users, that’s two to three years of regular usage.
Temperature’s impactOne of the easiest ways to quickly increase the chemical age of your battery is through exposure to high ambient temperatures.

Temperatures above 95 degrees can permanently damage the battery’s capacity, which can be a constant challenge if you live in a warm climate.
Another big thing to avoid is charging your phone when it’s hot, which can further damage the battery.


More from Ken Colburn:Here are 6 free alternatives to Microsoft Office
Your app usageWhich apps you use and how you use them can have a big impact on daily battery life. Apple makes it easy to see this by going to Settings, then Battery and scrolling down to the list of apps by battery usage.
The default is “Last 24 Hours,” but you’ll better understand your regular usage patterns by tapping “Last 10 Days.”


The app that uses the most battery power will be at the top of the list along with the percentage of iphone battery consumption. This should reflect the apps you use the most, but there’s more helpful information available if you tap the “Show activity” option.

This will give you more details, including how many hours and minutes you’ve used the app and how much of that time was in the background.
If the background usage is very high, you should start manually shutting down those apps when you aren’t using them.

Battery replacement

If your capacity is below 80%, Apple provides a relatively affordable replacement option for most current iPhone models ranging between $89 to $99. To get an estimate on your exact device


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Undercharged: iPhone 14 owners complain about lower battery endurance

Owners of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are complaining about battery health — but it’s not at all clear yet if this is an actual issue. Apple Insider looks at the data.Reports in August started to surface about battery issues for the current-gen iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro, with claims that the battery is degrading far quicker than it should be.


According to the various complaints, if you check the iphone Battery Health & Charging section under Battery in the Settings app, the Maximum Capacity figure is a lot lower than people want it to be. While you could easily expect that the maximum capacity will go down over time, it’s eroding a little too fast for some.Is there an iPhone 14 battery problem?A vocal group of iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro users have raised issues with the Maximum Capacity number, claiming that its dropping at a far faster rate than they would want. These complaints have surfaced on social media, and over the summer, have become more prominent.
In July, Apple Track’s Sam Kohl pointed out via X that the capacity of his iPhone 14 Pro after less than a year of ownership is at 90%, deeming the number to be “actually unacceptable.” John Rettinger passed comment in August, sharing that his iPhone 14 Pro Max, bought at launch, has a capacity of 90% too.
I’ve had my iPhone 14 Pro for LESS than a year this is actually unacceptable pic.twitter.com/rKkvW6Z60v

The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern also chimed in during August, questioning why her iPhone 14 Pro is down to 88%, and an Apple Store Genius said that he personally had already hit 450 charge cycles. By contrast, a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro held by Stern’s wife was at 80% capacity, and her editor’s two-year-old iPhone 13 Pro was at 90%.
Others have also pointed out low percentages, including The Verge’s Tom Warren at 91% and Max Weinbach tweeting at 89%.


While these are prominent examples, there are many others on social media complaining about the Maximum Capacity for their iPhone 14-era smartphones. Excluding trolling responses, the typical query for those affected by this phenomenon is for a battery that’s mid to low-90’s in percent, or high 80’s.
The general opinion is that the Maximum Capacity shouldn’t be getting close to dipping down below 90% under a year after release. At least, that the percentages shouldn’t be dropping at a rate faster than the batteries of earlier iPhone releases.
Apple’s iPhone 14 battery expectationsApple does attempt to set healthy expectations for the batteries in its devices, as outlined in its Battery Service and Recycling page.
For the iPhone, Apple insists the battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity after 500 complete charge cycles. By a complete charge cycle, that means effectively depleting the battery then recharging it to full capacity.
Apple’s expectations are for an 80% battery capacity after 500 complete cyclesBy comparison, the Apple Watch, MacBook, and iPad lines are thought to hold on to 80% after 1,000 complete charge cycles, while the iPod does so for 400 cycles.
Apple also includes a clear warning that if you “need to charge your battery more and more frequently, it might be time to service it,” and to do so via Apple or an authorized service provider.


There’s also a one-year warranty for the iPhone, which includes service coverage for a defective battery that’s hit that 80% mark. AppleCare+ will extend this warranty out to two years for iPhones.
For out-of-warranty devices, there’s a battery replacement service.
A common problem?Failure rates for the total number of products manufactured is a bell curve. The early failures are numerically pretty low, with a peak at some point in the middle of the curve, followed by a slow rate as the population declines.

An example of a bell curve graph [Wikimedia]What varies between manufacturers and products is when the peak of failures lies in the timetable of the product. We have it on good authority that Apple has engineered the 80% battery depletion mark average — meaning the peak of the bell curve — at just over two years, and has for at least the last five years of iPhone models.


This means that an about-10% per-year depletion is normal, according to Apple.
For years, we’ve had access to a large amount of service data from within Apple’s repair chain, and iPhone battery replacement rates are included in that set.
We’ve grouped battery replacements into two groups — the iPhone 14 non-Pro models, and the two iPhone 14 Pro models in another group.
Instead of comparing per capita failure rates, we can compare total replacements, given that the total population of iPhones sold in that first year of live is a bit less in 2022 to 2023, than it was in 2021 to 2022.


For the lifetime of the iPhone 14 grouping and iPhone 14 Pro grouping, the number of battery failures, meaning that 80% threshold has been met, or Apple has decided 
to replace the battery in a response to a consumer complaint even if not at 80%, is a hair less than it has been in the past. This is consistent with what is believed to be a lower population of iPhone 14 models sold in total, than the iPhone 13 line.
The iPhone 14 Pro family has slightly more failures in total than the iPhone 14 grouping. It’s also believed that the population to date of the iPhone 14 Pro models is higher than that of the iPhone 14.


If there was a massive problem, there would be a giant deviation in the failure quantity, and a corresponding large deviation from that bell curve. To date, there is not that giant deviation in any iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro model.
It’s still early in the device’s life, though, and the iPhone 14 is still on the left side of the bell curve. We’ll revisit this in about six months.


How a battery works, and what’s happeningAppleInsider has previously covered what happens to a battery to cause wear and tear, and how to care for the battery life.
In short, lithium-ion batteries use an anode and a cathode separated by a generally flammable electrolyte, with charged atoms moving from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. This process frees electrons, which return to the cathode, completing the circuit.
Recharging effectively reverses this chemical reaction, at the expense of some wear on the battery.
These reactions generate heat and can wear the battery, which eventually degrades the battery to exhaustion in a combination of physical and chemical effects beyond the scope of this article. To users, this wear is represented by a reduction of battery capacity over time. No battery is eternal.Replacing an iPhone battery


As for why the percentage change is faster for some users, this could be down to a number of factors. Most obviously the reason for the decrease could be an increase in battery usage, with intensive apps like games more likely to require higher rates of power consumption in a short space of time. And, that always-on display does draw some power.


A worn battery can be an operational issue, as Apple did introduce safeguards in iOS 10.2.1 that throttled the CPU to minimize the chance of shutdowns from excessive CPU power draws. However, this did lead to multiple class-action lawsuits that resulted in a $500 million settlement.
There is the possibility that, with reduced capacities, iPhone 14 owners may encounter these safeguards far earlier than they may have expected, especially considering the multi-year lifespan of an iPhone 14 Battery in many cases.

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How an iPhone battery works and how to manage battery health

Your iPhone uses a lithium-ion battery that degrades over time, but there is little reason to worry about battery health in a new device. Here’s what you need to know about your iPhone’s battery.

Batteries are not mysterious black boxes that power your iPhone, in fact, they are quite simple products compared to the advanced silicon they are powering. The physical nature of batteries mean that they will ultimately wear out and become less useful over time, but device owners don’t need to worry.


Understanding a little bit of the science behind batteries can go a long way in intelligently managing your device’s lifespan. Controversies surrounding iPhone relating to planned obsolescence and expected upgrade cycles can easily be dismissed as hyperbole with a little bit of knowledge.Lithium-ion battery basicsA battery consists of an anode (+) and cathode (-) separated by a generally flammable electrolyte. When a device draws power from the battery, charged lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte, releasing electrons.


These freed electrons power the device and return to the cathode, creating a complete electrical circuit. The opposite occurs when charging the device — electrons are passed into the anode and move to the cathode.
Without getting too technical, these two chemical reactions are imperfect and introduce heat loss and wear to the battery. The lithium material slowly depletes, oxidization reduces usable surface area, and filaments grow from battery plates. All this leads to cell degradation and eventual battery exhaustion .


There is nothing a user can do to stop this process desolately. Take using fuel in a car, for example, it eventually runs out. However, exhausting a lithium battery takes a great deal of time and can be mitigated somewhat by user and software behaviors .
So, when a new iPhone has a 100% battery rating, it has all of the rated milliamp-hours of power available when fully charged. It also means the battery can provide enough power to the CPU at peak current draw without issue.
Apple says its batteries are designed to retain up to 80% of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles. A charge cycle is defined by a complete drain of the battery to zero, followed by a complete charge to 100%.


This expected battery life can vary from user to user. The average user is expected to keep their battery health north of 80% for the first two years with regular use. Hitting 80% within a year is cause for concern, and Apple will replace your battery for free with AppleCare or for a fee without.


Others who use their iPhone constantly and charge their device from near dead to 100% multiple times a day will see their battery degrade faster. Looking at your Screen Time will reveal if you’re unconsciously overusing your device — maybe it’s time to put down your iPhone if TikTok shows multiple hours of use in a short time.
Of course, iPhones are bought to be used. But, like anything, moderation is important, especially if you’re worried about something as physical as battery chemistry.
Ultimately, once the battery degrades below 80% of its original capacity, protections within the operating system will engage to ensure the device doesn’t shut down inadvertently. This throttling can be avoided by having the battery replaced at an Authorized Apple Service Provider.


After the iPhone throttles the processor for the first time to prevent a shutdown, a new toggle will appear in battery settings. This gives users the ability to turn off the throttling feature and allows the processor to draw full current.
However, the device will shut off as soon as the current draw exceeds what the battery can provide. It is highly unadvisable to turn off the throttling feature and can lead to battery damage.


Degraded batteriesBefore iOS 10.2.1 in 2017, the iPhone didn’t do much to account for aging batteries in its software. However, a perfect storm of circumstances set AppleBattery up for user complaints about inadvertent shutdowns in older devices.
Recent devices had more powerful processors, thinner designs, and brighter displays. These factors led to smaller batteries with lower capacities that died faster. A smaller battery also meant a lower peak voltage, which meant aging batteries would dip below peak rated voltages sooner.
Those factors were coupled with more people buying iPhones than ever, then keeping them for longer than expected, which led to more reports of batteries becoming exhausted. Note that the “Plus” models and iPads were not encountering shutdown issues thanks to their larger battery capacities .


Intermittent shutdowns were reported by owners of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and iPhone SE. Users complained that the device would show battery levels of 30% or more then suddenly shut off as if the battery died.


This occurred because these devices’ batteries had been exhausted to the point that they could no longer provide peak power during peak CPU draw. Since there were no other protections in place, the iPhone would sense the CPU power draw exceeding the available current and just shut down to protect the iPhone battery.

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Best Practices For A Healthy Smartphone Battery Life

Users are forever in search of the best smartphone that has longer battery life. Gone are the days where batteries are easily replaceable. Today, we have to be conscious of our battery usage to minimize the expensive professional service that comes with smartphones.


Almost all smartphones are equipped with lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and while we all use the same type, no battery has the same lifespan. It all depends on our habits and how we use our phones that can determine how long can we keep the health of our smartphone batteries.
Best Practices to keep your Smartphone Battery Healthy
If you have been with your smartphone for more than a year, you might notice that batteries don’t last long compared to when it was brand new. Down the line, many phones can’t make it through a day with a single charge.


There are various ways to extend your phone battery lifespan. You might be familiar with it or it might sound new to you, but here are some best practices you can follow to keep your smartphone battery healthy:


Partial ChargingMost of us are guilty of fully charging our phones out of habit but in reality, it’s bad for the battery. Also, some are using their phones until the battery goes 0 percent before plugging it in, which should be avoided.
The best way to charge your phone and extend its lifespan is to charge it partially and frequently. For example, you can charge it for up to 80% and use it until it goes to 20% before charging it again. With this charging cycle, you can improve your smartphone’s battery life.
Avoid Extreme HeatLi-ion batteries don’t respond well to heat or extreme cold. If you are located in a cold area, its’ best to use thick phone cases that can keep it warm. For hot weather, don’t leave your phone exposed to sunlight. Heat is the worst enemy for Li-on batteries while cold might damage its health temporarily.
It’s best practice not to leave or store your mobile device in an enclosed space where there’s minimum ventilation as it raises the phone’s temperature, especially inside a hot car.


Decrease Screen BrightnessTurning down your screen brightness will save energy. Your smartphone screen is the component that uses battery the most. For iOS and Android devices, it gives you an option to automatically reduce the screen brightness when there’s light, though it still uses a light sensor. It’s advisable to disable auto-brightness.
You probably don’t require the full brightness, so manually setting your screen’s brightness depending on the ambient lighting is best recommended and will save your phone battery life.
Avoid Using Phone While ChargingMost people can’t keep away from their phones because it’s now considered a necessity. However, when it’s charging, it is better to avoid using it. When you use apps that require a large proportion of battery to operate, it’s consuming a lot of energy, thus reducing your battery life in the process.
It can also lead to overheating the device and as mentioned earlier, heat is the worst enemy for Li-on batteries. The best solution is to turn it off while charging, or if it’s really necessary to use it, then keep the workload very light when your phone is plugged in.


Avoid Using Non-Compatible Charging CablesThe most common practice people do is to use a counterfeit or third-party charging cable. You might think that you are saving some money because you bought it for a lower price, but it can seriously harm your smartphone battery.
Accessories that are not manufactured by the original provider are made of cheap materials that don’t work the same way as the original cables. Ensure that you are only using the right charging cables to protect not only your battery but also your smartphones.
Reduce Screen Timeout or Auto-LockSimilar to laptops or computers, your mobile’s screen can automatically turn off if not in use. You can save energy by reducing the screen timeout or auto-lock by 1 minute or even 30 seconds. Both iPhones and Androids have these features and it’s easy to set up.


Check Your AppsAll smartphone apps use power and data even if they are not in use, like Facebook. To extend your battery life, disable the background refresh activities of apps that aren’t crucial and do it regularly. When apps update, some new features are added and might consume more energy, so you’ll notice your battery draining. Make it a bit to monitor apps that consumes power even if you don’t use them.

Nowadays, Lithium-ion battery technology is more understood, but some myths remain in our consciousness. While most of the habit doesn’t severely impact your smartphone’s battery life, the decrease in removable batteries should be a reminder that we need to take precautions to prolong our smartphone’s battery life.

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The real secret to better Android battery life

Attention, Android phone owners: Stronger smartphone stamina is well within your reach . All you’ve gotta do is reach out and grab it.
If there’s one question I hear more than any other here in the land o’ Googley matters, it’s how to grant oneself the invaluable gift of better battery life on Android.
Hey, we all struggle with stamina some days. Our favorite phones are no different.
Here’s the good news, though: While the notion of achieving better Android battery life may sometimes seem like rocket science, it’s actually just regular science — and the secret to making it happen actually isn’t all that difficult at all, once you understand the mechanics around it.
[ How to switch from iPhone to Android ]In fact, all it requires is a touch of careful planning.

Let me explain.
[Get Googley goodness in your inbox every Friday with my free Android Intelligence newsletter. Three fresh tips every Friday — straight from me to you!]
The Android battery life mechanicsThe main thing to know about your phone’s physical battery is that it’s a limited resource that loses capacity over time.


That’s an inherent quality of that type of technology, unfortunately, and the same is true no matter what type of mobile device you’re using: The more you use it — and, specifically, the more you stress it via ongoing charging — the less power it’s able to hold, and thus the worse battery life it gives you over time.
That’s at least in part why even a year-old phone often lasts for noticeably less time than a brand new out-of-the-box model. But once you’re aware of that unavoidable reality, you can take some smart and relatively simple steps to address it.
And here’s the easiest and most effective one of all: Stop charging your phone all the way to 100% and letting it sit on the charger indefinitely.


Ask most any Android   phone battery expert, and they’ll tell you the same thing: The fastest way to shortening your battery’s life and making it perform more poorly is regularly charging it all the way to full — or, worse yet, keeping it plugged in and maintaining that fully charged state for extended periods.
There’s a bunch of technical gobbledygook behind that, but the basic idea is that the higher your charging state, the faster the electrolytes — the components that make the battery work (which, fair warning, are far less tasty than the kind mixed into Gatorade) — degrade. And the more they degrade, the less charge they’re able to maintain.
In human terms, the takeaway is this: Letting your phone go super-high or super-low in charge is bad, mmkay? Instead, what you want to do is stay in the middle as much as possible.


And luckily, that’s almost shockingly easy to do. You just have to take a teensy shred of time now to make some simple changes to your charging habits, and you’ll set yourself up for a longer-lasting battery for months or even years to come.
Your better Android battery life options

All right — enough about the mechanics. Let’s get into the actual answers, shall we?
We’ll tackle three separate categories and associated options for boosting your Android phone’s battery life and setting yourself up for lasting stamina success:
1. For the Google Pixel owners among usFirst, if you’ve got a Google-made Pixel phone from 2019 or later — so the Pixel 4 model and up, in other words — take 20 seconds now to dig up your device’s Adaptive Charging setting:


Open up the Battery section of your system settings.Tap “Adaptive preferences.”Find the line labeled “Adaptive Charging” and make sure the toggle next to it is in the on and active position.Android Battery Life: PixelJRThat’ll allow your phone to take a slow ‘n’ steady approach to charging when it knows you’re gonna have it plugged in for a while, like during the overnight hours. That way, at least in theory, it’ll reach the 100% mark at the end of your charging period instead of getting there quickly and then continuing to maintain that full-charge state with ongoing power pushing.


Now, notably, this feature originally worked only when you charged your Pixel between 9 pm and 4 am and you had an active alarm set for somewhere between 3 am and 10 am That’s a pretty significant limitation, to say the least.
More recently, some Pixel users have noticed the system being far more flexible and working in the same way even when an alarm isn’t set, based solely on typical charging patterns. The official documentation for the feature hasn’t been updated to reflect that change, though, and it isn’t entirely clear how widely available it might be at this point.
Either way, this setup is a smart start — and leaning on it is absolutely a good first step. But if you really want to take your Android battery life to the max and allow for the best possible battery health and thus best possible stamina over the long haul, you’ll want to keep reading (to number 3 in this list, specifically).


2. For the Samsung Galaxy gangGot a reasonably recent Samsung Galaxy-flavored Android
d device? Your phone has a similar sort of system in place that can automatically limit charging, though with a bit of a different twist:


Head into your system settings and search for the word battery.Find the option labeled “Protect battery” and tap it.Turn the toggle on the line labeled “Protect battery” into the on position.Android Battery Life: SamsungJRThat’ll stop your phone from charging anytime it hits the 85% mark, which is a sensible limit for long-term battery health and maximum ongoing stamina. That does mean you’ll have a little less battery power to work with on a day -to-day basis, but as long as you can make that work — or even do a midday top-off, if you need to — you’ll get better battery life over the lifespan of your device as a result.

3. For anyone and everyone using AndroidEven if you’re already using a battery-saving system from Samsung, Google, or any other Android phone-maker who offers a similar sort of setup, you’d be well-advised to consider this last step as a stamina-protecting supplement . And if you’re using a phone that doesn’t offer any sort of built-in battery protection feature, you’ll definitely want to do this:


Install an excellent app called AccuBattery onto your Android phone of choice.Open the app up and, on its main Charging tab, look for the blue slider floating off the percentage circle at the top.Slide that little blue flag left or right to land on the value you want. I’d suggest starting at 90%; if you find that works okay for you, you can then inch your way down closer to 85% or even 80% and see how you do.Android Battery Life: AccuBatteryJRWith that step finished, AccuBattery will now sound an alarm anytime your phone reaches the level you set — and that’ll be your indication that it’s time to take it off the charger.

If you really want to go all out, there are also some physical accessories that can manage this for you and essentially cut off the power for every charge completely once a certain battery level’s been reached. That’s a fine enough option, if you don’t mind dropping the extra dough and charging only in a spot where that specific apparatus is available. But I’m telling you: Taking your phone off the charger when it hits a certain point is something you’ll get accustomed to quickly, provided your schedule supports it.
However you go about it, the ultimate ideal is to keep your phone between 20% and 80% of its battery capacity as often as possible, without any extended time sitting on a charger and constantly being fed fresh power. The same is true whether you ‘re using an Android phone or any other type of battery-dependent gizmo.


And with any combination of the tactics we just went over, you’ll be able to make that happen — and enjoy better  Samsung Android battery  life for longer than ever as a result. 

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Here’s how to properly charge your phone’s battery

Regular iphone battery maintenance is key to longevity. Tap or click for my simple action plan to get more years out of your iPhone or Android.
We spend so much money on tech that it’s incredibly frustrating when our devices break. A little prevention can go a long way. Here are six checkups to give your tech now to avoid a shocking repair bill later.


Then there are the mistakes you make day in and day out. Bad charging habits can shorten or disrupt your smartphone battery life if you aren’t careful.
Don’t rely on knock-off chargers
High-quality chargers have circuits inside of them that switch off when there’s too much power draw. This protects your phone battery from overcharging, breaking, or overheating your phone.
Heat is your battery’s biggest enemy. Some cheap chargers and cables have even led to fire and injuries. Saving money is great, but don’t skimp on quality here.
Here’s a list of safe options that will charge your phone safely.
Be careful with power banks
Just like with cheap chargers, cheap power banks can ruin your battery over time. Be sure any power bank you use has overcharge protection. If not, you can still use it, but keep an eye out. Once your battery is almost full, unplug it.


It would be best if you avoided also power banks with quick charge options unless they’re from a reliable brand. Here’s a rule of thumb: If you’ve never heard of it, say no.
Rapid charging can send too much electricity to your phone and cause battery damage. This high voltage could, at the very least, shorten your Smartphone Battery lifespan.
Tap or click for more smart ways to ensure you’re buying gear worth your money.
Don’t download battery-draining apps


Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer phone batteries only have a limited number of charging cycles before they degrade. This is why most people encounter battery problems after two years of use.
There’s nothing you can do about your battery wearing down eventually, but some things have more of an impact. If you have performance apps that monitor your battery life, they could harm it in the long run. These apps constantly use power to monitor your battery life.


Spyware, adware, and other malware are also taxing on phones. Most constantly run in the background. Tap or click here for signs your phone is infected.
Don’t use your phone while it’s charging
Your phone is at 1%, so you plug it in. Leave it alone! Using your phone while charging can rapidly increase the temperature, putting strain on your battery, screen and processor.


Charging rules are essential when it comes to your computer, too. Tap or click for steps to check your  battery health.
Take it out of the case
Phone cases can be a great way to customize your phone and add some physical security. When it comes to charging, though, they can cause temperature problems.
When your iphone battery heats up too much, it can cause damage to the rest of your phone. To be safe, take the case off while you charge iphone battery especially if you notice your phone heats up while it’s plugged in. 

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Why Phones Explode, and How to Prevent It From Happening to You

The average smartphone batteries is unlikely to explode, but it happens.There’s not much you can do if shoddy hardware is to blame, but these tips may help prevent your phone from going up in smoke.
Sometimes smartphones explode. In January 2023, an iPhone 4 caught fire while charging overnight. A child in India was killed when a Redmi Note 5 Pro reportedly blew up in her face. In July, a man’s phone exploded on an Air India flight, causing an emergency landing.


The likelihood of your cell Phone Battery exploding is slim, but it happens, as demonstrated by Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 fiasco a few years back. But why does it happen and what, if anything, can you do to avoid it?
Why Do Smartphones Explode?

There are many reasons a smartphone may catch fire or explode, and it almost always has to do with the device’s battery. Modern mobile devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which contain a careful balance of positive and negative electrodes to allow for recharging. When something goes wrong, the inner components of the battery can break down and create a volatile reaction that can lead to fires.


This can happen for multiple reasons, but the most common problem is excessive heat. If a charging battery or overworked processor becomes too hot too quickly, it can ruin the chemical makeup of the phone’s components. With batteries, a chain reaction called thermal runaway can cause the battery to generate even more heat and eventually catch fire or explode.
The reason for your phone overheating will vary. Physical damage—the kind sustained from a fall or excessive bending—can disrupt the inner workings of the battery. Leaving the phone out in the sun for too long, malware overworking the CPU, or a charging debacle can all cause short circuiting within the device.


Or it could be something outside your direct control. Batteries degrade over time, so if a device has been used for several years—like the iPhone 4 that caught fire—it’s possible for the internal components to fade, leading to swelling and overheating. As was the case with the Galaxy Note 7, an issue with the phone’s production may be to blame, which you can’t really account for.
You may not get a warning, but if you hear hissing or popping sounds coming from the phone or smell burning plastic or chemicals, it may be damaged and on the verge of exploding. (Don’t put your face near it, obviously.) Similarly, look out for excessive heat coming from the device, especially when charging. If it’s burning hot to the touch, unplug it immediately.


Another big warning sign is a swollen battery, which can happen if it has been damaged or internal components have degraded. Look out for any changes in your device’s shape, including a protruding screen, an enlarged seam, or a distended chassis that may cause the phone to no longer sit flush with a flat surface.
We nearly blew up an aging Android phone while trying to remove all traces of Google services in 2019. All we got for our trouble was a bulging battery.
Most modern smartphones no longer allow you to remove the battery, so if you’re concerned about your device, turn it off and take it in for service immediately.

Can You Prevent Your Phone From Exploding?

melted android phone(Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd)While there are steps you can take to alleviate some of the strain you may put on your phone’s battery, there’s not a whole lot you can do if the issue is a manufacturing defect. Batteries must be rigorously tested for faulty components, butly cheap made units may possessions imperfect that can cause a phone to overheat.


In the case of the Note 7, a design flaw was to blame; there was nothing the average consumer could do to fix it. There’s no quick fix when it comes to shoddy construction. The same goes for that iPhone 4 batteries naturally degrade over time and will ultimately need to be replaced.

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Want to Avoid Upgrading Your iPhone? Here’s How to Maximize Your Battery’s Life Span

Check out this advice straight from Apple on how you can make your iPhone battery last as long as possible.
While some Apple fans have been going wild for the brand-new iPhone 15 series, there are still some of us out here just trying to make our older iPhones last as long they can. If you want to keep your current iPhone going for as many years as possible, one of the best things you can do is to protect the life span of your iPhone’s battery.
Battery life span, not to be confused with your battery life, is the length of time your battery has before you need to replace it. The rechargeable battery in your iPhone should work at optimal capacity for (hopefully) a couple of years at the very least, but that depends on a variety of factors, like environmental temperatures, how you charge your battery, drop damage or a faulty battery. (“Battery life,” on the other hand, is the amount of time your battery can power your phone before it needs to be recharged.)


If you aren’t quite sure what to do to help prolong your iPhone battery’s life span, who better to advise you than Apple?

Below you’ll find a few tips directly from the company that’ll help keep you from having to replace your battery sooner rather than later.
And while we’re on the subject of your phone, here are a couple of other CNET stories you’ll want to peruse: Find out everything we expect to be announced at the 2023 Apple Wonderlust event, and check out rumors that the iPhone 15could support faster charging speeds. 

And now, on to the battery tips…
First, make sure Optimized Battery Charging is enabledThough you can’t overcharge a battery, you can put your battery under a bit of stress when you charge up to 100%. To help limit that strain, your iPhone has a setting that learns from your daily charging routine (say you always plug in your phone right before you go to bed and then unplug it in the morning). It then waits to finish charging past 80% until right before you need it, instead of just quickly charging the battery all the way to 100%. 
This can help reduce battery aging, and though the setting should be enabled by default, it’s still good to check if it’s on. In Settings, go to Battery > Battery Health & Charging and make sure that Optimized Battery Charging is toggled on.

Setting on the iPhone to optimize battery charging

The setting should be on by default, but it never hurts to look and confirm.Nelson Aguilar/CNETKeep your iPhone away from extreme temperaturesThe life span of your iPhone battery can be affected by extreme temperatures. A higher temperature increases the speed of chemical reactions inside the battery, which forces the battery to work harder and faster, thus also causing it to degrade faster. 
According to Apple, it’s important to avoid exposing your iPhone to temperatures higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) to avoid permanent damage. Fortunately, the fix is ​​simple — keep your iPhone out of hot temperatures. If you’re at the beach, don’t leave your iPhone on your towel in direct sunlight. Instead, toss it into a bag or put a shirt over it for protection. Also, don’t leave your iPhone in the car for an extended period of time, especially if it’s a hot day.


Apple does have a few settings to prevent overheating and damage, like disabling your phone or preventing further charging when your phone is too hot, but you don’t want to rely on these features to save your phone’s battery health. It’s better to take preventative actions than wait for your iPhone to overheat.

You may need to take your iPhone out of its caseIf your iPhone gets hot any time you charge it, you may need to take off your case before doing so. Certain cases, especially the bulkier and more protective ones, can trap heat and make the iPhone overheat, affecting the Cell Phone battery life span.
Apart from removing the case, consider avoiding processor-intensive apps, like games, when your phone is charging. Using these apps while charging could also cause your phone to overheat.


The Otterbox Free case for iPhone 14 is fully waterproof and dust-proofSome cases may trap warmth and cause your iPhone to overheat when it’s charging.David Carnoy/CNETTake these steps to protect iPhones in long-term storageMaybe you got a new phone and want to stash your old iPhone for a bit. If you want to maintain the battery’s life span, you should do the following before putting it away:


Keep the charge at around 50%. You don’t want your battery to be full or empty before you turn it off, or else it could stop holding a charge (if full) or lose capacity and have a shorter life span (if empty ).Turn your iPhone off. This prevents your phone from using up more apple battery.Store your phone in a cool and moisture-free environment. Ideally, the temperature should be less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

If you’re putting your iPhone away for longer than six months, turTurn it on and charge it to 50% every six months.If you store your iPhone for an extended period of time, your iPhone battery may be in a low-charge state, which means you may need to charge it for 20 minutes before you can turn it on.

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How to turn on 80% charging limit on the iPhone 15 to save battery health

Apple may have just fixed its biggest iPhone battery problem, and iPhone 15 users get first dibs. Here’s how and when to use it.

The iPhone 15 series is officially available, and whether you already have a device in hand or are anxiously waiting for one, a recent feature discovery should be at the top of your initial set-up agenda.
The feature is called “80% Limit” and is hidden within the deeper end of the iPhone 15’s Battery settings. When toggled on, the iPhone will limit its charging capacity to 80% instead of the normal 100%. 


Also: Want the fastest iPhone? Choose this model on this network
While Apple doesn’t actually explain why this feature exists, it’s safe to assume that the charging cap is a direct response to the recent comments about the iPhone 14’s battery degradation. These aren’t fan theories, unfortunately; it’s just the nature of lithium -ion ​​batteries found in iPhones and other devices, with the maximum capacity slowly degrading every time it completes a charge cycle.
Capping the iPhone 15’s charging to 80% reduces the likelihood of battery degradation, though it may not always be in your best interest to have the feature turned on. More on that later.


How to turn on 80% Limit on the iPhone 15

What you’ll need: At the time of writing, 80% Limit is only available on the iPhone 15 series, which includes the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. 
Also: Your Apple device may be eligible for a major software update. How to check and download


The feature is clearly not processor-exclusive, as the non-Pro models operate on an A16 Bionic chip versus the A17 Pro on the more expensive iPhones. Therefore, the chances of Apple extending the feature to older models are still likely.
1. Access apple Battery Health & Charging settingsFirst, open up the Settings app and scroll down to the Battery tab. Then, tap on Battery Health & Charging.

iPhone 15 Optimized Charging
2. Toggle on 80% LimitNow tap into Charging Optimization and you’ll be presented with three options: 


Optimized Battery Charging: Prompts the iPhone to trickle charge up to 80% overnight and then tops up to 100% as you’re about to wake up.80% Limit: Caps the charging at 80%. Apple says the iPhone will occasionally charge to 100% in order to maintain a more accurate battery state-of-charge estimate.None: Keeps the iPhone’s charging capabilities flexible.Tap on 80% Limit to turn it on.

While you’re on the  iPhoneBattery Health & Charging screen, you’ll also find the maximum battery capacity of your iPhone, which, if it’s an iPhone 15, should be at 100%. If your device shows a lower value, reach out to Apple support as there may be a potential defect with your battery.
When you should (and when shouldn’t you’t) use 80% LimitYou should use 80% Limit if…


You want to preserve the battery health of your iPhone, whether it be for longevity’s sake or better resale value.You’re able to get through a day of average to high usage without battery concerns. This is mostly the case with the larger iPhone models, iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max.You shouldn’t use 80% Limit if…
You’re concerned that iPhone 15 battery 80% battery is not enough for a day’s use. Perhaps you’re traveling and access to power sources is limited or need to use more power-intensive tasks like video capturing, GPS navigation, and gaming.

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The best Samsung Galaxy phones right now (and which foldables you should buy)

Shopping for a new Samsung phone battery?ZDNET’s tested and rounded up the very best, including foldables, ones with styli, and options for the budget-minded.
Of all the Samsung phones batteries manufacturers, Samsung’s lineup of handsets may be the most robust, Want a phone that has a built-in stylus? You’ve got that. Want a phone that can expand into a tablet? You’ve got that too.

Basically, finding the best Samsung phone for you boils down to your personal needs, use cases, and design preferences. Trust me, you’ll have plenty of options laid out below, and not every one of them will be the right fit for you. 
To make the shopping process easy, we’ve personally tested most, if not all, the latest Galaxy phones that Samsung has to offer, and assembled a catalog of the top options for your choosing, including the more recent Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series, the value-driven A-series, and our top pick right now, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The best Samsung phones in 2023Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraBest Samsung phone overall

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Display: 6.8 inches | RAM/Storage Options: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB | Rear cameras: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 10x optical, 10MP 3x optical | Battery: 5,000mAh


In the grand calculus of the Samsung multiverse, the Galaxy S23 Ultra reigns supreme. It’s arguably the most no-frills smartphone that you can buy on the market, let alone from Samsung, which puts it at the top spot on our list.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display, a beefy 5,000mAh battery that can last you as long as two days, a customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor to keep things running efficiently, and the sacred Samsung S Pen — ideal for jotting down notes, graphics designing, or even signing PDFs.
I tested the Galaxy S23 Ultra earlier this year and called it “one of the most complete handsets you can buy this year — whether you like and need the excessive amount of features or not.”


Being the latest and greatest also means that the S23 Ultra comes equipped with Samsung’s newest advancements in camera technology, including a 200-megapixel main lens that’s capable of capturing the highest-resolution images we’ve seen on any Galaxy phone. There’s also 8K video recording at 30 frames per second if you’re into that.
All this is to say that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is our pick for the best Samsung phone overall.


Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 PlusBest Samsung phone for most peopleGalaxy S23 Plus on a table.Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Display: 6.6 inches | RAM/Storage: 8GB RAM with 256GB/512TB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto| Battery: 4,700mAh
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Plus is not as flashy as its Ultra sibling but remains a formidable pick-up for shoppers eyeing a meaningful upgrade. In fact, the core experience of the Ultra model is present on the Plus, including the OneUI software, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, 256GB of base storage, and a flexible camera system. 


In fact, I’d argue that the Plus-sized Galaxy S23, in some ways, is an even better phone to buy for some users. For example, it has a slightly smaller 6.6-inch display that makes it easier to manage with one hand, the panel is flat along the edges so it’s less susceptible to damage (and easier to repair), and the camera system doesn’t look like a tarantula staring back at you.


Alright, that last point might not be the best reason to buy the Plus model over the Ultra, but perhaps the $200 price difference is. At a starting price of $999 — less if you wait for the holiday shopping season right around the corner – – the S23 Plus is the best Samsung phone for those who can live without all the Galaxy bells and whistles. And according to ZDNET reviewer, Jason Cipriani, “as far as the S23 Plus is concerned, you’re getting your money’s worth.”Samsung Cell Phone batteriesZ Fold 5Best Samsung foldable phone


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Main display: 7.6 inches | Cover display: 6.2 inches | RAM/Storage: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB internal options | Cameras: 12MP ultrawide, 50MP wide angle, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display | Battery: 4,400mAh 
The 2020 Galaxy Z Fold 2 set the bar for foldable devices that also serve as mini tablets. The Z Fold 3 improved on that phone with two of the most highly requested features from Fold users (S Pen support and IPX8 water resistance), while the Z Fold 4 improved the rear cameras and form factor of the phone. 
And now, with the Z Fold 5, you’ll get an upgraded processor in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which should improve the phone’s overall performance, from battery efficiency to camera capture. This year’s model is also notably thinner than the last, and thanks to the no-gap hinge mechanism, ZDNET’s Jason Hiner said in his review that “the Fold 5 feels like the way foldables always should have been.”
The Android 13 software found in the Z Fold 5 gives the phone battery some serious productivity upgrades, especially in terms of multi-app usage thanks to the improved Taskbar and wider support for gesture navigations that ease the transition from multiple active windows.


Like the Z Fold 4, the Fold 5’s cameras are not quite as good as the S23 Ultra’s suite, but the hardware is clearly superior to any foldable predecessor, and the competition. And it certainly helps that the Z Fold 5 is not as heavy and bulky as its predecessors.What is the newest Samsung phone?The newest Samsung phone is the Galaxy S23  battery FE, which features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, and a triple camera system at the rear.