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.