In the world of lithium-ion batteries, smartphones take centre stage. Yet they’ve also sparked an ongoing debate: does prolonged (or overnight) charging wreak havoc on your battery?
A number of factors determine a phone battery’s lifespan, including its manufacturing age and its chemical age. The latter refers to the battery’s gradual degradation due to variables such as fluctuations in temperature, charging and discharging patterns and overall usage.
Over time, the chemical ageing of lithium-ion batteries reduces charge capacity, battery lifespan and performance.
A normal [iPhone] battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions.
Research has found a 2019 smartphone battery could, on average, undergo 850 full charge/discharge cycles before dropping to below 80% capacity. This means only 80% of the initial battery capacity remains after about two to three years of use. At this point the battery begins to deplete noticeably faster.
Should you charge your phone overnight?
Most new-generation smartphones will take somewhere between 30 minutes and two hours to charge fully.
Charging times vary depending on your device’s battery capacity – larger capacities require more time – as well as how much power your charger supplies.
Charging your phone overnight is not only unnecessary, it also accelerates battery ageing. Full charging cycles (going from 0%–100%) should be avoided to maximise your battery’s lifespan.
charging your battery up to 100% too frequently may negatively impact the overall lifespan of the battery.
Similarly, keeping iPhones at full charge for extended periods may compromise their battery health.
Rather than a full top-up, it’s recommended to charge your battery up to 80% and not allow it to dip under 20%.
Can your phone be overcharged?
In theory, lithium-ion batteries can be overcharged. This can lead to safety risks such as the battery overheating and catching fire. The good news is most modern phones have an in-built protection that automatically stops the battery from charging further than 100% – preventing any damage from overcharging.
However, each time a battery drops to 99% (due to apps running in the background) it will “trickle charge”: it will start charging again to maintain a fully charged state.
Trickle charging can wear a battery down over time. That’s why many manufacturers have features to regulate it. Apple’s iPhones offer functionality to delay charging past 80%. Samsung’s Galaxy phones provide the option to cap the charge at 85%.
It’s very unlikely your smartphone will explode as a result of charging – especially since most phones now have automatic protections against overcharging.
Still, over the years we have seen severalreports of phones exploding unexpectedly. This usually happens as a result of manufacturing faults, poor-quality hardware or physical damage.
Lithium-ion phone batteries overheat when the heat generated during charging is unable to dissipate. This may cause burns or, in extreme cases, lead to a fire.
Also, these batteries operate effectively within a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C. They may expand at higher ambient temperatures, potentially causing a fire or explosion.
Using an incorrect, faulty or poor-quality charger or cable can also lead to overheating, fire hazards and damage to the phone itself.
Read more: Phone wet and won't turn on? Here's how to deal with water damage (hint: soaking it in rice won't work)
Although your phone probably has in-built safety mechanisms to protect its battery, taking a cautious approach will make it last even longer. Here are some ways to protect your phone’s battery:
install the latest software updates to keep your phone up-to-date with the manufacturer’s battery efficiency enhancements
use original or certified power chargers, as the power delivery (amps, volts and watts) in off-market chargers can differ and may not meet the required safety standards
avoid exposing your phone to high temperatures – Apple and Samsung say their phones work best at 0°C to 35°C ambient temperatures
limit your charging to 80% of the full capacity and don’t let it dip below 20%
don’t leave your phone charging for an extended period, such as overnight, and disconnect it from the power source if the battery reaches 100%
keep your phone in a well-ventilated area while it’s charging and avoid placing it or the charger under a blanket, pillow or your body while it’s connected to a power source
monitor your battery health and use to identify unusual trends, such as taking an excessive time to charge, or rapid draining
if you notice your phone is heating up excessively, or has a bulging or swollen back, get an authorised service centre to check and repair it.
If you want specific details about your particular phone and battery, the best option is to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Read more: It's 2022. Why do we still not have waterproof phones?
Keeping a phone connected to a charger (when the phone is already 100% charged) while you are using it may lower battery life if you do it repeatedly. When enabled, the Protect battery feature limits your phone's battery from being charged above 85% to preserve your battery lifespan in the long run.
Several studies and instances have shown that sleeping next to a phone that is charging is dangerous. But why you may ask? Experts explain that charging your phone and keeping it on a bed or under your pillow blocks the air flow to the phone, which could lead to overheating and an eventual fire.
For most customers, the battery in your iPhone should last the whole day. You can charge your iPhone every night even if the battery isn't fully depleted. iPhone automatically stops charging when the battery is fully charged, so it's safe to keep your iPhone connected to a charger overnight.
It's very unlikely your smartphone will explode as a result of charging – especially since most phones now have automatic protections against overcharging. Still, over the years we have seen several reports of phones exploding unexpectedly.
Quick answer. Absolutely not! Your phone's battery will not be at risk of overcharging if you leave it plugged in overnight. Modern smartphones are equipped with smart charging technology that halts the charging process once the battery reaches full capacity.
Modern chargers, don't really use electric when not being used and that anything made to measure the draw actually created a surge (by drawing electric to. measure it!). So long as your charger is approved for use, then it's safe to leave plugged in, and was designed to be left plugged in ready for use.
There is no danger in using your phone while it's charging. When you use your phone while charging, the battery is charging at a slower rate than normal to allow enough power for the ongoing usage.
Smartphones have been shown to produce harmful radiation that disrupts the system of some self-regulatory processes, such as our biological clock or heart rhythm. As a result, sleeping with our phone next to us may induce nightmares, difficulties sleeping, and other issues.
When it's time to charge, it's often smarter to stop at 80% and then get back on the road, instead of waiting for the battery to completely fill up. Doing so maximizes your use of time. For example, if your EV has 300 miles of range when fully juiced up, that means it can go about 240 miles with an 80% state of charge.
Can phone chargers cause fires? The risk of any device catching fire is so small that it shouldn't be a cause for concern, but any electrical device in your home can catch fire, including phone chargers.
Fill to maximum capacity: It is a good idea to charge your new phone to 100% battery life before using it for the first time after it has been unboxed. This ensures that you start with a full battery and makes it possible for the phone's battery management system to correctly calibrate itself.
Well, charging your phone after it reaches 100% can lead to a phenomenon known as "trickle charging." This means that when you leave your phone plugged in for extended periods, it enters a cycle of losing a small amount of power and then recharging, which not only consumes unnecessary power but also raises the phone's ...
While lithium-ion batteries shouldn't be discharged regularly, most modern batteries are what's known as "smart batteries", which means that they can tell you how long you have until your battery dies (e.g. "2 hours, 15 minutes remaining").
Well if you keep it switched off for 5 years in favorable conditions then the damage will be limited to the battery getting dead; but if you keep in unfavorable conditions (like temperature, humidity etc.) then anything may happen; from blank screen to even a blast).
➢ Heat Generation: When you leave your phone connected to the charger after it reaches 100%, it enters a state of continuous trickle charging. This can overheat the battery, not only potentially causing battery damage but also impacting the phone's overall performance.
While you'll likely never overcharge your smartphone's battery, leaving it plugged in overnight does have a few drawbacks you should be aware of. The electronics industry's consensus is that lithium-ion batteries survive the longest when kept between 20 and 80% charge.
So, the trick: Don't let your phone's battery drain completely to zero, and when charging it, only let it reach about 85 percent and then unplug. If you do fill your battery completely, don't leave the device plugged in; doing so constantly can cause your electronics to age faster in the long run.
Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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