Mobile technology is nothing short of a miracle- who would’ve thought years ago that we’d have tiny supercomputers ready to access 24/7 in our pockets? While cell phones and tablets are certainly a modern marvel, they won’t do us any good if they’re out of juice. Most of our mobile devices are powered by a lithium-ion battery which, with a little coaching, can boast a lengthy battery life. Here are a few tips for keeping your batteries happy and healthy.
Never let it get down to 0%: While turning off your wifi, GPS, and any other background apps can help conserve battery life on a quickly diminishing charge, avoiding a completely drained battery can help boost battery life and preserve your lithium-ion battery for as long as possible. When lithium-ion batteries get completely depleted, they can get unstable and can even become dangerous to charge.
Letting your phone die after a single long day of use is fine, but if you’re letting your battery sit for an extended period of time (weeks or months) without use at 0%, there are risks of electrocution and even explosion. Luckily, lithium-ion batteries have a self-destroying circuit that will render the battery completely useless if it has been sitting for long enough without any charge whatsoever.
Know your Battery’s Attributes: There are many cell phone myths out there- “training your battery will increase battery life” and “using your phone while charged can result in overheating and dangerous electric shocks”.
While “training” your battery definitely applied to nickel-based batteries, your phones and tablets sport a lithium-ion battery that doesn’t require “reminding” about their capacity. There is no need to let your battery drop all the way to 0% in order to charge it, and there is no need to immediately remove your charger as soon as it hits 100%. Your battery is happiest operating at a range between 40-80%, but it is smart to do a full “discharge” and let your battery drain to 0% about once a month for calibration. Make sure not to calibrate too often though, as it will definitely shorten your battery’s lifespan!
Charge only with wired, trusted chargers: While wireless, fast charging is convenient, it can be detrimental to your battery health. Wireless charging produces excess heat which can damage your battery and cause it to operate at less than peak levels. Generally the hotter it is, the more your smartphone battery deteriorates, so excess heat is definitely not a good trade off for a quick, wireless charge.
Also, only use chargers provided from the phone manufactures themselves or from trusted off-brands such as Belkin, KMS, and of course, InCharged. While knock-off chargers offer a cheap replacement for the charger you lost for the 8th time, paying the price for a reliable charger can be the difference between a long lasting battery and a completely destroyed one.
Don’t be discouraged by all the do’s and don’ts of lithium-ion battery health. While there are numerous guidelines and rules to follow, they can provide an easy framework for making your battery last as long as possible. Just remember, no matter how good you are about your charging patterns (and remembering to keep your phone out of your hot car), lithium ion batteries only last 3-5 years.
Keep your battery in the 40-80% “sweet-spot” with our convenient and reliable charging stations, and remember to give your phone a top-off to keep your battery happy!
