Battery life is a very complicated subject. As many people suggest, so we studied the claims of battery guides recommended by various experts. Then the suggestions given by the companies making mobile phones were also explored. Let us know further about the ways through which you can improve the battery life of your device.
Before you follow the tips, it is very important to know about some facts. Lithium-ion batteries are used in our smartphones, tablets and laptops. Over time, the capacity of these batteries degrades.
You can slow down the process but not stop it completely by following the tips we suggest below. Batteries are designed to retain 80 per cent of their capacity for a regular charge cycle. This number can be higher for larger batteries or the expensive batteries found in tablets and laptops. For example, Apple claims that the iPhone retains 80 percent of its capacity for up to 500 charge cycles, compared to 1000 on the iPad and MacBook.
Now this question may be arising in your mind, “What is this charge cycle?” The battery completes one charge cycle when you charge it to 100%, then completely use it to zero. If you just charge it up to 50 per cent and then use it completely, then the half charge cycle is complete. Although in reality things are a bit more complicated, but it is necessary for the initial understanding. This means that you can’t avoid the charge cycle by repeatedly re-charging your phone’s battery to 90 percent when it reaches 90 percent. Doing this 10 times completes the charge cycle.
Tips to extend battery life
You can’t change the laws of physics, but you can reduce the damage to the battery during regular use. You just have to be aware of a few things, such as the temperature and the level of charge in the mobile phone. To keep your battery healthy, you need to keep these things in mind.
1. Keep track of temperature
Temperature has a big impact on the battery of any device. If you live in a place where the temperature often exceeds 35 degrees or even below zero, the battery capacity here will deplete 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 cold winter, both are harmful. Battery University has given a great guide to extend battery life, through which you can learn about the effect of temperature on battery capacity.
2. Partial Discharge vs Full Discharge
Although by now you must have got the suggestion many times to charge the phone after it is completely discharged, but the reality is that partial discharge cycles are better than full discharge cycles in many ways. Although this is not seen in all lithium-ion batteries, it is generally useful to keep the battery charged in the 40-80 percent range. This means that as soon as the battery of your phone reaches 40 percent, put it in charge and remove it from charge as soon as it reaches 80 percent. Although it may be slightly different in different devices, all of these have to be adjusted. Practical use should also be taken into account. Assuming you’re on the go and won’t be able to use the charger for a long time, you need to recharge your phone to 100% instead of getting stuck in the numbers game.
3. Do not leave the phone plugged in to the charger all the time
The phone’s battery is fully charged, yet leaving it in the charger is detrimental to battery life. Battery University says that overcharging is not good for the health of the battery. There are also benefits to not letting it charge completely, with some companies intentionally lowering the charge threshold to extend battery life. Li-ion batteries do not overcharge, and it is imperative to remove the battery from the charger when it is fully charged. Continuously charging a fully charged battery creates plating in the metallic lithium, and this compromises your safety as well.
While this advice is easy to follow for smartphones, and especially for tablets, it’s not practical for laptops. If you allow your laptop to charge continuously, it will damage your battery in the long run. It would be better if you discharge your battery up to 40 percent occasionally. On the other hand, discharging as soon as the battery is 100% charged will use up the charge cycle, which is also harmful after a long time. The best option is to be practical. Discharge it occasionally, but you have to take care of your use as well. Suppose you have to take part in a meeting, then it would be better if the battery is fully charged at such a time.
4. Avoid Using Ultra-Fast Chargers
Some devices can be charged quickly using an ultra-fast charger, but this is not good for the health of your device in the long run. Battery University has good advice on this topic, “If an underpowered engine pulls a large vehicle, the pressure on it is too high and the engine won’t last long.”
5. Don’t Use Fake Chargers
You can buy fake charger from any roadside shop for just Rs 50. And will use it to charge the phone bought for Rs 50,000, but we would not suggest doing so at all. Apple even ran a third party charger trade-in program to make sure its customers only used genuine chargers.
6. Medium-to-Long-Term Storage
If you are not going to use your device for some time, then you should keep the battery up to 50 percent before switching it off. Or if you are going on a long trip and want to keep your phone in storage, most companies recommend that you keep the device in a cool place (temperature below 32 °C) and ideally Battery is half charged.
Apple’s battery guide states that if you are not going to use your device for more than 6 months, then you should charge it to 50 percent every 6 months. No matter what brand of device you have, follow these tips.
Sadly, the battery has a limited life, after which it will become weak and cannot be stopped. However, by following these simple tips, you can use it for a little longer.
