WE’VE often been told the perils of charging our phones overnight.
Does it destroy the device? Will it cause the socket to burst into flames?
Fortunately, with new technology devices in the marketplace, phone charging is one less thing we have to worry about.
However, we must remember to consider a few things. The type of phone battery matters. The most common battery type being used now is lithium-ion and it provides faster charging capabilities as well as a better lifespan.
In contrast, nickel-based batteries, while no longer commonly used, have a cyclic memory and remember the last charged capacity as the maximum charge. So the best strategy to make the product last longer and better is to drain the battery completely, and charge it full. As much as possible, charging while half-used is discouraged, as this shortens battery life.
The current lithium-ion batteries have an almost different way to make it last longer. Charging it when it has 20 to 30 percent still left (as much as possible, avoid fully draining it), and stopping it as it nears 100 percent is recommended.
Today’s smartphones come with a built-in chip that prevents them from taking in more charge once the battery reaches 100 percent capacity. So don’t worry about charging overnight.
Your number one enemy for lithium ion is heat, which is a constant, even if the phone is not overcharged, and can contribute to the degrading of your battery. Before you charge, there is no need to wait till you drain all your battery—you may charge it on any percentage you want. While charging, you may still use your phone, but take care to avoid heavy tasks such as graphic-intensive games. Fast charging and using it at the same time increases the heat of the battery.
One way to prevent overheating is to remove phone casings to provide proper ventilation for the phone to expel heat. Instead of bulky casings, using phone skins is better, as they still give an aesthetically pleasing appearance while not compromising on temperature control. While this might mean lesser protection for your device, Gorilla Glass protection is available to prevent the screen from damage.
The market is also filled with options for fast chargers, which provide enough juice to charge your device for a significantly shorter period of time. However, for longer lasting batteries, it is best to use slower chargers, and it is best to use the original chargers the phones came with.
We must also take note of the quality of the charger being used to avoid overflow of power. You may also opt to use good quality wireless chargers, but take care not to constantly charge using cables plugged into laptops. Always opt for a wall charger.
Putting your phone on airplane mode, turning off wireless data and other services, using battery-saving mode, and darker-colored wallpaper are also other ways to save on battery power and prevent your phone from overheating whenever it is being charged. Some of the tips provided here can work for laptop batteries as well.