Is it true that leaving your smartphone charging overnight will reduce battery life?
Since it takes time to charge a smartphone, many people would like to connect it to the charging cable before going to bed and have it fully charged in the morning. Experts explained the best way to charge smartphone batteries based on materials from major smartphone manufacturers and past accident cases.
Should you charge your phone overnight? Will 'overcharging' make it explode? Common battery myths debunked
◆Average lifespan of a smartphone battery
According to Associate Professor Ritesh Chugh, who teaches information and communication technology at the University of Central Queensland in Australia, the lifespan of a battery is affected by various factors, such as the age of the battery and chemical factors. . In particular, the lithium-ion batteries installed in most smartphones deteriorate due to temperature fluctuations, charging/discharging, and device use, resulting in a decline in capacity and performance.
Apple says, ``When used under normal conditions, typical iPhone batteries are designed to retain up to 80% of their original storage capacity after 500 full charge cycles.'' I'm explaining . In addition, a study published in 2021 found that smartphones on the market in 2019 would have an average capacity of less than 80% after 850 full charge cycles. This means that the battery capacity will be reduced to 80% of its original capacity after about 2 to 3 years of use.
◆The best time to charge your smartphone
Most smartphones take between 30 minutes and two hours to fully charge once they're fully discharged, but according to Chugh, 'Charging your smartphone overnight is wasteful and accelerates battery deterioration. Maximize battery life. In order to extend the battery life for as long as possible, you should avoid charging it fully, that is, charging it from 0% to 100%.
Samsung also
Chugh said, ``We recommend charging the battery up to 80% and not below 20%,'' as full charging shortens the battery life as well as the iPhone.
◆What will happen if it is fully charged?
There are cases, such as people who constantly check social media or people who often play game apps, who want to charge the battery to 100% so that the battery does not run out when they are on the go, but a full charge has the disadvantage of shortening the battery life.
For example, if you leave your phone plugged in overnight, it will trickle charge to keep it at 100%, which drains the battery. To prevent this from happening, iPhones have a function that delays charging beyond 80%, and Samsung's Galaxy series can also limit charging to 85% in the settings.
In addition, lithium-ion batteries may cause abnormal heat generation or fire due to overcharging , but many smartphones have a function that prevents the battery from charging more than 100% and avoids damage due to overcharging. It is said that the possibility that the smartphone will actually explode due to charging is very low.
However, accidents where smartphones unexpectedly explode are frequently reported, and in April 2023, an accident occurred in India in which an 8-year-old girl died.
In addition, Samsung's Galaxy Note 7, released in August 2016, caused problems due to a series of battery-related explosions, and game fans, amused by this, decided to use the Galaxy Note 7 as a bomb in a game. I have developed modified data ( MOD ).
Finally, a MOD that allows you to blow up Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 as a bomb is now available in GTA5 - GIGAZINE
These fires, explosions, and other incidents are typically caused by manufacturing defects, poor quality, or physical damage to the equipment. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries may not be able to dissipate the heat generated during charging, causing the device to overheat, which can lead to burns or fire.
Many smartphone batteries are designed to operate efficiently between 0 degrees and 40 degrees, so ambient temperatures must be kept from high to prevent fires and explosions. In addition, defective, poor quality, or non-standard chargers and cables can also cause overheating and fire.
◆Tips to extend battery life
Based on this knowledge, Mr. Chugh summarized the following eight ways to maintain battery performance.
Install the latest updates to ensure your device always has the manufacturer's battery efficiency improvements.
・Some commercially available chargers have different specifications or do not meet safety standards, so use genuine or certified chargers.
・Do not expose your smartphone to high temperatures (Apple and Samsung recommend an ambient temperature between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius).
・Keep the remaining battery level between 20% and 80%.
・If you want to fully charge the battery without leaving it charging, disconnect the cable when it reaches 100%.
- Place the device in a well-ventilated place while charging, and do not place it under a blanket or pillow, or under your body while it is connected to the charging cable.
・Check the battery status and check if it takes too long to charge or if the battery is draining abnormally quickly.
・If your smartphone is overheating or the back is bulging, have it repaired or inspected at an authorized store.
A forum related to this article has been set up on the GIGAZINE official Discord server. Anyone can write freely, so please feel free to comment!
• Discord | 'Are you doing anything to make your smartphone's battery last longer?' | GIGAZINE
https://discord.com/channels/1037961069903216680/1161616586168336525
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