Originally posted by Mark Jones on komando.com
Your smartphone is your lifeline. You use it for fun, to chat with family and friends, and to post photos on social media. You use it for work and to check emails when you're on the road. And, you use it to call for help when you're in an emergency situation, like being stranded on the side of the road.
The last thing that you need is a dead smartphone battery. Unfortunately, many people are making this one simple mistake that could be causing permanent battery damage.
What we're talking about is charging your smartphone every night when you go to bed. The science behind this can be a bit confusing. It actually depends on how long you intend on keeping your smartphone and whether charging it every night is a good idea.
Many people upgrade their smartphone every couple of years. It's hard to resist the newer, faster, more powerful devices. For those users, it's perfectly fine to plug their phone in at bedtime so they can wake up to a full charge.
However, since mobile carriers no longer offer phones at a deeply discounted rate for signing a new contract every two years, the costs could be too steep for frequent upgrades. Especially if the rumors are true and the next version of the iPhone costs $1,000.
In which case, people will most likely want to extend the life of their phone, and its battery. These users should not charge their gadget every night.
The reason is, smartphones have chips built-in that keep them from taking excess electrical current once it reaches a full charge. This limits a battery's damage when plugged in all night. However, lithium-ion batteries can only handle this routine a certain number of times before they are damaged, permanently.
Hatem Zeine, a scientist with wireless charging company Ossia, said this is due to quick charge technology. He told the New York Times, "When you charge fast all the time, you limit the lifespan of the battery."
Zeine said quick charging your phone is fine for the first couple years, but beyond that, it's putting your battery's life at risk. That's because the quick charge process causes batteries to corrode faster than older, slower charging methods.
Another factor that negatively impacts battery life is extreme heat. Having your phone exposed to temperatures over 95 degrees Fahrenheit can permanently damage battery capacity.
Apple listed ideas on its site on how to maximize battery life and lifespan. Here are some suggestions:
Follow these suggestions and you will get the most out of your battery. And if you plan on replacing your phone every couple years despite increased prices, charge away. You can always use the malfunctioning battery as a way to justify the new phone purchase.