Battery drain has been a major concern among smartphone users for many years. To avoid unnecessary problems, here are the top myths and tricks to take note when charging handsets.
1. Batteries will always wear down
-All batteries wear out over time, holding less and less power. Apple has said that its batteries still reach 80% of their capacity after up to 1,000 discharge cycles. Other manufacturers reach 80% after 300 to 500 cycles. Not to worry, batteries can still be used, but they will hold less power than they did when they were brand new. The batteries will lose more and more capacity the more you use them. As time passes, battery capacity will lessen, but with proper care you can make them hold charge longer.
2. Avoid frequent full discharges
-Old batteries required complete discharges to 0% in order to keep their capacity. Nowadays, devices use Lithium Ion batteries that work differently compared to before. Completely discharging a Lithium battery is not good. You should try performing shallow discharges, which means discharging your phone until it has 40% to 70% battery left. As much as possible, do not allow your device to discharge to below 20%. Do not worry about performing shallow charges as these will not harm your battery. The only problem with shallow charges is that devices may get confused and might show wrong estimates for how much battery you have left. Tech manufacturers have recommended completing a full discharge once a month for devices to calibrate its battery.
3. Temperature can damage batteries
-Heat can lessen a battery's capacity, and this affects all devices. From cellphones to laptops, all devices heat up when performing demanding tasks. Laptops can become the hottest of all when working heavily, since the battery is located close to all the electronics that heat up. If you are using a laptop that is usually plugged in all day, consider removing the battery to reduce its exposure to heat. Leaving devices in either hot or cold weather will also affect the lifespan of your battery. Try keeping your devices at room temperature as much as possible.
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