Some people have the habit of charging their mobile phones while sleeping at night, waking up the next morning to find their phone fully charged at 100%, ready for normal use throughout the day. But does charging the phone to full capacity harm the battery? Let’s see what experts have to say.
According to a report by the Huffington Post, you may have heard that keeping the phone plugged in and charging after reaching full capacity is not beneficial for the long-term lifespan of the battery. Chao-Yang Wang, the director of the Electrochemical Engine Center at Pennsylvania State University, stated that there is some truth to this claim.
He explained that if you frequently charge your phone battery to 100%, over time, the degradation rate of the battery will be faster than that of a battery charged to a slightly lower level.
Dibakar Datta, associate professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, further elaborated that keeping the phone plugged in and continuously charging it to 100% after reaching full charge can cause the battery to maintain a high voltage, leading to chemical aging of the battery.
Wang mentioned that if you often charge the battery to 100%, the degradation of your battery will be 10% to 15% faster compared to a battery charged to a slightly lower level, such as 90%. Although this may not be a significant difference, it is worth noting.
He added that overall, the degradation rate is slow, and modern phone batteries are quite durable, so there is no need to worry too much. By the time you may need to replace the phone due to battery issues, you might have already replaced it for other reasons like camera quality or screen damage.
While charging the phone to 100% frequently is not ideal for the battery, it doesn’t mean you can never charge it to full capacity. In situations where you need it, you can still charge it to 100%.
Wang emphasized, “It entirely depends on people’s needs and convenience. If you have a critical task the next day, it’s best to charge to 100% so you have more power and longer usage time.”
For example, if you are going out for the day and need your phone for navigation, it makes sense to fully charge it before leaving. However, if you’re staying at home all day and don’t heavily rely on your phone, charging to 85% or 90% would be sufficient and beneficial for long-term battery health.
Datta mentioned that letting the battery drain to 0% regularly is also not good, as it can damage the battery’s charging capacity. It’s recommended to charge the battery when it reaches around 20%. Keeping the battery level between 20% to 80% is often the best choice.
Wang noted that phone batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures, and these conditions can cause more significant damage to the battery than charging it to 100% at normal temperatures.
When it comes to fast charging, Datta advised against using this function regularly. Slow charging is preferred, as fast charging generates heat in the battery, which can decrease its performance over time.
Additionally, Datta highlighted the danger of the battery overheating. There have been many cases of phones catching fire due to battery overheating. Therefore, safety is also an essential factor to consider.
He suggested that if you are concerned about your phone battery’s health, most smartphones allow you to check the battery health status in the settings. You can also consult experts from companies like Apple or Samsung to diagnose any issues. If your battery health status is below 80%, he recommends replacing the battery.