These 4 Charging Mistakes Are ‘Killing’ Your iPhone’s Battery Faster Than You Think

July 20, 2025 by Lisa Cupido

Shutterstock

iPhone batteries can be surprisingly fickle, and if you’re not careful with how you charge your device, you might find your battery life draining faster than you’d expect. Over time, poor charging habits can wear down your battery’s health, meaning you’ll need to charge more often or even face the hassle of replacing your battery (at a cost, of course). That’s why it’s so important to get your charging routine down to a science—helping you squeeze every last bit of life out of your iPhone’s battery.

Taking care of your battery doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By simply avoiding a few common charging mistakes, you can keep your battery healthier for longer and enjoy a smoother phone experience. Adopting good charging habits is easier than you might think. Here are four charging mistakes to steer clear of—these simple tweaks could make a big difference in prolonging your iPhone’s battery life.

1. Using Cheap Chargers

It might be tempting to save a few bucks by grabbing a cheap charger off Amazon or at a gas station, but those bargain options can actually harm your iPhone’s battery over time. Low-quality chargers often deliver inconsistent power, which can cause your battery to heat up or charge unevenly, which are both big no-nos for battery health. Instead, stick to Apple-certified chargers that are designed for your phone ’s battery needs.

2. Charging in Extreme Temps

Your iPhone’s battery isn’t a fan of temperature extremes. Charging it when it’s too hot or too cold can seriously degrade the battery’s performance and lifespan. For example, leaving your phone charging in direct sunlight or in a freezing car isn’t the way to go. The best way to protect your battery is to charge it in a cool, room-temperature spot, away from heat sources or freezing conditions.

3. Using Your Phone While Charging

Sometimes you just can’t resist scrolling through social media or answering messages while your phone is charging. But using your iPhone during this time can cause it to heat up, which puts extra stress on the battery and can speed up its decline. To give your battery a break, try to limit heavy phone use while it’s plugged in. Even just letting it rest for a little while during charging can help keep the battery cooler and healthier over time.

4. Charging to 100 Percent

It feels satisfying to see that battery hit 100% charge, but constantly charging your iPhone to full capacity can actually wear out the battery faster. Lithium-ion batteries prefer to stay somewhere between about 20% and 80%. Instead of topping off to 100% every time, try unplugging when your battery when it’s somewhere within the sweet zone of charging. This small change helps reduce stress on the battery and can keep it going strong for much longer.

NEXT
Derm Tells Us 3 Supplements To Take For A ‘Glowy’ Complexion—#3 Reduces Skin Cancer By 25%!

Tags:

charging mistakes, iPhone battery, tech

Tags: charging mistakesiPhone batterytech

Load more...

Recommended