One of the worst feelings as an iPhone user is when you have a device that typically runs perfectly fine, but seems to have a constantly draining battery.
Keeping your iPhone charged is incredibly important, especially since many iPhone users are quite reliant on their phones for getting through the day. It can also be unsafe to walk around with a dead phone, which is why keeping up your battery life as best you can is very important. We spoke with tech experts about three common iPhone charging habits that you might not realize are slowly destroying your battery. Read more about them below.
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1. Charging In Warm Environments
Sometimes, it can be tempting to fall asleep under a warm blanket with your phone plugged in. When you're driving during the day, you might mindlessly leave your phone to charge in the sun on your dashboard. You might not realize it, but these are actually considered charging mistakes, as charging your iPhone in a hot or warm environment can wear down your battery.
Sh"The thing is, when a phone charges, it generates heat," explains Steven Athwal, tech pro and owner of The Big Phone Store. "These warm, cozy environments create a heat pocket for the phone, essentially trapping the heat so it can't dissipate. If the heat is trapped, the phone's temperature will rise, and the battery will become stressed. Overheating the phone accelerates wear, meaning a quicker degradation of the battery. Also, avoid thick, non-airflow cases, as they are another common culprit of this."
2. Using Cases That Are Too Thick
It's no secret that most smartphones, especially iPhones, can be very expensive. They're often a big investment for people in today's digital age, and therefore, it's understandable to want to protect them. However, using a case that's too thick or bulky can damage your battery in a similar way that charging in hot environments can.
"An equal mistake is leaving a thick case on the device, specifically dense rubber or bulky wallet-style cases designed to absorb and hold heat from accidental drops," says tech expert Paul DeMott. "A tightly fitting, sealed case is the perfect thermal insulator. It's as if your phone is wrapped in a small oven. So, regardless of how cold the air is where you are located, there is no way for the heat to be released from the phone due to the thermal mass of the rubber case."
3. Letting Your Battery Drain Past 20%
Because you want to get the most out of your iPhone throughout the day, it can be understandable to let it drain way past 20%, when it usually gives you a warning, and potentially even let it die before plugging it back in. Still, your device sends you that 20% warning for a reason.
"Draining an iPhone battery all the way to 0% on a regular basis puts excessive stress on the battery," adds Athwal. "Lithium-ion batteries generally like shallow cycles better than full drains. Therefore, it is way more beneficial to maintain the charge between 20% and 80% if you want to protect the battery's health in the long run rather than using up every last percent of the battery."
