Skip to main content
Jennifer Lopez shines in balloon-sleeved blouse at American Music Awards.
Emma Stone at the Annual Actor Awards event.
Salma Hayek in a lavender gown at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.

Homepage

Experts Warn: 3 iPhone Charging Mistakes That Are Slowly Killing Your Battery Life

February 2, 2026 by Abigail Connolly
shefinds | Homepage
Featured image

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.

house unit img
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
Image from SHEfinds

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."

Image from SHEfinds

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."

Image from SHEfinds

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."

Author:

Editorial Assistant

Abigail is a journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. As an Editorial Assistant for SheFinds, she covers topics ranging from celebrity news and fashion to wellness. She has written for other publications, including Chip Chick, Bandsintown, BroadwayWorld, and more. When she isn't writing, Abigail loves spending time in the city with her friends, being a 'dog mom' to her Chihuahua, and singing along to some of her favorite music.

Middle-aged woman enjoying a glass of wine at home.
Best beauty deals on Amazon for Prime Day shoppers.
Ariana Grande at the Golden Globes, stunning red carpet look.
Kylie Jenner's Met Gala 2025 outfit featuring sophisticated black tailoring.
Woman applying sunscreen for sun protection and skincare.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce together at an event.
Healthy seeds, not pastries, promoting nutritious snacking choices.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at a public appearance.
Bad Bunny at the Grammy Awards red carpet.
iPhone charging plugged into a laptop for convenience.
iPhone settings screen showing charging options and battery status.
Trendy Italian bob hairstyle that’s popular this summer.
Angelina Jolie receiving the Trophee Chopard award.
Selena Gomez at the Rare Impact Fund Benefit gala.
Pool lounger with cocktail and trail mix for relaxation.
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon at the F1 premiere.
Queen Camilla with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at an event.
Barack Obama with Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama.
Amazon Prime Day week logo on smartphone and laptop screens.
Middle-aged woman enjoying a glass of wine at home.
Best beauty deals on Amazon for Prime Day shoppers.

Beauty

Prime Day is basically a holiday for anyone who's ...

Ariana Grande at the Golden Globes, stunning red carpet look.
Kylie Jenner's Met Gala 2025 outfit featuring sophisticated black tailoring.
Woman applying sunscreen for sun protection and skincare.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce together at an event.
Healthy seeds, not pastries, promoting nutritious snacking choices.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at a public appearance.
Bad Bunny at the Grammy Awards red carpet.
iPhone charging plugged into a laptop for convenience.
iPhone settings screen showing charging options and battery status.
Trendy Italian bob hairstyle that’s popular this summer.
Angelina Jolie receiving the Trophee Chopard award.
Selena Gomez at the Rare Impact Fund Benefit gala.
Pool lounger with cocktail and trail mix for relaxation.
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon at the F1 premiere.
Queen Camilla with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at an event.
Barack Obama with Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama.
Amazon Prime Day week logo on smartphone and laptop screens.

Fashion

This summer, I might be shopping for more clothes and ...