When you’re an iPhone owner, you often want to do everything you can to keep your device and its battery lasting as long as possible.
Many people don’t realize the impact their charging habits can have on their smartphones, and that a few charging mistakes can wear down their battery a lot sooner than they’d hope. These charging habits and mistakes can range from what kind of cables you use to when you choose to plug your phone in, etc. We spoke to tech experts about the best ways to charge your phone so it and its battery last longer. Read more about what they had to say below.
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1. Keep Your Phone Charging In A Cool Place
This might sound a little odd, but if you want your battery to last as long as possible and maintain its charge, you want to avoid keeping your phone in a hot or warm place. You may be wondering what these warm places could be, and they include out in the sun, out on your car's dashboard, by a window with the sun shining in, under your pillow, on a heater or radiator, etc.
In order to keep your battery and device lasting longer, keeping it away from heat is essential, as heat is known as one of technology's biggest enemies. Opt to charge your device in shady, cool areas of your home, office, car, etc.
"Heat is not good for batteries," says tech expert and owner of The Big Phone Store, Steven Athwal. "Make sure to keep your phone cool (especially when charging your phone). I've seen a lot of devices with serious damage from having them charged under a pillow. Temporary shutdowns or even permanent damage to internal components can take place. Worst-case scenario, it might cause a bloated battery, which is just tremendously unsafe."
2. Use A High-Quality Charger
These days, it's super normal and expected to be in possession of several iPhone chargers, as you want to be able to charge your device wherever you need to. Most people have two to three cables on hand, for one at home, one at work, one in the car, etc.
Additionally, many iPhone owners will have one official Apple charger, often the one their phone came with, and then any extra chargers are from third-party brands. While these cheaper chargers can be affordable and convenient, if you want your battery life to last nearly twice as long, only using high-quality cables and plugs is key.
"The use of non-certified or cheap chargers and cables also inflicts permanent damage to iPhones," explains Athwal. "They are unregulated, providing unequal power that gives voltage spikes, and sometimes lack good heat controls. The battery's charging circuits are then forced to work harder, which produces further heat, accelerates chemical breakdown, and damages the internal structures. Use Apple-certified (MFi) or reputable charger plugs/cables with built-in protections."
