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Just plug in your phone and charge it — what could be easier?
Actually, there’s a little more to it then that. If you are charging your iPhone the wrong way (and there is a right and wrong way), you could be costing it major battery power. Charging your device shouldn’t be a complicated task, this is true, but there are a few good rules to keep in mind so that your pricey investment lasts a long time. Tech experts say this is the worst charging mistake that’s ruining your iPhone battery.
You’re Mixing And Matching Chargers
One of the worst things you can do with your iPhone when charging it is to use a second-hand adapter or a charger from another device to charge your phone. Never use a second-hand adapter or a charger from another device to charge your phone.
“You may not realize it, but your phone's battery is being harmed as a result of your actions,” Says Stewart McGrenary, director at Freedom MobilesKeep. “Keep your charger in your pocket at all times, and if you lose or forget your charger, stop charging your phone with anyone else's charger as much as possible.”
If you have to purchase another charger, McGrenary says to make sure it's an initial charger from a reputable retailer. “The fact that most smartphones use micro USB chargers could be useful to others,” McGrenary says. “This does not, however, imply that all chargers and phones can work together. Some phone chargers are programmed to switch off the power when your battery reaches 100% charge, while others are not. People believe that since most smartphones these days have similar micro USB connectors, they can charge the unit with any adapter that suits it properly. Not only can this harm your smartphone, but it can also harm the battery.”
McGrenary reminds us to use the same charger that came with your device when you bought it. “They were created and tested together, so they should perform at their best when used together,” he says.
After you have your charger situation sorted out, there are two more unofficial charging “rules” to keep in mind for the good of your phone.
The first: do not drain your battery (no matter how tempting).
“Our lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) are designed to work best between 30% and 80% of the time,” says Sasha Quail, Business Development Manager of claims.co.uk. “As a result, both overloading and running out of batteries can be detrimental. Allow it to happen no more than once a month.”
And the last tip is one that so many people neglect because it takes an extra minute to follow: take off your case while charging your phone.
“You'll see it if you grab the phone: charging it heats it,” Quail says. “That's perfectly natural and unimportant. The heat won't dissipate when your phone is trapped in its casing, which is dangerous. Although it's plugged in, you should definitely unplug it.”
