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Paying close attention to how you charge your phone can lead to a device with a stronger, longer-lasting battery that doesn’t let you down just when you need it. The debate over whether you truly should charge your phone overnight is one that continues to be waged among many tech experts, but there are a few rules that most seem to agree on, including this one: this is the worst charging mistake you can make, according to an Apple expert.
Perhaps it fills you with relief and confidence to see your iPhone hold steady at a 100% charge. You might even be so keen on keeping it at 100 that you immediately charge it the second you notice a drop in battery power. But Alina Clark, marketing director and co-founder of CocoDoc, says maintaining a constant 100% battery charge is one of the worst things you can do for your phone’s battery.
“Lithium-ion batteries don’t like staying at 100%,” Clark says. “They like to be charged in spurts. Full charging implies that the charging circle is complete. This means that every full charging is a strike from the battery life of the iPhone.”
Clark says it’s best to charge your iPhone to around 80%, then let it discharge to 20%. “This midrange area allows more charging circles, and longer battery life for the phone,” Clark says. “Avoiding the full brim might seem like a useless thing to do. However, it pays some handsome results in the long run.”
As a reaction to issues arising from 100% charging, Clark points out that iPhone introduced an optimized battery charging option on iOS 13. “The feature manages your charging habits,” Clark says. “It also cuts charging once the phone hits 80% or thereabouts. This feature is absolutely crucial for an iOS 13 user. Turning it on shouldn’t even be a debate.”
Another bad idea when charging your phone? Charging with the case on.
“Although iPhone cases are cute, and ‘oh-so-important,’ they inhibit the heat developed by charging from escaping,” Clark says. “Heat is one of the worst enemies of the iPhone battery. It degrades the chemical components within the battery and kills your battery in the long-run. Taking the cover off can help you maintain the battery for longer.”
