The proper way to charge your smartphone

Charging your phone when its close to dead can damage the batteries


Tech Desk May 28, 2017
Charging cords can also be used to access data on you smartphone. PHOTO: REUTERS

Smartphone makers are constantly pushing towards making devices that have a small form factor, and as smartphones become slimmer, their capacity to have larger batteries is falling.

Hence, the devices have a bad battery life, i.e. barely last for a day.

Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries seem to have an inherent flaw, which leads to a diminished capacity to hold charge over extended uses.

Smartphone users also add to this already bad situation. Many have an ingrained notion of charging their devices in small bursts, causing long-term damage to their batteries. They often charge their phones when they're close to dead.

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And they couldn't be more wrong.

A report by battery manufacturer Cadex details how lithium-ion batteries in our smartphones respond to different charging patterns.

According to Battery University, lithium-ion batteries have their own versions of ‘stress’ exceeding, which can damage the battery's long-term lifespan. Leaving your phone plugged in when it's fully charged, like you might overnight, can deplete the battery life in the long run.

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The report argues that lithium-ion neither needs to be fully charged, nor is it desirable to do so. In fact, it is better not to fully charge, because a high voltage stresses the battery, and wears it away.

Smartphones users are therefore advised to plug in there device whenever they get the chance in a day, and not wait for the batteries to drain completely.

Battery University also advises users to keep their smartphones cool when charging as lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to heat and recommend users remove certain cases when charging their phones.

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Prince Uga Uba | 6 years ago | Reply Good, fine, nice and excellent.
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