Month: October 2024

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Batteries Guide

LITHIUM ION BATTERY – THE PROS AND CONS

LITHIUM ION BATTERIES – THE WAVE OF NEW INDUSTRY TECH

Lithium-ion batteries offer some distinct advantages and improvements over other forms of battery technology. Used in many devices today, they provide good performance, charges faster, and lasts longer compared to other types of batteries. 

Lithium-ion is a popular choice for portable devices because they offer distinct advantages and improvements over other battery technologies. Like all technology though, there is a difference in how well each one works with certain applications — it’s important to understand not only what makes them good but also their downside.

THE PROS AND CONS OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES

But the shininess and newness of a technology doesn’t mean it’s without its downfalls. Before hopping on the Lithium Ion Battery bandwagon, take a look at the pros and cons of the product. While the benefits are hard to dispute, there are still some potential drawbacks to consider. Whether you ultimately utilize Lithium Ion Batteries or not, it’s important to be in the know on the latest industry tech and innovation.

Pros:

  • Lithium-ion batteries are the best type of battery to use in your device since they don’t require any extra maintenance. Unlike other types of batteries that may need periodic discharge or topping off with fluid and priming before you can use them (and who has time for that?), these bad boys will just work every single time without fail!
  • A lithium-ion battery can be really great when it comes to loading characteristics. They provide a fairly constant 3 volts per cell before they start losing their charge as you use up all of your last charges, which is perfect!
  • Lithium-ion batteries come in many different types and sizes, which makes them convenient for use in various applications. The rechargeable battery you find inside your smartphone has very specific power requirements versus something like an electric vehicle – so it’s important that before buying or borrowing certain devices we know what type of lithium-Ion they have.
  • A rechargeable cell may require priming when it first receives a charge. Lithium-ion, on the other hand, has no such requirement, as they are ready to go from the start!
  • Lithium-ion batteries offer twice the energy density of nickel-cadmium, making their charging capabilities much more robust. This means that a single lithium-ion battery can power an electronic device for up to three times as long before needing recharging compared with two identical counterparts using NiCd or lead-acid technology – this is important in devices such as smartphones and laptops where you don’t want your battery dying out just when it becomes essential.

Cons:

  • Lithium-ion batteries can be tricky to handle if you don’t know of their flaws. One problem with these types is that they lose power faster than other battery types, such as nickel-cad or NiMh ones which typically have self-discharge rates of less than 5%.
  • The major disadvantage to lithium-ion batteries is their ageing. The battery can only withstand so many charge-discharge cycles before capacity falls and this could be due in part to the number of times it’s been charged or discharged; typically a li-ion setup will need at least 500 more charges than what you put into them just for safety reasons!
  • The lithium-Ion polymer(LiPoly) cells were created so you don’t need any external circuits but still maintain long life cycle times due t° the high energy density delivered by each cell!
  • The other problem with these types of cells, especially those found within consumer electronics such as cell phones, smartwatches etc., has got to do with time-related factors — namely how quickly they age if left unused over several months without use.
  • Lithium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that can be used for mobile devices and other portable electronics. The biggest downside to this kind of power source? It needs protection from being overcharged or discharged too much, which usually means including built-in circuitry in both the device itself as well as inside its voltage regulation system (also sometimes called “protection”).

How to Store Lithium-Ion Batteries Safely

Batteries should always be stored in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. If your home does not have adequate ventilation or you’re storing batteries for an extended period of time (more than six months), it’s best to store them at 59℉ with relative humidity below 60%.

Boosting your home security is not just about installing alarms or motion sensors. You need to make sure the batteries in these devices are running at full strength and stored safely and away from children.

Get in touch with us today for all your battery needs.

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News

Google Wallet for kids will be available in 2025

After debuting on the Fitbit Ace LTE, Google Wallet with tap-to-pay will be available next year for kids using Family Link-managed Android devices. The news comes after Google first added the feature to its kid-focused Fitbit Ace LTE fitness tracker in August.

Google tells us today that supervised kids in Family Link will be able to download the Google Wallet app on their Android phones. This will allow them to make tap-to-pay transactions in stores. They won’t, however, be able to use cards saved in Google Wallet for online payments.

Parents can supervise children’s accounts via the Google Family Link app that lets parents set restrictions for content and screen time, and added the ability to see when kids leave school and arrive home in 2022. Meanwhile, their Family Link app will let them view recent transaction history and remotely remove a card, as well as block passes.

Kids will be able to make tap-to-pay purchases using standard authentication options, including fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN, or passwords. They can also use Google Wallet to store gift cards and event tickets, but they can’t make online purchases or save health or identification cards. 

Google already built a lot of this infrastructure out for its Wear OS-powered kids smartwatch earlier this year, noting the “the positive response of tap-to-pay on Fitbit Ace LTE.” The company emphasizes how this “new experience is built with safety in mind.”

Google’s kids’ payments feature will start rolling out to Google Wallet users in the US and several other countries next year.With the move, Google is catching up with Apple, whose Apple Cash Family service already lets children use Apple Pay for purchases in stores. It also lets kids buy things online as well as send and receive money through messages.

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News

Apple’s M4 Macs Lack Wi-Fi 7 Support

Apple introduced new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models this week, adding faster and more efficient M4 chips, along with some other updates like Thunderbolt 5 and nano-texture display options for some models. One upgrade we thought we might see was support for the latest Wi-Fi specification, but the new machines did not get a Wi-Fi 7 upgrade.

All of the new M4 Macs continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E, and while it does allow for access to the 6GHz band on supported Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers, it’s not the latest and greatest technology.

Apple’s Wi-Fi specifications page confirms that the Wi-Fi 7 chips in the ‌iPhone 16‌ models have a maximum physical layer data rate of 2400Mb/s and a maximum channel bandwidth of 160MHz, which is the same performance as the Wi-Fi 6E chips in the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 Mac models with Wi-Fi 6E on 6GHz networks (Apple’s chart hasn’t been updated for M4, but presumably the Wi-Fi 6E chips have not changed).

Wi-Fi 7 in the ‌iPhone 16‌ models does up the maximum data rate when connected to 5GHz bands compared to the Wi-Fi 6E chips used in Macs and iPads, but Apple does not support the full 320MHz bandwidth with its Wi-Fi 7 implementation. Wi-Fi 7 offers up to 320MHz bandwidth to accommodate more devices, but Apple has limited bandwidth to 160MHz, so ‌iPhone 16‌ models don’t take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7 despite having a Wi-Fi 7 chip. That limitation has been a disappointment, but the ‌iPhone 16‌ models do support Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for connecting to multiple bands at the same time for faster data transmission and lower latency on supported networks.

Apple certainly could have opted for a Wi-Fi 7 chip without limitations in the M4 Mac models, especially for the more expensive M4 Pro and M4 Max machines, but that didn’t happen. Given that people often keep Macs for several years, it is curious that Apple opted not to offer this bit of future proofing in the Mac line.

Customers who plan on purchasing one of the new M4 Macs should know that these machines continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E features and lack the faster speeds and the latency benefits that come with Wi-Fi 7.

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Batteries Guide

7 common myths about the batteries in your favorite tech

1. Leaving a device plugged in will overcharge its battery: False

One of the most common lithium-ion battery charging myths is that plugging in your devices for long periods of time will overload the battery, wearing it out faster than usual. Don’t worry, it won’t. Your smart devices know better. Protective measures built into modern phones, tablets, and laptops ensure that lithium batteries stop charging once they reach capacity.

That said, if you leave your fully charged smartphone plugged in overnight, it’ll experience “trickle charge,” which means that as the battery naturally drops down to 99%, it uses a small amount of energy to bump it back up to 100%. This can cause the battery to wear out slightly faster, but not much faster than just regular use.

2. Freezing your phone battery helps keep its charge: False

Sudden, drastic shifts in temperature are never a good thing for your tech. Exposing your phone, tablet, or laptop to freezing temperatures can not only harm its battery, but also put other internal components at risk of malfunctioning. So never, ever put your devices in the freezer.

Tip: Charge your devices in a cool, ventilated place. Lithium-ion batteries don’t work well in freezing or overly hot temperatures, so avoid laying a stack of magazines on top of a charging phone or sticking it between some pillows, and don’t leave them in direct sunlight. Also, wireless and fast-charging devices can be helpful, but they produce lots of heat, so use them sparingly.

3.Closing Battery-Draining Apps Will Prolong Battery Life: False

In iOS devices, there’s a feature that allows you to close battery-draining apps. However, even if it is possible for an iOS user to turn off battery-draining applications at will, turning them back on again does not mean that the battery life has returned to normal. This option was created so users can get rid of unnecessary background processes and free up memory when they need it most.

4. Recharging battery-draining devices when they are at 20% will make them last longer: False

This battery myth is not true either! It has been proven that charging a battery with up to 80% won’t harm its lifespan or shorten battery life. And if you do need to recharge your battery when it’s still at 20%, you can use battery degradation mode, where your battery will be charged to 50% before stopping. This means that 60% of battery power is left unharmed and untouched during the charging process, which makes this option beneficial for battery health.

5. You need to let your battery hit zero before charging: False

Another cell phone battery charging myth is that you need to regularly drain the battery down to 0%, then charge it back up to 100%. This is true for older, nickel-based batteries, but not so for modern lithium batteries; the back-and-forth charging process will only wear down your device.

Tip: Try not to let your batteries drain down to 0%.

6. Your device’s batteries have a short lifespan: Somewhat false

There are several factors that go into how long your device’s lithium-ion battery will work as it should—how often you use your device and how often you charge it being two of the main ones. On average, you can expect your battery to last 2-3 years, or 300 to 500 charge cycles—whichever comes first. One charge cycle is measured from the time a battery is fully charged, completely drained, then charged back up again.

7. If your battery dies, you need a new device: False

If your device can’t last a full day on a single charge, or if it’s unexpectedly shutting down, your battery is probably starting to go. Other signs include lower speaker volume and sluggish apps. But a dead (or dying) battery doesn’t necessarily mean you have to invest in a new device. A battery replacement can be an affordable way to breathe new life into older tech.

A typical smartphone will only work at optimal capacity for 2-3 years before it starts deteriorating and becomes less efficient in performing basic tasks like taking photos or checking email messages without having power disruptions midway through the process.

But there are ways around this issue! You can replace batteries yourself if needed or get them replaced at a service centre. Here at BATTERYONE.CO we offer various batteries for your smartphones and other mobile devices.

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News

IOS 18.2: First Beta Bring ChatGPT for Siri

Apple is now letting developers try more Apple Intelligence features. The company has released the first developer beta of iOS 18.2, and it adds tools like the ability to generate emoji with Genmoji and images with Image Playground, more AI-powered writing features, integration with ChatGPT, Visual Intelligence to search with your camera on iPhone 16 phones, and more.

ChatGPT is an opt-in

Anxious users need to be reassured: ChatGPT doesn’t just “turn on” by default and no data is sent to OpenAI just by turning on your iPhone with Apple Intelligence (at least that’s what Apple promises). Instead, it is a separate switch in the system settings that must be explicitly activated – along with the extensive information dialog. “If the iPhone works with ChatGPT, it can do more for you,” it says.

Setting up ChatGPT in iOS 18.2

To begin using ChatGPT in iOS 18.2, you will need to become a member of the Apple developer beta program. Once you have done that, you will need to download and install the update. From there, enabling ChatGPT is simple, just go back to your Settings. Open Settings and go to Siri & Search.

Turn on Apple Intelligence and navigate to the ChatGPT toggle to activate the feature. Once ChatGPT is enabled, it’s accessible through Siri, allowing users to engage in intelligent conversations, get visual insights, generate images, and more without additional apps.

I was curious I should cancel my ChatGPT Plus subscription. Like, was ChatGPT + Siri somehow a better or more powerful version than ChatGPT Plus? The short answer is no; if you’re a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, simply link your OpenAI account in the settings section so you can still access the premium features.

OpenAI generates images via Siri

As mentioned, ChatGPT is addressed via Siri – this can be done by voice or “Text to Siri”. If you want, you can switch off Siri’s requests that something should go in the direction of ChatGPT. If you want to use ChatGPT a lot, you can do this, but you are putting yourself more in the hands of OpenAI. It is even possible to send all requests to ChatGPT by default by simply saying “Ask ChatGPT”. The image generator DALL-E 2 is also integrated. This means you can now use Siri to create AI images – Interestingly, even before Apple itself has released its Image Playground including Genmoji and image wall function, as many beta users are currently still on hold. ChatGPT and DALL-E 2 also generate photorealistic images, which Apple does not provide.

In the Writing Tools, ChatGPT now allows you to create completely new texts. Previously, Apple’s own tools could only rewrite existing content, “translate” it into other formats and check for errors. Now there is a “Compose” button that uses ChatGPT. In practice, it still takes a little longer for ChatGPT to respond. Apple has apparently not created a “fast lane” to the OpenAI servers as part of the developer beta. Incidentally, Apple is not planning to integrate ChatGPT (even) more deeply into the operating system – New Siri functions such as the use of the user context (e.g. emails, address book, appointments) will be reserved for Apple technology and will also largely run locally on the user’s own device when they are released in the coming months.

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News

New tool can easily bypasses Google Chrome’s new cookie encryption system can be easily bypassed

Google introduced Application-Bound (App-Bound) encryption in July (Chrome 127) as a new protection mechanism that encrypts cookies using a Windows service that runs with SYSTEM privileges.

The goal was to protect sensitive information from infostealer malware, which runs with the permissions of the logged user, making it impossible for it to decrypt stolen cookies without first gaining SYSTEM privileges and potentially raising alarms in security software.

“Because the App-Bound service is running with system privileges, attackers need to do more than just coax a user into running a malicious app,” explained Google in July.

“Now, the malware has to gain system privileges, or inject code into Chrome, something that legitimate software shouldn’t be doing.”

However, by September, multiple information stealers had found ways to bypass the new security feature and provide their cybercriminal customers the ability to once again steal and decrypt sensitive information from Google Chrome.

Google responded by saying that it was expected, and added that it was happy the changed forced a shift in attacker behavior.

“This matches the new behavior we have seen. We continue to work with OS and AV vendors to try and more reliably detect these new types of attacks, as well as continuing to iterate on hardening defenses to improve protection against infostealers for our users.”

Now, security researcher Alexander Hagenah built and shared a tool on GitHub he called ‘Chrome-App-Bound-Encryption-Decryption’ which does the same as these infostealers, BleepingComputer reports.

“This tool decrypts App-Bound encrypted keys stored in Chrome’s Local State file, using Chrome’s internal COM-based IElevator service,” the project page reads. “The tool provides a way to retrieve and decrypt these keys, which Chrome protects via App-Bound Encryption (ABE) to prevent unauthorized access to secure data like cookies (and potentially passwords and payment information in the future).”

Commenting on all of the above, Google essentially said it was satisfied, since crooks now need higher privileges to pull off the attacks:

“This code [xaitax’s] requires admin privileges, which shows that we’ve successfully elevated the amount of access required to successfully pull off this type of attack,” Google said.

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Batteries

How Lithium-ion Batteries Work

Lithium-ion batteries power the lives of millions of people each day. From laptops and cell phones to hybrids and electric cars, this technology is growing in popularity due to its light weight, high energy density, and ability to recharge.

So how does it work?

THE BASICS

A battery is made up of an anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and two current collectors (positive and negative). The anode and cathode store the lithium. The electrolyte carries positively charged lithium ions from the anode to the cathode and vice versa through the separator. The movement of the lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode which creates a charge at the positive current collector. The electrical current then flows from the current collector through a device being powered (cell phone, computer, etc.) to the negative current collector. The separator blocks the flow of electrons inside the battery.

CHARGE/DISCHARGE

While the battery is discharging and providing an electric current, the anode releases lithium ions to the cathode, generating a flow of electrons from one side to the other. When plugging in the device, the opposite happens: Lithium ions are released by the cathode and received by the anode.

ENERGY DENSITY VS. POWER DENSITY

The two most common concepts associated with batteries are energy density and power density. Energy density is measured in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and is the amount of energy the battery can store with respect to its mass. Power density is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg) and is the amount of power that can be generated by the battery with respect to its mass. To draw a clearer picture, think of draining a pool. Energy density is similar to the size of the pool, while power density is comparable to draining the pool as quickly as possible.

Advantages of Lithium-ion Battery

Now a days Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they have a number of important advantages over competing technologies:

  • Generally, they are much lighter than other types of rechargeable batteries of the same size. They hold their charge. 
  • They hold their charge. A lithium-ion battery pack loses only about 5 percent of its charge per month.
  • High specific energy and high load capabilities with Power Cells.
  • Long cycle and extend shelf-life; maintenance-free. They can handle hundreds of charge/discharge cycles.
  • High capacity, low internal resistance, good coulombic efficiency.
  • Simple charge algorithm and reasonably short charge times.
  • Low self-discharge (less than half that of NiCd and NiMH).

Limitations of Lithium-ion Battery

  • Requires protection circuit to prevent thermal runaway if stressed
  • Degrades at high temperature and when stored at high voltage
  • No rapid charge possible at freezing temperatures (<0°C, <32°F).
  • Transportation regulations required when shipping in larger quantities.
  • They are extremely sensitive to high temperatures. Heat causes lithium-ion battery packs to degrade much faster than they normally would..
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News

Google might stick a custom Tensor chip in the Pixel Watch 5

Google’s Pixel Watch 5 might get a custom Tensor chip, giving up on Qualcomm as a supplier. This makes sense since Google is also using Tensor chips for its Pixel smartphones, but interestingly the switch will only happen in 2026, so the Pixel Watch 4 will presumably still use a Qualcomm SoC.

That said, the roadmap document that this leak is based on is itself from early 2023, which means a lot could have changed from then and up until now, keep that in mind.

The rumor comes courtesy of Android Authority, which cites leaked documents from Google’s gChips division. According to the leaked plans, the wearable Tensor chip, codenamed NPT, sports a core configuration of an ARM Cortex A78 and two Arm Cortex A55s. These are older CPU cores, but that’s a fairly typical move with wearable processors. Other than that, details are scant and it’s currently unknown which process node technology the planned wearable Tensor chip might have.

Chips aren’t usually as heavy a focus for smartwatches as they are for smartphones. So long as performance is snappy, smartwatch makers tend to focus on ways to prolong battery life without sacrificing smart features. But this is a potentially interesting development given that chip stagnation has historically been a huge obstacle for Android smartwatches.

Both Samsung and Qualcomm use older cores in their smartwatch chips – the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 has Cortex-A53 cores (which launched in 2012), while the Exynos W1000 has one Cortex-A78 and four Cortex-A55, thus being the most similar to Google’s intended design. That makes us think this wearable Tensor might just be a tweaked Samsung chip – in the same way as all of the smartphone Tensor chips so far have been.

What isn’t known is what process technology this new Tensor chip will use, but it could be 3nm. Another unknown is the modem that will be used.We’ll have to see how things shake out, hopefully this is a sign that it can keep it going.

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News

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Leak New Model

Samsung recently launched theSamsung GalaxyZ Fold Special Edition, exclusively in South Korea. And now, the company is gearing up to expand its foldable lineup as the reports that say that Samsung is working on two models by codenames “Q7” and “Q7M”. These recent leaks hint that company is developing two variants of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7.

Galaxy Club claims that the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is likely to be released next summer, has been codenamed “Q7”, while the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has been given the working title of “B7”. But there is a codename for one more unknown device: “Q7M”.

Galaxy Club doesn’t have any more details about the mysterious device, but the name suggests that it is a variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung has repeatedly demoed different foldable concepts at tradeshows over the years, recently showing off rollable displays, slide-out screens and laptops that double as giant tablets.

In an interview with TM Roh, Samsung’s head of mobile hinted to CNBC that the company is working on new foldable shapes. “At the time when the hardware completeness and software and content integrity, the ecosystem comes to full maturity, we’ll be forced to introduce very satisfying and very almost perfect foldable new form factors in new product categories” Roh said.

Rumors suggest that Samsung has developed a tri-fold smartphone (a device that can be folded twice) to compete with Huawei’s Mate XT. According to ZDNet Korea, the device has been developed and it is ready to be mass-produced, but the company hasn’t made a decision on whether it will be released.

The Q7M codename may represent Samsung’s first tri-fold phone, but the recent release of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE seems a more likely explanation. Samsung has released an updated version of the Fold 6 with an improved 200MP camera, a bigger screen, 16GB of RAM and a lighter, slimmer design. This “special edition” phone is only available in China and South Korea.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE release in select markets could be a test run for the long-rumored Ultra Fold variant. Galaxy Fold fans have long called for a bigger screen and a camera that competes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The QM7 could be the device that gives fans what they want, while introducing a new product into Samsung’s line-up without taking a big gamble on a tri-folding phone.

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Guide

Should You Charge Your Phone Overnight?

There are a lot of questions about mobile phone batteries. Should you leave your phone plugged in overnight? Is it bad for the phone? Is it even safe?

In fact, how much should you charge your phone? When’s the right time to plug in? Should you let it run down to zero every time? Should you charge it up to 100%? How do you get the longest life out of the battery inside a phone? Does it even matter, if you’re going to keep the handset around for just a couple of years and then upgrade?

Longer update pledges mean that battery health is a big deal for modern smartphones, and manufacturers are starting to take note. We already have features like Adaptive Charging, but Android 15 is expected to introduce an optional 80% charging limit in a bid to prolong battery lifespans. This will match a similar feature that Apple already debuted with the iPhone 15.

But doesn’t that number, 80%, seem rather arbitrary? Is there really any point in capping yourself at less than full capacity?

We present to you the myths and truths of iPhone or Android phone charging, in particular regarding whether you should plug you phone in overnight.

Charging My iPhone Overnight Overloads the Battery: False!

One thing all the experts agree on is that most devices are smart enough these days to avoid overloading themselves. Extra protective chips inside make sure that can’t happen in a tablet, a phone, or even alaptop. Once the internal lithium-ion battery hits 100% of its capacity, charging stops.

With older phones, if you leave you phone plugged in overnight, it is going to use a bit of energy by constantly trickling new juice to the battery every time it falls to 99%. That is;eating into your phone’s lifespan .Newer phones and OSes compensate for this; since iOS 13, Apple has shipped phones withOptimized Battery Charging ;turned on, so iPhones will usually not charge past 80% when connected to a charger for an extended period (like, say, overnight). With the latest iPhone 15, you can specifically tell the phone in settings to never go above 80% charge; if it’s on a charger, it won’t even try to recharge until it goes at least to 75%.

The Best Thing to Do

Don’t worry about this too much. Plug the phone in or place it on the wireless charger when you go to sleep. If you wake up in the night, unplug it or move it to prevent constant trickle-charging. You could also plug your phone into asmart plug;that’s on a schedule to turn off.And make sure that the Optimized Battery Charging option is turned on.

Potential Problems With Charging Phones Overnight

Trickle charges can generate some heat. Many experts recommend taking a phone out of the case to charge it overnight. But that’s not always feasible with a complicated protective case.

Battery health has two major arch nemesis: heat and voltage. The former can mostly be controlled by keeping your phone off a hot dashboard, not charging it under your pillow, and using slower charging when you don’t need a quick top-up. Voltage wear, however, can’t be controlled so easily by the user; voltage stress is simply a result of charging a battery.

At the very least, do not stack anything—books or other devices, for instance—on top of a charging device. And for the love of Jobs, do not put your phone under your pillow. Do any of the above, and you can expect the phone to get hot—not necessarily hot enough for spontaneous combustion but enough to damage the battery.

If you’re afraid of fire, some recommend leaving the charging device on a dish or saucer while it’s plugged in or placing it on something metal that is more likely to dissipate heat, the way a heatsink does on the chips inside a PC. That’s not much of an option if you use a wireless charging pad, so don’t sweat it.

I Should Freeze My Phone to Prevent Battery Problems: False!

Lithium-ion batteries hate two things: extreme cold and extreme heat. Repeatedly charging a phone in sub-freezing temps can create a permanent plating of metallic lithium on the battery anode, according to BatteryUniversity. You can’t fix that problem; it’s simply going to kill the battery faster.

Your phone battery is not alone in hating heat; all the internal components of a phone feel the same. Your phone is a computer, and computers and hot air are mortal enemies going back decades. Leave your black-screened phone sitting in the sun as you laze by the pool, but don’t be surprised when it throws a warning that it needs to cool off. Instead, give it some shade. In the summer, keep it off the car dashboard.

Apple specifically says charging iPhones in an environment that’s hotter than 95 degrees F (35 degrees C) does permanent damage to the battery. Expect the same with any modern phone.

The Best Thing(s) Never to Do

Don’t charge a phone when it’s too cold or hot. And don’t put your phone in the freezer.

My Battery Should Always Drop to Zero Power Before I Charge It: False!

Running a phone until it’s dead—a full discharge—is not the way to go with modern lithium-ion batteries. Try not to let it get close to 0%. That wears out a lithium-ion battery faster than normal. Partial discharge is the way to go.

Batteries are on borrowed time from the get-go. The insides are in a constant state of decay that can’t be helped. Over time, the materials inside are simply going to hold less and less power. If you’ve got an older iPhone still in use and wonder why it’s only got a charge for a few hours compared to the almost full day (or two) you got when it was new, that’s why. Capacity diminishes over time.

Drain a phone battery to zero only when you want to recalibrate the internal sensor that displays your phone’s battery level. Success here is hardly guaranteed—in fact, many people don’t think it works at all—but it’s recommended by some, especially with a phone that goes down to 10% (or even 20% or 30%), then abruptly dies.

Note that even when you do use the phone all the way to auto-shutdown, that may not mean the battery is actually at 0%. Leave the phone alone for a few hours, if you want to try recalibrating. Then give it a reset for good measure.

The Best Thing to Do:

Plug the phone in before it asks you to enter a low-power mode; iOS will ask you to turn that on when you hit 20% power. Plug the phone in when it’s between 30% and 40%. If you can’t turn on the Optimized Battery Charging, pull the plug at 80% to 90%; going to full 100% when using a high-voltage charger can put some strain on the battery.

Keep the phone’s battery charged between 30% and 80% to increase its lifespan. Eighty always seems to be the magic number when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.

Apple claims that with fast charging, iPhone batteries can increase 50% in only 30 minutes. That requires a USB-C power adapter, which on older phones in turn means using a special USB-C-to-Lightning cable or a higher-voltage charger such as the one from an iPad or even a MacBook.

Don’t fast-charge your phone if it doesn’t support it. That’s just another thing that’ll strain the battery. But it’s hard to find a phone these days that doesn’t support fast charging. 

But,if you plan to swap out your phone every year or two, charge it any way you want for as often as you want, and don’t worry about diminished capacity. But if you want to stretch out your phone’s useful life, pay attention to best practices for lithium-ion batteries, as described above. Or you could just get a new battery installed every couple of years, which is much cheaper than a brand-new phone. Then hold out for 2028!