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Batteries Guide

Why does USB take longer to charge a mobile phone?

With the development of smart phones, the technology is very mature and the price is not expensive. Therefore, almost everyone has two mobile phones now, but the charging time of smart phones is sometimes long and sometimes short. What is the reason?

There are two ways for the charger to charge the phone:cradle chargeanddirect charge.

The cradle charge is to remove the battery and charge it on the charger, and the corresponding is the direct charge, that is, the charger is directly connected to the mobile phone to charge.

USB charging refers to the use of electrical equipment with a USB interface to charge mobile phones, and currently refers to PCs and laptops. Usually, USB charging takes much longer than charger charging. In order to explain the difference between USB charging and DC charging, we must first understand the charging principle of lithium batteries.

The charging method of lithium battery is limited voltage and constant current, which generally goes through three charging stages:

  • pre-charge, the voltage is less than 3V at this time;
  • Constant current charging. After the voltage reaches 3V, it enters the fast charging stage. At this time, the current is relatively large, and the constant current charging continues until the voltage rises to 4.2V;
  • Constant voltage charging, when the voltage rises to 4.2V, it is changed to small current charging, while the voltage of 4.2V remains unchanged. Usually, the current at this time is 1/10 of the constant current stage.

The cradle charging and direct charging methods will respectively cause a certain impact to the lithium battery and the mobile phone, and will cause a certain degree of damage in the long run. The USB output current is smaller than the above two, which is why the USB charging time is longer than the two. This small current is manifested in the constant current and constant voltage stages. The purpose of constant voltage charging is to supplement the capacity loss of lithium-ion batteries due to self-discharge after being fully charged.

At present, the USB output voltage of the computer is 5V, the output current is 500mA, and the charging current of the charger is 1000mA. Because the USB output current is small, its current in the constant voltage stage is even smaller.

Therefore, charging with USB feels longer, of which, the more important is the longer time spent in the constant voltage phase. If you can’t wait and end the process of charging the phone with USB as soon as possible, because there is still a part of the supplementary power that has not been charged, it seems that it is not fully charged. This is actually a current problem rather than leakage and other problems that consumers are worried about.

However, the problem of “not fully charged” has little effect. Even if there is no constant voltage charging process,the battery at this time has at least 90% capacity.For lithium batteries, as long as they are not overcharged and overdischarged, they can be charged at any time. , which is the difference between it and NiMH batteries.

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Guide

What to Do if You Dropped Your Phone in Water

From the beach to the boat, wherever we go to enjoy warmer weather, our phones are usually right along for the fun and keeping them above water can be a challenging task.
No matter how much you bought your phone, seeing it get damaged is not a pleasing moment at all – even if it’s just a slight crack on the screen.One of the frustrating situations is when your phone falls into the water – either in the toilet or in a pool of water. You may feel terrified and tense at the same time to the extent of not knowing what to do.
In case your device does take a plunge, here are tips for getting water out of your phone that you’ll need to know.

How to get water out of your phone

Here’s what to do if you drop your phone in water or get it wet:

  1. Remove it from the liquid immediately. The longer it stays there, the more liquid will seep into various inlets.
  2. Turn the phone off and leave it off.
  3. Remove the protective case.
  4. If possible, open the back and remove the battery, SIM card, and microSD card (if you have one).
  5. Use a cloth or paper towel to dab your phone dry. Do not rub the phone, as doing so could accidentally push liquid into the phone’s more sensitive parts. If the phone was completely submerged, you might try (very) gently vacuuming around the phone’s creases and openings to suck more water out.
  6. Resist the urge to bake your phone in the sun. Keep it in a cool, dry place.
  7. You’ve probably heard the suggestion to put your phone in rice if it gets wet, but we do not recommend this method. Instead, try silica gel packets, like the ones that often come with new products such as a pair of shoes, as they’ve proven to be much more effective. Fill a plastic zip-top bag with silica gel packets and bury the phone in the bag. Leave your phone in the bag for 24–48 hours.
  8. After you’ve allowed your phone to fully dry, switch it on. If it doesn’t turn on right away, charge it fully and try again.

If your phone turns back on, great! Still, keep an eye on it over the next week or so, as sometimes certain features won’t work the way they used to.

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Guide

How to Take Care of Your Phone’s Battery

Batteries are an essential component of almost every device. However, it is widely known that it tends to be the first one to lose its power after being used extensively. Even the most reliable devices such as laptops and phones lose their capability to charge at some point because their battery’s life cycle is already used up.

But don’t fret because there are a lot of ways that you can do to prolong the life of your battery, all it takes is proper care and the knowledge on how to maintain them correctly. By doing this, your battery will surely last for a long time.

Here’s what you can do:

Avoid Using The Device In Extreme Temperatures

Most of the devices are made to be portable nowadays, making them convenient to be used wherever you are. But, you have to take note that there are certain limitations when exposing it to extreme temperatures in an extended period of time.

The Ideal temperature zones are 16° to 22° C and it’s crucial not to use it when the temperature is higher than 35° C, due to the fact that it can damage your battery permanently. Also, charging the batteries in a room that exceeded the recommended temperature will disrupt the battery’s performance even further. 

Save Your Battery’s Life Cycle

This may be difficult to do especially if you often rely on your device to accomplish your day-to-day tasks. However, if it’s really your goal to prolong the lifespan of your battery, turning it off once a week can help it to perform longer by saving its life cycle.

Normally, a battery can survive up to 500 charge cycles and each cycle lessens its capacity to perform efficiently. If you can’t turn off your device for a day, some devices allow you to change the power settings that will benefit the battery’s life in the long run.

Removing Your Battery When Not In Use

This has been one of the most asked questions by people .Is it really necessary to remove your battery when the device is not in use?

Well, every brand has a different opinion regarding this matter— with Apple telling customers not to take their batteries out and Acer which recommends that you should take it out if you don’t plan to use it for more than a week. 

But generally, if you are planning not to use the device for a couple of days or more it is advised to have it charged between 40 to 80 percent and must be stored at room temperature. This way, it will be ready to use again when needed rather than discharging it completely before storing it somewhere else. Never store a fully discharged battery, they should always be charged for maximum longevity.

Only use ultra-fast charging when necessary

Fast charging is convenient, but don’t use it every time you charge your phone. Fast charging puts more stress on the battery than necessary, so battery performance can suffer over time. Opt for a standard “slow” charge more often than not to preserve battery longevity.

Use your phone sparingly while it’s charging

To avoid parasitic load, don’t play games or stream videos while charging your phone. Parasitic load is what happens while a battery is being drained during charging. Parasitic load adds higher voltage stress to the battery, increases heat, and can cause parts of the battery to continually cycle and deteriorate faster than the rest of the cell. While you can take calls or browse the web during a charging session, avoid heavy tasks.

Keep track of your phone’s battery health  

Both iPhones and Androids have built-in tools for battery health tracking. You can use these tools to find out more information about your battery’s performance and life span using these tools.

iPhone: Open your Settings and go to Battery > Battery Health.

Samsung Galaxy: Open the Samsung Members app and go to Get Help > Interactive checks (or View tests) > Battery status (or Battery).

Other Androids: Open the Phone app and dial *#*#4636#*#*. When the menu appears, select Battery information (it may be buried in another menu).

You can also try other Android battery health apps, such as CPU-Z, Battery by MacroPinch, and AccuBattery by Digibites.  

But You Have To Remember…

Eventually, batteries will lose their power and will hold less charge over time. What makes proper care beneficial is it will enable you to use the battery longer and will save you time and money from replacing it earlier than expected.

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Guide

Reasons why your Android battery drains quickly

If you’ve noticed that your Android phone or tablet’s battery is draining quickly, you’re not alone. Many factors can contribute to rapid battery depletion, but don’t worry; there are also several strategies you can employ to extend your device’s battery life.

Reasons for fast battery drain.

There are several potential causes if your Android device’s battery is draining quickly:

  • Screen brightness: A bright screen can drain your battery quickly. 
  • Background apps: Apps running in the background can drain your battery even when you’re not using your phone. 
  • Location services: Your phone constantly searches for satellites when location services are on, which can drain your battery. 
  • Battery saver mode: Most devices have a battery saver mode that can help extend your battery life. 
  • Apps consuming battery: Some apps might be consuming more battery than you realize. You can try uninstalling apps you don’t use, or turning off notifications and pop-ups for apps that are useful but draining your battery. 
  • Screen time: If your screen stays on for too long, it can drain your battery. 
  • Temperature: Extreme temperatures can affect your phone’s battery. 
  • Operating system: An outdated operating system can cause your battery to drain faster. 
  • Battery health: Your phone’s battery might be at the end of its life cycle.

Ways to reduce Android battery drain

Here are some ways to potentially reduce battery drain on your Android device:
*Note: Can vary based on Android version and device type.

  • Use Battery Saver or Extreme Battery Saver mode – Battery Saver and power saving modes help conserve battery life. Availability varies across devices – check your manufacturer’s website for details.

When enabled, Battery Saver and Extreme Battery Saver modes may pause most apps, turn off features and slow processes, which may include:

  • Only update app content (email, news, etc) when opened.
  • Stop location services when screen is off.
  • Prevent apps running in background unless Battery Optimization is turned off.
  • Not respond to “OK Google” hands-free commands.
  • Turn on Dark theme.
  • Delay notifications.
  • Turn off always-on display.
  • Switch 5G phones to 4G.
  • Limit internet connectivity and location access – Minimising mobile data, WiFi, Bluetooth, location services when not needed can help conserve battery. Turn on Airplane mode when mobile data isn’t required. Also avoid battery draining apps like cameras and games. Don’t keep lots of apps running in the background.
  • Use dark colour themes – Using dark mode/theme on your device and apps can reduce battery drain, if available. Helpful for avoiding bright light stimulus at night and sleep concerns. To enable:
  • Open Settings app.
  • Tap Display.
  • Turn Dark theme on or off.

Fixing Android battery issues.

If the battery seems to drain very fast even after following the tips above, there could be an issue with your Android device. Try:
*Varies by Android version and device.

  • Restart your phone – Restarting can sometimes fix battery related problems. Long press the power button and tap Restart in the prompt. Restart method varies across devices – check user manual or manufacturer support pages.
  • Update Android – Updating to the latest Android version can potentially fix battery issues.

What to do if Android battery issues persist?

If these steps don’t help, consider replacing the battery. Hardware issues like degradation may require a new resolution. Factory resetting can also fix persistent trouble – backup data first.
If battery problems continue despite these fixes, check with your device manufacturer or purchase retailer for further support.
Review your usage patterns, settings and config when the Android battery seems to drain fast. Fixing issues one by one could help resolve problems. If not, you may consider upgrading your device to a newer model with higher battery capacity.

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Guide

What to do if your phone battery is swollen

There are multiple reasons why a lithium-ion battery may swell. There is usually one underlying cause for this to happen, though. Batteries usually swell because gas builds up, creates pressure, and expands them.
With that in mind, we must consider the more common causes for a battery to store gas. Manufacturer defects can happen. If the battery maker doesn’t make the battery correctly, gas can slowly build up during the charging process. This essentially means simply charging your phone enough times could be an issue, especially considering juicing up your phone also creates heat.

Swollen lithium-ion battery, modern smartphone, broken smartphone, battery-powered explosive electronics

Heat commonly speeds the process, too. You should probably make sure not to leave a phone in the sun too much, or next to very hot items.
Additionally, physical damage to the battery can be a very common cause of battery swelling. Have you ever dropped your phone? Maybe you accidentally punctured the battery? This could be why your battery is swelling. Not to mention, batteries get old, too. Chemical reactions can change, and parts weaken.
By the way, this shouldn’t be a common occurrence. Unless there’s a severe manufacturer defect, most batteries should last the couple or few years most users keep a device.

How to know if your phone battery is swollen

It’s much harder to tell if your battery is swelling these days, as handsets with removable batteries are becoming very scarce. We never really see our batteries anymore. This makes it harder to identify a swollen or damaged battery.

The easiest way to tell if a battery is swollen is by inspecting the device (or battery, if you can). Are there any bumps? You may notice an unusual wobble when you lay it on a flat surface. Also, look for warped shapes or signs of the phone disassembling itself. Smartphone backplates start to come off as the battery’s swollen shape puts pressure against them.

While not as safe, the smell can also signify a swollen battery. We wouldn’t advise that you actively try to inhale chemicals, but this is something you may have accidentally noticed already. Does your phone smell odd? People describe a bad battery smell as metallic, and sometimes even sweet.

Even simple things like battery performance can be a dead giveaway. If your battery is charging too slowly, or the charge isn’t lasting as long as it should, this may be a cause of concern.

What to do if your phone battery is swollen

So you’ve found something odd with your smartphone’s battery. Is it safe to use a swollen phone battery? Definitely not! A swollen lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous. The pressure can make gases escape, and the battery can even catch fire or explode, especially if pierced.
Your first step should be to turn off the device immediately, and keep it off. Don’t plug it in or mess with it, either. Leave it in a safe place and keep it there, preferably away from anything that can burn.
A swollen lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous!
If it’s possible, and safe to do so, you should probably remove the battery. Just be careful not to mess with it too much in the process, and try to avoid smelling any fumes it may give off. We actually recommend taking the phone to a professional instead. Technicians will have the necessary knowledge and tools to do this easily. They can also find a suitable replacement for you. This will likely incur some charges and require replacement purchases, though.
If your phone is still under warranty or has insurance, your best bet is to go with the carrier, retailer, or company handling the coverage.

How do I stop this from happening in the first place?

Well, you won’t always be able to stop this. That’s just something you’ll have to get used to. That said, there are a few things you can do to minimize the risk of stumbling across a bulging battery in the future.

Don’t let your gadgets get too hot

High temperatures can speed up the rate at which the electrolyte goop decomposes, which could contribute to gases building up inside a battery. And even if that heat doesn’t make a battery bulge, Mitlin says, it will definitely take a toll on how well the battery will work down the road.

Thankfully, many of your gadgets include features to prevent them from running at high temperatures for long periods. Your phones, for instance, will warn you when they get too warm — once that happens, they’ll start to shut off certain features and dial down the brightness of their screens. Worst-case scenario, they’ll shut themselves off entirely until they cool down.

Laptops are generally better at dealing with heat because they have built-in cooling systems, but with summer right around the corner, you should make sure not to leave any of your tech in a hot car or under the sun for very long.

Keep an eye on batteries’ charge levels

Keeping a battery at a high state of charge is a great way to put extra wear on it, so do your tech a favor: Don’t keep it connected to a wall outlet all the time. The opposite is also true: For slightly different chemical reasons, that all-important electrolyte goop also degrades when a battery is fully dead, according to Viswanathan.

That’s right. Keeping your gadgets fully charged and fully dead could contribute to battery swelling over time.

Advice: Once your gadget’s battery hits 100 percent, unplug it and use it as you normally would. Then, once you get down to the 10 to 20 percent range, charge it again.

Try not to drop anything

We know it’s easier said than done.

Usually, if your laptop tumbles out of your hands, the first thing you would worry about is whether its screen is still in one piece. But Viswanathan says these kinds of tumbles could lead to situations where one part of the battery is getting more charged than others. That could lead to battery swelling, as well as some other less-than-pleasant outcomes.

Some devices, like certain laptops, are more vulnerable to this than others because of where their batteries are stored. If your laptop has a battery you can remove yourself, it might be worth keeping it in a protective sleeve when you run around with it. Ditto for phones and tablets: A good case should help keep everything, including the battery, from getting banged up too badly.

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Guide

Why does my phone get hot and how to fix it

All phones can — and will — get hot on occasion. It becomes a problem when your phone heats up so much that it hurts to hold it, or it begins to exhibit odd behavior. Thankfully, there are easy tips you can use to help stop your phone from overheating.

Why does my phone get hot?

Usually, a phone heats up due to overuse, a strained battery, too much direct heat, or an overworked CPU. You may also need to update your software, because outdated apps can cause performance issues. In extreme cases, your hot phone might be infected with malware.

Here are the 11 most common reasons your phone gets hot:

Direct sunlight

A common cause of phone overheating is leaving it in direct sunlight. Even if you leave your phone in the sun for a short period of time it can drain your battery and cause other performance issues. If you leave your phone in direct sunlight ⁠for a prolonged period, the internal components could be permanently damaged.

Overloaded CPU

If your phone’s CPU is overloaded, it heats your phone up from the inside. The CPU is essentially the brain of your phone, and it’s used to run processes and apps. If your CPU is trying to perform too many tasks (even in the background), your phone can overheat quickly.

icon-03-1Too many open apps

Having lots of apps open at once can contribute to increased phone temperatures. That’s because apps run background processes that consume CPU power and memory resources, even if you’re not actively using them. To help prevent your phone from overheating, review your open apps and close the ones you don’t need right now.

Power-intensive apps

Sometimes, even just one high-intensity app can be enough to overheat your phone if you leave it running for long enough. Apps containing augmented reality (AR) elements like the Metaverse, or other very heavy graphics-loads, are particularly big CPU drains and can swamp your phone’s system through continuous use.

Faulty battery or charger cable

Have you ever wondered, “Why does my phone get hot when charging?” It’s normal for a phone to warm up a bit while charging. However, if your phone gets excessively hot, it could be due to a faulty battery or charger cable. 

Wireless charging

Have you ever wondered, “Why does my phone get hot when charging?” It’s normal for a phone to warm up a bit while charging. However, if your phone gets excessively hot, it could be due to a faulty battery or charger cable. To help prevent battery issues, ensure device compatibility by using only manufacturer-approved charging adapters and cables.

Wireless charging

Wireless charging is much less efficient than wired charging, which means more energy leaks out in the form of heat, making your phone warmer to the touch than usual. Unless there’s a problem with your phone or wireless charger, this alone shouldn’t be the cause of overheating. But it could be problematic when combined with other factors, such as direct sunlight, or background software updates.

Gaming for too long

Much like PCs, gaming on a cell phone strains the CPU and GPU to their limits, causing your phone to generate a lot of heat. While the occasional gaming session won’t kill your phone, several hours of continuous gaming will heat up your device. This is especially true when playing newer, graphically demanding games.

Streaming video content

Streaming videos on Netflix or YouTube or watching TV online for hours is just as detrimental to your cell phone’s health as a marathon gaming session. Anything that keeps your screen lit for long periods of time and uses your phone’s GPU excessively will cause the device to heat up.

Software updates

Mobile phones are prone to heating up while running a software update, or just after. If there’s a bug that needs fixing while the update takes place, it will use even more power temporarily. Once the update is finished and your device restarts, your phone should start to cool down.

Malware or virus

Any of the issues above can damage your phone, but none of them are as potent as malware. If you pick up a malware infection by using a fake app or clicking on an infected link, your phone’s CPU and memory could be hijacked, throttling performance and generating a lot of heat.

My Phone is Overheating—How Do I Cool Down My Phone?

If you find your smartphone starting to overheat, you can try to cool it down by removing the protective case, switching to low-power mode, or putting the phone in a shady area.

Smartphones are built with the dissipating heat in mind, but many protective cases will trap that heat and raise the overall temperature of the phone.

In the same way that you’ll throw off the covers in the middle of the night when your temperature is rising and you’re overheating in bed—ditching the phone case can help your smartphone cool down more easily.

Charge Your Phone on a Cool (Not Cold) Surface

Never charge your phone overnight on a bed, blanket, or pillow! Heat must be able to escape the phone during the charging process and charging on a bed, blanket or pillow ends up trapping more heat. A nightstand is the best area for charging your phone bedside.

Leave Your Screen Brightness on Low

Dimming your screen’s brightness and immediately turning off GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi—even going into airplane mode—helps reduce the energy demands of your iPhone or Android device.

The more energy you use, the hotter your phone gets – it’s as simple as that. Not only do you get the added conserved energy, but you’re doing your eyes a favor by reducing the strain caused by staring at a bright light.

Do Not Put an Overheated Phone in the Refrigerator

If your phone is overheating, NEVER put an overtaxed phone in the refrigerator or freezer. Although both iPhones and Androids are designed to be used at temperatures as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, huge swings in temperature and exposure to moisture can damage your phone beyond repair.

How Do I Prevent My Phone from Overheating?

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to keeping your phone from overheating. These simple tips go a long way toward prolonging the life of your phone and battery and prevent your phone overheating.

Use The Right Charger

Like the phones themselves, chargers are not created equally. You should never buy a used charger or one that’s not manufacturer-approved. Chargers and charging cables have different wattages, and many phone chargers are optimized for a specific brand.

Regularly Give Your Smart Phone a Good “House Cleaning”

Close out apps you’re not using. Delete those you no longer use and, if needed, update those you want to keep. Adjust the settings on your phone to dim the screen.

Invest in Apps that Remove Junk or Malware

Cleaner apps, remove junk files from your phone and identify apps that are hurting your phone and/or its battery’s performance. Consider downloading antivirus software to prevent unwanted malware from infecting your device and draining its power behind your back, which can result in extra power consumption and overheating if not diagnosed and addressed.

Keep Your Phone Out of the Sun/Heat

Keep your phone in the shade and don’t leave it in a hot car or place it on a hot surface, like a radiator or stove top.

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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!

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Guide

When should you replace your smartphone battery?

If your cell phone can barely make it to lunchtime without a recharge, you may be tempted to buy a new one. But consider springing for a new battery instead.As long as the phone is in good shape—no cracked screen, for instance—replacing the battery can make the device work like brand-new.

Most smartphones come with non-removable batteries, so replacing one has gotten a lot more time-consuming and, in some cases, more expensive. It’s not something you should do on your own unless you have experience repairing phones, as you could make the problem worse. It can be a day-long project where you must disassemble your phone — in newer models, you even have to detach the screen from all of its sensors and wires. Now begs the question, when do you need to replace a phone battery?

How long does an Android phone battery last?

Much like the battery in your car, your Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone battery will degrade over time. Typically, your phone battery is good for 2 to 3 years, or even longer if you take good care of your device.

Signs your phone battery needs to be replaced

If you’re worried your phone’s battery is damaged or not working at its best, we’ve got you covered. Here are the signs to look out for.

Your phone is slow to respond

Does your phone respond more slowly than it used to? Do apps take longer to launch? If your phone is sluggish—even when it’s mostly or fully charged—you may need a new battery.

Your battery doesn’t hold a charge

If your phone won’t charge to 100%, drains quickly after you’ve charged it, or shuts down unexpectedly on a full charge, it’s probably time to replace the battery.

Likewise, if you have to charge your Android more than once a day or if it only works when it’s plugged in, it’s may be time for a new battery.

Your phone heats up while charging

Are you wondering how to tell if your phone battery is damaged? Check to see whether your phone gets hot while it’s charging. You can also take a look at your phone screen or case to see whether it’s warped: If it is, you may have a swollen battery, which could be dangerous. The safest option is to take your device to a tech repair pro and replace it right away.

How to check your Android phone battery health

Most Android phone models have a battery usage setting where you can check battery health.
Go toSettings > Batteryto check your current battery level.
From there the steps vary by device, but look for an option like Battery Usage to get more information, like which apps are using the most power.

If you’ve tried these steps and still need a little help,get the best batteries for your business and professional needs here atBatteryone.co. Get in touch with us today for all your battery needs. 

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Guide

A Huge Guide to Improve Battery Life

Smartphones continue to get faster, and every update comes with a host of new features that promise to make your life easier. But this technology can also sap your battery life, causing you frustration.

Battery life is going to massively differ between people due to what apps are being used – something as simple as browsing the internet can hit the battery more than video consumption, and any kind of gaming will kill the battery even quicker. 

If your Android is draining faster than normal, don’t panic.This post is here giving a detailed list of what can be changed to improve battery life. 

Software Updates

Keeping up-to-date is always a good idea for features, security fixes and bug fixes, and if you’re having battery problems, it could be because you’re on an older firmware. To see if you have the latest version:

  1. TapSettings > Software update > Check for new update(on some Android devices, this will appear asSettings > System > System update > Check for update).
  2. TapOK.
  3. If your operating system is up to date, “Current software is up to date” will display. If a new update is available, follow the instructions to install.

Settings to Help Battery Life

All of these settings can be found in the Settings app (from app draw or from notifications panel). Disabling these settings helps battery life unless stated otherwise.

Switch to mobile data 

Your device periodically checks if Wi-Fi can be found, and if it can’t, mobile data is turned on. With this disabled, mobile data will need to be manually turned on when your Wi-Fi slows/drops.

Wi-Fi power saving mode

Looks for patterns in Wi-Fi usage to learn when it’s best to turn on Wi-Fi power saving. I’d suggest trying this yourself and seeing if it affects your everday usage (as it can in some cases).

Bluetooth 

Bluetooth can use a large amount of energy, especially when it’s constantly syncing to devices like watches, earphones and speakers that trade large amounts of data. Disable this if you don’t use Bluetooth devices, and if you do, it isn’t a large enough battery sink to worry about.

NFC 

This will check for NFC/contactless payment points whenever the screen is on. Leaving this turned off, and simply turning it on when needed is simple and can save a tiny amount of energy.

5G

5G can be very power-hungry – under the right circumstances it can drain 20% more than other bands. Below is a detailed explanation of 5G and why it can be a battery drain under certain conditions. If you do not use 5G at all, disable it – set your network mode to LTE/3G/2G if possible – this will not change your data speeds and may help with battery life. If you do use 5G, please read below!

  1. There are two deployment types of 5G – Stand Alone (SA) and Non-Stand Alone (NSA). SA deployments handle calls, texts and data single-handedly without needing any other network band active. NSA deployments cannot handle calls, texts and data without another network band being active at the same time. NSA 5G therefore needs to maintain a 4G/LTE/3G connection alongside the 5G connection for higher data speeds. As of writing, there are no large-scale SA deployments. The vast, vast majority of currently avalaible 5G is NSA. In use, this will drain your battery ~20% faster than when just using 4G/LTE/3G.
  2. Connection strength and reliability also play a large role with battery life. As 5G is still an emerging technology, overall coverage is far worse than other bands, which can cause your data connection to constantly switch between multiple bands while also always seeking 4G/LTE/3G for a stronger connection. This can play a large role in 5G killing your battery quicker.

Wireless emergency alerts 

These are sent out about severe weather warnings and amber alerts, as well as also being used to send location information to emergency services. This is an important service that should be left on if supported in your area. If it isn’t used in your country, or your country uses SMS instead, you can disable this feature for an imperceptible battery save.

Dark mode

Dark mode changes all Android menus and supporting apps to a dark version – meaning mostly white backgrounds change to black/grey backgrounds. OLED screens turn off pixels completely when black – meaning little to no power draw from these pixels – whereas pixels showing white is a large battery draw over the same period of time.

Additionally:Most browsers support a dark mode independently of OS settings and therefore need changing in their respective settings to be turned on/off. Browser dark modes can save massive amounts of battery at the cost of making most webpages look… strange.

Motion Smoothness and Eye Comfort Shield

Motion smoothness:Most Smartphones supports 120Hz displays which can be a large battery drainer. Although it’s adaptive (meaning it can change based on what is needed – from 120Hz all the way down to 10Hz), it still drains more power than in standard mode (60Hz). I spoke earlier about striking a good balance between battery and features – and in my opinion, 120Hz is well worth the extra battery usage.

Eye comfort shield:Eye Comfort Shield isn’t for everyone as it both limits blue light and uses warmer colours. Setting this can make things look yellow-tinted, but can help with eye fatigue, sleep, and most importantly for this list, battery life.

Power saving mode

As mentioned above, this is the power saving mode that often gets confused with adaptive power saving. This will automatically be turned on and off when adaptive power saving finds it best, or this setting instead can be left on at all times if preferred.

Protect your phone from extreme temperatures

Whether you’re on the go or staying in, make sure to avoid leaving your phone in very hot or cold environments. Being in extreme temperatures can not only drain your phone battery but also cause it to overheat and explode, putting your safety at risk. Try to store your phone in an area between 68° and 86° Fahrenheit.

Make sure your phone has service

While this may seem like a no-brainer, double-check to make sure your phone has service. If your Android is constantly searching for a signal, it can drain your battery quickly. 

Check whether your battery is at the end of its life cycle

If none of the above steps works, it could be because your Android phone’s battery is on its way out. Get the best batteries for your business and professional needs here atBatteryone.co. Get in touch with us today for all your battery needs.