By Destiny Uko
Smartphones are a lifeline for many—used daily for business transactions, connecting with loved ones, remote working, blogging and more. Yet, despite how central they are to our lives, most users only think about their phone’s battery health when it starts to degrade.
Damage to phone batteries can be linked to the small, consistent habits that chip away at battery health. If your battery performance tanks frequently, or your phone heats up excessively, or you experience lag, chances are that they could be linked to your everyday practices.
Charging your phone to full capacity (100%) all the time is a common battery-weakening practice. Lithium-ion batteries thrive best in the 20%-80% range. According to Pull Up Phone Repair, regular full charging gradually reduces a battery’s lifespan.
While charging through the night seems convenient, it keeps your phone at peak voltage for too long, which harms your phone’s battery.
Equally detrimental is using your phone while charging, especially during heavy tasks like streaming or gaming. This generates internal heat, weakening the battery over time. Excess heat is the fastest way to kill lithium batteries.
Reports show that heat-induced stress on phone batteries greatly shortens their lifespan. Apple, for instance, recommends keeping the phone out of cases during charging to enable heat escape.
Using cheap or bad chargers can also cause harm to your phone’s battery. Substandard chargers provide unstable voltage and can damage internal battery components. Unreliable chargers can lead to overheating and even pose a fire risk.
Be wary of chargers that hype “fast charging.” Non-standard fast charging, especially without proper regulation, can pose a problem too.
Your environment could be another culprit. Leaving your phone in a hot car, under the pillow while it charges or when sleeping, or even in direct sunlight can permanently reduce its battery health.
iPhones are said to perform best between 0°C and 35°. Even Samsung users are advised to keep phones away from extreme heat and to avoid charging in tightly closed spaces. This is applicable to all phone types still.
Running multiple background apps, leaving auto-sync on, or keeping mobile data and Wi-Fi active at all times drains your phone and makes it prone to frequent charging. This cycle wears out the battery.
Additionally, enabling power-saving features, like battery and data savers, and disabling location services and apps when not in use are largely helpful.
Many users are unfamiliar with how software updates and default settings affect battery life. Every update brings new features, some of which are power-dependent by default. Without adjusting settings before updating, your phone’s battery could start draining faster. Manually lower brightness, enable dark mode, and turn off auto-downloads too to reduce energy consumption.
Another harmful practice is letting your battery drain completely before recharging. According to research from Battery University, full discharges wear lithium batteries faster than partial discharges. Charging phones when the battery drops to 30–40% is better for its long-term efficiency.
Fortunately, phone makers have begun integrating battery-conscious features. iPhones, for example, come with “Optimised Battery Charging,” and Android brands like OnePlus and Samsung now have built-in charging settings that stop charging once the battery is fully charged.
In summary, to have your phone serve you longer and better, avoid full charges and leaving your battery to run flat. Keep your phone cool during charging. Invest in trusted phone accessories. Regularly check your settings and kill irrelevant apps running in the background to prevent your phone from becoming overworked.
Though seemingly simple, these hacks can be the difference between optimum phone performance and periodic lagging.
Smartphones play an essential role in daily activities, yet many users overlook their battery health until it degrades. Common practices like charging phones to 100% frequently or overnight, using them during heavy tasks while charging, and exposing them to excess heat can severely reduce battery lifespan. It is advisable to charge within a 20%-80% range, avoid using unreliable chargers, and manage device heat by removing cases and avoiding charging in confined spaces. Environmental factors, heavy background processes, and even fully draining batteries before recharging can harm long-term battery performance.
To extend battery life, adopt practices such as using power-saving features, managing app usage, and avoiding full discharges. If possible, invest in quality chargers and accessories. Phone manufacturers are incorporating battery-friendly features that stop charging when full. Simple adjustments in usage habits and settings can significantly improve phone performance and longevity, preventing frequent lag and battery degradation.
