How long should you charge your iPhone?
Years ago, charging your phone seemed much easier. You’d plug your device into any old charger, leave it there for as long as you wanted (or until you remembered it was charging), and the result would be a fully charged phone that could get you through the day. However, the more we’ve learned about the iPhone lithium-ion battery, the more charging tips we’ve picked up that can help extend the life of your expensive device and ensure you don’t actually damage the battery while charging. The big question remains: how long should you actually be charging your iPhone? We asked battery and technology experts to clarify.
Charge the phone until it is fully charged – then remove it
Depending on your phone’s model and how old it is, the time it takes to fully charge will vary – but one thing remains clear: techies say you should always remove your device from the charger once it’s fully charged, not earlier. “Avoiding overcharging is, in my opinion, one of the most important things you can do to extend battery life,” says tech expert Martin Lassen. “When the battery is fully charged, disconnect the chargers and rechargeable batteries. When you put a battery or object into the charger after reaching full charge, overcharging occurs. This can shorten battery life. According to Battery University, lithium and nickel batteries should be kept at 40 percent charge when stored. This level keeps the battery in good working order, reduces age-related capacity loss, and enables self-discharge.
Use Apple-certified chargers and cables
The products you use to charge your phone are just as important as your charging habits. First, make sure you’re using the original Apple charger and cable that came with the phone,” says Gallagher. “Using a third-party charger may result in slower charging. Second, try not to use your phone while it is charging. The more you use your phone, the less it will charge. Finally, if you have an iPhone 6 or later, you can use the fast charging feature with a USB-C to Lightning cable and a USB-C power adapter.”
What can happen if you overcharge your iPhone?
If you overcharge your iPhone, it can cause permanent battery damage. This means that your phone may not hold a charge as long as before, and eventually may not be able to charge at all.
Tips to avoid overcharging
You may have heard that overcharging your phone is the worst thing you can do, but today’s phones are designed to protect against the worst results of overcharging from the past (like stories of the occasional exploding phone that lives on). Tech has three tips to keep in mind:
“Use ‘genuine’ or ‘manufacturer approved’ chargers. Third-party chargers are also acceptable as long as they have the same rating as your original charger. DO NOT USE CHEAP OR OFF-BRAND CHARGERS. However, most chargers have: *The standard voltage for mobile phone chargers is 5V, while for laptop charging it is 20-25V.
Most phones are smart because they have a digital circuit breaker that stops charging when the battery is full. To extend the life of your phone, don’t set it on all night, at least every night.
Battery life will be extended if you charge your phone 20-80% of the time. Avoid extreme settings (100 percent desired or 0% charged) as this can shorten battery life.”
Keeping these simple tips in mind will help you successfully charge your phone so it lasts longer – saving you money in the long run.