Smartphones & Tablets | December 9, 2023
The battery of mobile phones is one of the most crucial aspects, as it determines how long the device can be useful when you are away from home and far from a charger. Although it’s essential to consider not only the capacity but also various important factors, users should evaluate before buying a smartphone.
If there’s one thing all mobile phones have in common, unfortunately, it’s that their batteries degrade over time due to use. However, this not only depends on the type and quality of the battery but can also be affected by external factors, such as the usage habits of each user.
Therefore, it’s advisable to keep some things in mind to better preserve its initial capacity. In any case, this loss of capacity can be addressed by replacing the battery through technical support, although this is not covered by the warranty and will incur a cost.
It’s a proven fact that fast charging can shorten the battery’s lifespan because it causes greater wear on its components. This conclusion is based on research conducted by various universities, including Stanford and Purdue. The higher power delivered by fast charging can noticeably alter the internal composition of the battery, more than conventional charging.
Therefore, it’s advisable to use fast charging only when strictly necessary, such as when the phone is not fully charged just before leaving home. Some brands even include options, like charge separation, to optimize the process and prevent the smartphone from losing capacity over time.
In other instances, a power bank or any other conventional charger can be used to power the device. If there’s no rush to complete the charge, taking a bit longer should not be a problem. This doesn’t mean using the slowest charger available; it’s better to use a less powerful charger.
One of the most harmful things for the long-term health of a smartphone battery is excessive heat, as it can not only reduce its lifespan but also damage it directly. The same goes for other internal components of the phone, which can be affected by heat.
Android phones have overheating warnings that will automatically trigger when the device reaches a temperature too high to function correctly. However, if it’s noticed that the phone is too hot before reaching this point, it’s best to take action to try to lower the temperature.
Some recommended actions in these cases include removing the phone case, as it may hinder proper ventilation, and moving the phone away from the environment where it heated up. For example, if it happened in the sun, find a shaded place to leave the device. If performing a heavy task, like running a powerful game, it’s advisable to stop to allow time for proper cooling before continuing.
To charge your mobile, tablet, or any other device, it’s always best to use the official charger from the manufacturer included in the box, although sometimes it may need to be purchased separately. This charger is the one that will best suit its charging needs and is the least likely to damage it.
However, some people choose to use chargers bought online, which, although they may have a significantly lower price, do not offer the same guarantees as official chargers. Therefore, even when using non-official chargers, it’s crucial to ensure they comply with standards and are compatible with the device being charged.
There shouldn’t be a problem using another phone’s charger, as it will choose minimum values to avoid any risks with charging. If the charger is unreliable, it can seriously harm the device being charged. It’s important that the cable is also of high quality.
Leaving the phone charging overnight won’t damage it since all manufacturers include a mechanism that regulates the voltage input through the connector, reducing or turning it off when it reaches the maximum. However, the habit of charging the phone to its maximum capacity can reduce its lifespan.
This is due to charging cycles. Every time the phone is charged from 0 to 100%, one cycle is consumed, and batteries have an approximate number of cycles in their lifespan. Due to the nature of mobile phone batteries, they degrade over time, but each time a cycle is consumed, this process accelerates.
Therefore, it’s advisable to try to stop charging the phone when it’s close to 80%, and it shouldn’t be allowed to drop below 20%. Naturally, there are situations where this is not possible, but as far as possible, to reduce wear, the phone battery should always be between these two figures.
