iPhone battery calibration? Yay or Nay?

[7on]

Do/did you calibrate your iPhone battery?

[nickspohn]

no.

[genshi]

yes.

I guess that's why I'm not having the same issues some other people are having of drained batteries and always having to charge. I can go at least a couple of days of moderate use (a few phone calls, watch a video, listen to lots of music, google maps, etc.) without always having to charge (with WiFi always being on, screen brightness turned up, etc.)

My routine when I do charge is, I just plug it in for a couple of hours when I get home from work, then when I get the "Full Charge" symbol, I unplug and lay the iPhone by the bedside night stand (unplugged) to use as my alarm clock in the morning.

[jakeacc]

How does one properly "calibrate" a battery? Just let it drain to empty?

[Julien]

How does one properly "calibrate" a battery? Just let it drain to empty?

Was going to ask the same question but this must be it. However you should only drain the battery completely about once a month at the most. Completely draining a lithium-ion battery causes crystals to grow and diminishes over all battery life.

EDIT: A quick Google and found a great article (http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm).

[genshi]

Was going to ask the same question but this must be it. However you should only drain the battery completely about once a month at the most. Completely draining a lithium-ion battery causes crystals to grow and diminishes over all battery life.

EDIT: A quick Google and found a great article (http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm).

Yep, I've only completely drained it 3 or 4 times since the day I got it (which was the first day it was released) but the first time I did this was within the first week. It seemed to have made a difference (or I just got lucky.) Coming up on a full year with my iPhone and still no issues at all.

[onlycopunk]

Oddly enough mine came fully charged.

I'm usually a stickler about battery calibration, but I've was syncing and what not off an on the first couple days i got my iphone. It was so hard not to.

[Chrysaor]

Completely draining Li-ion batteries will decrease battery life, don't do it.

[Julien]

Completely draining Li-ion batteries will decrease battery life, don't do it.

True, but you need to reset the control electronics (battery fuel gage) about every 30 cycles or so. If not it will "think" the battery is dead and shut off before it actually is.

Please read the article I liked to. It has some great info.

[mattyb527]

Apple states that is is very important to calibrate it at least once a month.

The following is a quote from Apple's website:

"Use iPhone Regularly. For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery,
it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally.
Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month
(charging the battery to 100% and then completely running it down)."

http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

[danpass]

yes and my experience with Li-ions over the years bear out the advantages of calibrating.

[iLoveiPhone3GS]

Absolutely YES! It is better for the health of the battery to calibrate it atleast once a month. I do the same with my UMB.

[-aggie-]

Completely draining Li-ion batteries will decrease battery life, don't do it.

Not true. See the apple website about batteries and calibration. You should do this every month or so.

[noodle654]

I calibrated and my battery still sucks...cant even get through a day. Not to mention that it shuts off at 60%.

[SFStateStudent]

No problems on this end....

[-aggie-]

I calibrated and my battery still sucks...cant even get through a day. Not to mention that it shuts off at 60%.

Wow that's bad. What have you tried other than calibration? Recover? If so, you definitely need to take it back to the store.

[lostprophet894]

I think the idea people are missing is that calibration isn't going to improve your battery's performance. If your battery sucks performance-wise, calibration will do nothing for you. Take it back and get it replaced.

All you're doing with a calibration is making the graphical representation of your battery (upper right battery image) more accurate.

[alansaysstop]

I do it with my macbook every 3 weeks or so. Don't feel like dishing out almost 200 bucks for a new battery. I think I'm going to do start doing this with my iphone. My phone is my only way to get ahold of people at times so I don't like doing it.

[jaggunothing]

Yes.

On a monthly basis i do, battery back up has remained excellent and meter predictable after 1 year of regular usage. iPhone 3G.

Sony Vaio 3 years and going strong with close to 7 hours back up.

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

I just got my 3GS, so I just let the battery run down completely to get a better battery life?

[Mikey B]

I was never a believer in iPhone battery callibration but I just did allow my 32GB 3GS to be charged completely, drain completely and re-charged and I noticed an immediate improvement in battery life.

[tofuramen]

Does anyone know if the iPhone actually shuts itself off before the battery is "drained"? Blackberries have that automatic shut off when it reaches a low percent and I am wondering if the iPhone is the same, so when we are thinking we have drained it to shut off, it actually still has battery life left?

[Leet Apple]

Does anyone know if the iPhone actually shuts itself off before the battery is "drained"? Blackberries have that automatic shut off when it reaches a low percent and I am wondering if the iPhone is the same, so when we are thinking we have drained it to shut off, it actually still has battery life left?

it shutsdown at 2-3% then then forces your to charge

[RITZFit]

I never made a conscious effort to do it with my original iPhone...I just used it (lots of "quick" and random charges); I guess the closest thing to recalibration was if the phone just died on me while I was out and just let it fully recharge later (however not a frequent occurrence). That phone was purchased in 08 and still holds a strong charge.

[tofuramen]

it shutsdown at 2-3% then then forces your to charge

So calibrating would start from 2-3% battery? Or is there another way to have the iPhone truly drain to 0%?

[Stealthipad]

Not true. See the apple website about batteries and calibration. You should do this every month or so.

Just because Apple says to do it does not mean it is good for your battery! Fully discharging the L-Ion battery WILL decrease the battery life.:o

I would not suggest anyone to do it unless you are having problems, then you have less to loose. If all is working fine it is a WASTE of your battery longevity.:o

[Savor]

YES!

Last week, I thought my battery had gotten worse because I noticed 1% would drain after 15-20 min instead of the normal 30+ min and would always get usage time of below 9 hours. I thought the batt was just getting weaker from the charging and having it for over 6 months. Then this week, I decided to calibrate it until it went completely dead. Then I rested it for a few minutes and then charged it overnight. At least 8+ hours. Next day, I got my normal 30+ min when the first 1% drains and got over 10 hrs & 30 min usage time during my last two days of use. I charge it every other night now. This is with no music playing, less apps on the multi-task bar, and airplane mode because 3G/Edge/Location Services/Push Notification drains. This is with mostly WiFi browsing and occasional 2D games and video streaming. And the brightness wasn't always dim either, but that can help conserve batt life too.

Drop it to 0% and have a long charge for it overnight. Don't just give your phone 2.5 -4 hr charges. Go beyond it. It really helps. When I get down to 80%, my usage is about 3 hrs. By 70%, it is 4 hrs. And by 60%, it is 5 hrs. Right now, I am looking at my phone and batt life is at 53% with almost 6 hours of usage! I will definitely go beyond 10 hrs again today. Remember, I am not playing songs because it can boost the hours easily and I am still on the original 4.0 firmware. YMMV.

[-aggie-]

Just because Apple says to do it does not mean it is good for your battery! Fully discharging the L-Ion battery WILL decrease the battery life.:o

I would not suggest anyone to do it unless you are having problems, then you have less to loose. If all is working fine it is a WASTE of your battery longevity.:o

It has no affect on battery longevity. It's all about cycles. Discharge and charge: one cycle
Discharge to 50% and charge. Repeat. One cycle.