iPhone 14 Pro Max Battery, do and don’t do

[now i see it]

So far the clan has insisted on just plugging it in and forgetting about it.
I’m one of those rare individuals who actually cares about the battery because a battery replacement isn’t an option.
The thought of leaving my iPhone plugged in over night makes me cringe (because I know what’s happening to the cathode).

Just buy a $12 HomeKit compatible smart plug (TP Link at BestBuy) and set up a battery charging profile in the Shortcuts App (80 to 40 or 75 to 50). Once you figure it out (it’s really easy) you’re done with it forever and the battery will automatically charge to your set points without you ever having to think about it again.

 

[stanza.richi]

No matter what you do, some batteries just are worse than others.
My iPhone 11 only dropped from 100 to 99% over a year.
My iPhone 12 Mini dropped from 100 to 79% over a year and three months, and I just got its battery replaced. It was also frequently overheating, and would completely refuse to charge over MagSafe a lot of the time.
I think all the other posters are right, just use the phone and don’t worry about it.
You can absolutely baby the battery, and have its health degrade extremely quickly.
You can treat the battery without a thought and only have it drop to below 80% after six years like one of the people above.
While there are obviously do’s and don’ts, the truth is there’s no absolutely perfect solution.
If you have Apple Care or insurance through your phone carrier, most will cover a battery that’s below 80%, usually no questions asked

12 series carry awful batteries.

 

[Splitrail]

I don’t know. To me it’s 20W+. I had an old 15W wireless charger for my iPhone 8 but never considered it a fast charger. I use a 25W fast charger for my iPad Mini 5 and 12 Mini.

I don't either.
I see people writing that their "fast chargers" cause their phones to heat up, thus compromising the battery.
I don't experience this with a 20W, so it gets me to wondering what they're talking about when they mention a "fast charger".
Also makes me wonder whether this is something they observed first hand, or are just repeating what somebody else wrote (not uncommon), or if the condition of their battery was poor to begin with causing excessive draw and resulting in heat.
Or for that matter, what wattage charger do they consider to be "fast"?
Lots of comments, but few specifics!

 

[Andeddu]

I don't either.
I see people writing that their "fast chargers" cause their phones to heat up, thus compromising the battery.
I don't experience this with a 20W, so it gets me to wondering what they're talking about when they mention a "fast charger".
Also makes me wonder whether this is something they observed first hand, or are just repeating what somebody else wrote (not uncommon), or if the condition of their battery was poor to begin with causing excessive draw and resulting in heat.
Or for that matter, what wattage charger do they consider to be "fast"?
Lots of comments, but few specifics!

I’ve never bothered to look into it myself. I am sure there are YouTube explainer videos showing scientific evidence that battery health decreases due to heat, and a higher wattage causes greater levels of heat. I can only speak anecdotally with my 12 Mini which has a badly degraded battery over 1.5 years of use. I don’t know if it is the fast charger and wireless charger’s fault or I was given a bad battery to begin with. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence suggesting that the 12 line’s batteries are notoriously poor when compared to the rest. The 13’s batteries seem to stand up to fast charging and not degrade anywhere nearly as quick as the 12. I don’t have a 13 or 14 to test that out though.

 

[eyoungren]

Like what old days? iPhones have never had 'user-replaceable' batteries to the extent of removing a back cover and hot-swapping. They're the closest to user-replaceable they've ever been currently, with the self service repair program.

View attachment 2106180

I think they meant the 'old days' before the iPhone/current Androids. My Sanyo Katana and my HTC Touch Pro both have replaceable batteries. And the HTC Diamond and HTC Touch Pro were 2007-2009 era phones. The HTC Touch Pro 2, which my wife had from 2011-2013 also had a replaceable battery.

Plenty of other older non-Apple model phones out there with replaceable batteries.

 

[MisterMillz]

While you are at it...don't forget to enjoy your new phone. These batteries are so smart not much required by you. Just simply charge it.

Just plug it in and don't worry about it. You can get totally wrapped around the axle on all this battery stuff. Even with the older batteries that's all I've ever done with my smartphones since 2009.

My phones get plugged in at night and used as a bedside clock. Taken off the charger when I get up. End of story.

I let Apple's optimized charging and charging circuitry worry about it all.

For the record, my 6s+ battery didn't hit less than 80 percent health until November 2021. That's six years, including three summers riding around in Phoenix, Arizona summer heat in a car with no A/C.

This sums it up. These devices are smart and adaptive. Stick to reputable/reliable chargers and you’ll be A-O-K. Enjoy your awesome, new phone for all it’s worth.

 

[Motionblurrr]

Get the fastest charger you can get that will maximize your charging speed and plug it in and forget about it. Live your life not worrying about a battery that will become irrelevant in a few years when you eventually upgrade

 

[Splitrail]

Get the fastest charger you can get that will maximize your charging speed and plug it in and forget about it. Live your life not worrying about a battery that will become irrelevant in a few years when you eventually upgrade

But.... but......... 🤣

 

[jm31828]

So far the clan has insisted on just plugging it in and forgetting about it.
I’m one of those rare individuals who actually cares about the battery because a battery replacement isn’t an option.
The thought of leaving my iPhone plugged in over night makes me cringe (because I know what’s happening to the cathode).

Just buy a $12 HomeKit compatible smart plug (TP Link at BestBuy) and set up a battery charging profile in the Shortcuts App (80 to 40 or 75 to 50). Once you figure it out (it’s really easy) you’re done with it forever and the battery will automatically charge to your set points without you ever having to think about it again.

I've read a lot of posts on this and it seems many have said that there is no real difference in battery health after a year between people who do this careful charging vs. those that just plug in and forget about it overnight.

I am one of those who wasn't really educated on all of this so I had always done the overnight charging thing- and after a year the 11 I had was still at 99%, my 12 Mini that I had for a year was still at 97%, and the 13 Pro I've had now for a year is still at 97% as well.
My wife does the same on her XS Max that she bought new when it was released (admittedly a very light user, only charges a couple times per week), and hers is still at 96%.

I would definitely not prefer to ever have to have a battery replacement done, though, so I am looking for ways to extend the life of the battery as much as possible, so I am really curious about trying a better way to manage charging without it being a hassle.

I have a smart plug that I bought last year and haven't really used it much- do you feel for battery health that 80% should really be the max, or can you do 90% without any worse outcomes?

 

[reppans]

I've read a lot of posts on this and it seems many have said that there is no real difference in battery health after a year between people who do this careful charging vs. those that just plug in and forget about it overnight.

I use an automated (smartplug) charge optimization - here’s a recalibration/rundown test after over: 3yrs, 500cycles, and 7000hrs SOT (as an only-device). Typical daily cycling routine is indicated by the two upper right graphs.

 

[Splitrail]

I am one of those who wasn't really educated on all of this so I had always done the overnight charging thing- and after a year the 11 I had was still at 99%, my 12 Mini that I had for a year was still at 97%, and the 13 Pro I've had now for a year is still at 97% as well.
My wife does the same on her XS Max that she bought new when it was released (admittedly a very light user, only charges a couple times per week), and hers is still at 96%.

That's pretty good!
What kind(s) & (wattages) of charger(s) have you been using?

 

[ValerieDurden]

I charge overnight using my Samsung 45-watt charger, optimize charging is enabled. I never let my phone go below 30% and always charge to 100% my batteries are always great after a year.

 

[jm31828]

That's pretty good!
What kind(s) & (wattages) of charger(s) have you been using?

I and my wife solely charge with the 5w chargers that came with our older phones. Never used a fast charger, and only tried wireless a couple of times, and didn't like how hot the phone got- figured that can't be good for the phone and the battery.

 

[vince22]

i used Apple 20W charger for my family iPhone 14PM, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 12PM, iPad Pro, iPad 2019.
Apple 12W for iPhone XR, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 plus, iPad mini 4.

 

[JPack]

Simple rules:

Whenever possible, don't charge to 100%. Don't drain to 0%.

Use the 80/20 rule.

 

[Fat_Guy]

Like what old days? iPhones have never had 'user-replaceable' batteries to the extent of removing a back cover and hot-swapping. They're the closest to user-replaceable they've ever been currently, with the self service repair program.

View attachment 2106180

Key word is “if” and by “old days” I mean like Blackberry and Samsung. Got a new smartphone last year with a replaceable battery.

 

[MisterSavage]

Just plug it in and don't worry about it. You can get totally wrapped around the axle on all this battery stuff. Even with the older batteries that's all I've ever done with my smartphones since 2009.

This. I use my 2018 iPad every single day and have never spent one second thinking about optimal ways to deal with charging. I do the same with my iPhones but I upgrade those regularly so there's not much weight behind that.

 

[sjperformance]

Imagine if people where this detailed about their car batteries….yikes.

 

[eyoungren]

I would definitely not prefer to ever have to have a battery replacement done, though, so I am looking for ways to extend the life of the battery as much as possible, so I am really curious about trying a better way to manage charging without it being a hassle.

Unless $80 + tax and an hour of waiting aren't affordable after several years this really is nothing.

Make your appointment, go in, hand them the phone, wait an hour, they give you the phone back and you pay. That's it.

If they break the tab that allows them to pull the battery out, you get a new phone. Otherwise, it's a brand new battery. Either way you have a 90 day warranty (or your AC+ extended by 90 days). If the battery buys the farm during that time period, they'll make good.

I had zero issues with this last year when replacing the battery in my then six year old iPhone 6s+. The only pain was the waiting an hour. But I was at a mall, so I made it a trip with the kids.

I really don't see a downside here.

 

[jm31828]

Unless $80 + tax and an hour of waiting aren't affordable after several years this really is nothing.

Make your appointment, go in, hand them the phone, wait an hour, they give you the phone back and you pay. That's it.

If they break the tab that allows them to pull the battery out, you get a new phone. Otherwise, it's a brand new battery. Either way you have a 90 day warranty (or your AC+ extended by 90 days). If the battery buys the farm during that time period, they'll make good.

I had zero issues with this last year when replacing the battery in my then six year old iPhone 6s+. The only pain was the waiting an hour. But I was at a mall, so I made it a trip with the kids.

I really don't see a downside here.

Thanks for that! Yeah, I think this is likely not a concern- either I trade my phone every 1-2 years and will never replace a battery anyway, or I keep my phone longer and spend the relatively small amount you stated for a battery replacement. Seems to make sense.

 

[iHeartsteve]

A Verizon employee told me it was bad for the battery to use my iPhone while it’s plugged in. Any truth to this?

I usually lay in bed before I fall asleep, using my iPhone while it’s charging.

 

[Splitrail]

Imagine if people where this detailed about their car batteries….yikes.

I AM! 🤣
😂😅

 

[Splitrail]

A Verizon employee told me it was bad for the battery to use my iPhone while it’s plugged in. Any truth to this?

I usually lay in bed before I fall asleep, using my iPhone while it’s charging.

i sure hope he's WRONG!

 

[JPack]

Imagine if people where this detailed about their car batteries….yikes.

Car lead acid batteries offer 2-3 times more charge cycles for the same price.

 

[Shadowbech]

A Verizon employee told me it was bad for the battery to use my iPhone while it’s plugged in. Any truth to this?

I usually lay in bed before I fall asleep, using my iPhone while it’s charging.

It’s not bad to use the phone while charging. You should be fine and shouldn’t harm the battery. I use it sometimes while it’s charging. However if it gets really warm to the touch that it’s uncomfortable to hold, then I’d stop using it. Heat is #1 worst enemy for batteries. So as long as you aren’t generating much heat you should be okay.