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iPhone 15 Pro Max Charging everyday or every other day?

FridgeToaster

FridgeToaster

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 13, 2018
55
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I don't use my phone much, so I usually get through my day with 60%-70% battery left when charged full. So I have two options for charging:
1) Set charging limit to 80%, charge everyday
2) No charging limit (but with optimized battery charging switched on), charge every other day
Which one is better? I use a MagSafe charger, no wired charging. Thanks!
 
Your minimal usage is similar to mine. My 21 month old 13 mini gets manually charged daily during my morning routine, wired, Apple 35 watt charger, and it's usually around 90% when I unplug it, but often 100%, and my battery health still shows 100%. Your battery is large enough that I would just go with option one for simplicity.
 
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Once the battery is below 40% I charge the phone, depending on usage it can be 1-3 days between charges.

Also the Optimized Battery Charging is enabled, and I use automation to start Low Power Mode bellow 40%.
 
Phone is unlocked at bedtime, goes on charger, alarms are set and my clock app is opened. Screen stays on all night with phone on charger. Typically I will go to bed with the phone having reached around 75% of battery. Optimised charging is on.

I've done this since my first smartphone in May 2009 and with every phone thereafter. I've never had an issue and my phone has always been fully charged in the morning. Additionally, if there is some sort of emergency in the night my phone is on and it's unlocked.

For those who might be thinking "Oh, he sleeps with his phone", my phone goes sits on a wire frame business card holder that sits on a glass-topped desk about two feet away from me. It's in the path of the air conditioning as well.
 
For all lithium batteries in all devices (or vehicles) the deeper the discharge between charging, the more stress it puts on the battery.

Example:
A lithium battery (or iPhone) that is kept at a charge level between 80% to 50% will have a much longer ultimate lifespan (in years) than if it were kept at a charge level between 100% to 20%. Or even 80% to 20%.

Bottom line. Several small charges are a lot easier on the battery than fewer big ones.
 
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now i see it said:
For all lithium batteries in all devices (or vehicles) the deeper the discharge between charging, the more stress it puts on the battery.

Example:
A lithium battery (or iPhone) that is kept at a charge level between 80% to 50% will have a much longer ultimate lifespan (in years) than if it were kept at a charge level between 100% to 20%. Or even 80% to 20%.

Bottom line. Several small charges are a lot easier on the battery than fewer big ones.
Click to expand...
While this is true I never bothered doing anything special with my charging method even doing the infamous bad things of charging the phone during the night or using wireless charging and yet I never had a problem keeping my batteries healthy for years.
I play with my phone, use it as a hotspot for hours some days and yet after 3 years my battery is at 90%.

And if I planned to keep my phone for 10 years then I would simply have to change the battery once around the 5 years mark when the battery goes to 80% capacity.

I think some people are just over thinking things or making there life way more complicated for little gains
 
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Charge it when it needs it. I keep mine between 20 and 80%, which apparently is good for battery health.
 
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FridgeToaster said:
I don't use my phone much, so I usually get through my day with 60%-70% battery left when charged full. So I have two options for charging:
1) Set charging limit to 80%, charge everyday
2) No charging limit (but with optimized battery charging switched on), charge every other day
Which one is better? I use a MagSafe charger, no wired charging. Thanks!
Click to expand...
OS versions and battery tech are constantly evolving. The fact that Apple wrote code for Optimized Battery Charging is enough rationale for me to simply use Optimized Battery Charging whenever feasible.
 
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Wow I need to charge my 15PM everyday (being on iOS 18 beta)
I am not sure what’s better, charge between 40-80% and over the day charge a little bit so I get 10-20%+ - or charge every night to 100% „optimized charging“ and still need to charge over the day…
What you think guys?
 
I charge my phone every two or three days. If it’s charged to about 90-95% when I need it then fine. But it happens that it gets left to charge to 100%.

I usually charge it when it’s around 20-30%. Rarely do I let it get below 20%.
 
I charge it to 100% then drain completely then charge again to 100%

Since on some days I rarely use it, it takes about 3 days before the next full charge...

Optimized battery charging is enabled and only charging via cable...

No charge limit - iPhone 13 Pro iOS 17.6
 
Last edited:
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I have the optimized charging on (not the iPhones 15 version, just the pleb version) and just charge whenever.

I've tried to micromanage it or follow a routine. But that only lasts a few days or so before something much more important happens that immediately breaks the chain.

I'm fine with all the things that you can toggle on and have it be automated.

But I'm definitely not convinced that it'll make a major difference or drastically extend the time before I need the battery replace.

In my opinion, only a (comparatively) big battery and a smartphone(iPhone) that's well-optimized for draining as little battery as possible when the display is on and the device is being used is what makes the difference.
 
I have had Optimized Battery Charging on since launch day. I use a Mophie 45w brick at night and charge whenever I feel I need to. My 15PM battery capacity is 88%. I do have AppleCare+ and I’ll get a battery replacement when I hit under 80%. I do have automation set to turn Low Power Mode on once my battery hit 30%.
 
Setting the charging limit to 80% is preferable. Keeping the battery between about 30% and 80% maximizes its life. The most damaging is to let it run empty. Despite the limit, iOS will still occasionally charge to 100% in order to correctly determine the battery capacity.
 
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You never know when you’re going to need more juice, so I’d charge it every day. Maybe for that long drive using CarPlay or to video that important once in a lifetime event.

It’s like fuel for your car. If you drive it down to below 1/4 tank every other day, the day will come when you’re stuck in heavy traffic and run out on the highway.
 
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I have Optimized Charging set to on, but otherwise I just charge my phone whenever I am near a charger and it's convenient. When my battery doesn't hold enough of a charge anymore, however long down the road that is, I'll just have the battery replaced.
 
I always put my iPhone 15 Pro on wireless charge every night. On somedays, where it has barely been used, it might still be a 70% at the end of the day. Other days, where it has been used for golf shot tracking, it might barely make it.
 
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