Other Charging wattage and long-term battery health recommendations? Also, stats!

[FeliApple]

Okay, so, I have a small quandary. I am somebody who keeps my iOS devices and my iPhones for a long time. I’m also somebody who doesn’t update iOS, and due to long-term testing, I’ve found that battery health is largely irrelevant if the device is kept on its original iOS version.

In spite of that, I’ve never really wanted to push the issue (why would you if you can avoid it, right?) so I have always tried to preserve battery health as best I could, by following three rules very, very diligently:

-Avoid heat
-Use the slowest possible charger
-Avoid wireless charging

In practice: always charge with a wired, original 5w charger.

On to my quandary:

I’ve recently upgraded to an iPhone 16 Plus. I purchased a 20w charger, and I’ve been using this for the four days I’ve had my iPhone.

The quandary happened because… this is cool! Used to the almost ridiculous slowness of my iPhone Xʀ running iOS 12, the charging speed of the 20w charger is amazing.

How much of a difference in terms of long-term battery health would a 20w charger make? We are talking years of charging, I’m not upgrading in six months or whatever.

I have already purchased a usb-c to usb-a charger to use a 5w charger (and to plug my first USB-C iPhone to my beautiful 2015 MacBook Pro), so that’s not a problem.

Any 20w long-term users who can tell me their health and cycles?

What would you do in my situation? I thought perhaps I could avoid overnight charging and charge before bedtime as the 20w charger is faster, but I fear that’s bad for health anyway.

Would you tolerate the slow charging speed if you knew you were using an iPhone for many years?

PD: I will also never replace a battery. Original batteries forever.

 

[jz0309]

Okay, so, I have a small quandary. I am somebody who keeps my iOS devices and my iPhones for a long time. I’m also somebody who doesn’t update iOS, and due to long-term testing, I’ve found that battery health is largely irrelevant if the device is kept on its original iOS version.

In spite of that, I’ve never really wanted to push the issue (why would you if you can avoid it, right?) so I have always tried to preserve battery health as best I could, by following three rules very, very diligently:

-Avoid heat
-Use the slowest possible charger
-Avoid wireless charging

In practice: always charge with a wired, original 5w charger.

On to my quandary:

I’ve recently upgraded to an iPhone 16 Plus. I purchased a 20w charger, and I’ve been using this for the four days I’ve had my iPhone.

The quandary happened because… this is cool! Used to the almost ridiculous slowness of my iPhone Xʀ running iOS 12, the charging speed of the 20w charger is amazing.

How much of a difference in terms of long-term battery health would a 20w charger make? We are talking years of charging, I’m not upgrading in six months or whatever.

I have already purchased a usb-c to usb-a charger to use a 5w charger (and to plug my first USB-C iPhone to my beautiful 2015 MacBook Pro), so that’s not a problem.

Any 20w long-term users who can tell me their health and cycles?

What would you do in my situation? I thought perhaps I could avoid overnight charging and charge before bedtime as the 20w charger is faster, but I fear that’s bad for health anyway.

Would you tolerate the slow charging speed if you knew you were using an iPhone for many years?

get AC+ and stop worrying

 

[cateye]

Oh my god not another one of these threads. Please make it stop.

Charge your phone in whatever manner makes sense or is most convenient to you. Batteries and phones are consumables designed to be used and there is little you can do, other than exposing it to extreme heat or leaving it in a discharged state for long periods of time, that will affect its life curve.

I use a Qi2 wireless charging stand every night in addition to top-up charges all the time in my car due to wired CarPlay or if I happen to set my phone on my car's wireless charging pad. iPhone 13 Pro, over 3 years old. 92% battery health. Not that I care—if it's low, I charge it. The moment the battery no longer performs up to the standards I need it to I'll replace it or the device and won't spend even a second thinking about it otherwise until that point.

 

[BenGoren]

Within rounding, nobody who owns a phone is charging it in a worrisome manner.

The battery’s performance will degrade with time and use. It’s not going to last much more than several years, no matter how you baby it. This is non-negotiable.

You have about this =><= much control over whether it reaches the end of its usable lifespan in six years as opposed to seven years. Of course, it might well die long before then — but, if it does, your choices would have made the difference in it dying in a bit over three years as opposed to a bit under four years.

And, when it does die? (Which, again, it certainly will.) Whenever that may be?

If you have AppleCare+, it’s a minor inconvenience.

If you don’t have AppleCare+, it’ll cost you about as much as it does to take the family to dinner and a movie to replace the battery.

So, really, all you have control over is how much of your time, energy, and life you spend (waste?) before the battery dies in trying to keep the battery alive as long as possible.

And, honestly … it’s just not worth it. If you want to minimize the hassle and worry, get AppleCare+. If you want to save money over the long average, self-insure. (For me, the service that AppleCare+ provides is worth far more than I pay for it, so I’m happy paying for it.)

Just use the phone. Make your life easy. Charge it however is most convenient — with an old charger you still have on your nightstand, on a fancy Art Deco magnetic stand at the office, with an external battery pack when you’re taking videos of your kids all day at the park … whatever makes your life easy.

Make the phone live for you. Don’t waste your life trying to live it for the phone.

Cheers,

b&

 

[cousintim]

My old iPad's 12W charger and a repurposed USC-A to USB-C cable work well for me.

 

[Iwavvns]

Oh my god not another one of these threads. Please make it stop.

Charge your phone in whatever manner makes sense or is most convenient to you. Batteries and phones are consumables designed to be used and there is little you can do, other than exposing it to extreme heat or leaving it in a discharged state for long periods of time, that will affect its life curve.

I use a Qi2 wireless charging stand every night in addition to top-up charges all the time in my car due to wired CarPlay or if I happen to set my phone on my car's wireless charging pad. iPhone 13 Pro, over 3 years old. 92% battery health. Not that I care—if it's low, I charge it. The moment the battery no longer performs up to the standards I need it to I'll replace it or the device and won't spend even a second thinking about it otherwise until that point.

Agreed. I have an iPhone 13 base model and it’s at 97% battery health while my iPhone 15 is at 100%. I charge both phones when they need it and don’t worry about the battery health. I think it was a mistake for Apple to add that battery health reading, it only added another point of stress for the user.

 

[James6s]

I use an Apple 20w charger, used it on my 15 Pro before I killed it and battery health dropped to 99% after about 50 charge cycles. I used a 30w charger for a while but the device got very warm bordering on hot.

My partner also uses a 20w charger on their 14 Plis which has 93% battery health after 2 years.

Currently using the 20w on my 16e and will continue to do so.

 

[kitKAC]

I think it was a mistake for Apple to add that battery health reading, it only added another point of stress for the user.

The Battery Health reading is useful, people's obsession with it and posting endless threads about their readings isn't.

 

[FeliApple]

Oh my god not another one of these threads. Please make it stop.

Charge your phone in whatever manner makes sense or is most convenient to you. Batteries and phones are consumables designed to be used and there is little you can do, other than exposing it to extreme heat or leaving it in a discharged state for long periods of time, that will affect its life curve.

I use a Qi2 wireless charging stand every night in addition to top-up charges all the time in my car due to wired CarPlay or if I happen to set my phone on my car's wireless charging pad. iPhone 13 Pro, over 3 years old. 92% battery health. Not that I care—if it's low, I charge it. The moment the battery no longer performs up to the standards I need it to I'll replace it or the device and won't spend even a second thinking about it otherwise until that point.

Within rounding, nobody who owns a phone is charging it in a worrisome manner.

The battery’s performance will degrade with time and use. It’s not going to last much more than several years, no matter how you baby it. This is non-negotiable.

You have about this =><= much control over whether it reaches the end of its usable lifespan in six years as opposed to seven years. Of course, it might well die long before then — but, if it does, your choices would have made the difference in it dying in a bit over three years as opposed to a bit under four years.

And, when it does die? (Which, again, it certainly will.) Whenever that may be?

If you have AppleCare+, it’s a minor inconvenience.

If you don’t have AppleCare+, it’ll cost you about as much as it does to take the family to dinner and a movie to replace the battery.

So, really, all you have control over is how much of your time, energy, and life you spend (waste?) before the battery dies in trying to keep the battery alive as long as possible.

And, honestly … it’s just not worth it. If you want to minimize the hassle and worry, get AppleCare+. If you want to save money over the long average, self-insure. (For me, the service that AppleCare+ provides is worth far more than I pay for it, so I’m happy paying for it.)

Just use the phone. Make your life easy. Charge it however is most convenient — with an old charger you still have on your nightstand, on a fancy Art Deco magnetic stand at the office, with an external battery pack when you’re taking videos of your kids all day at the park … whatever makes your life easy.

Make the phone live for you. Don’t waste your life trying to live it for the phone.

Cheers,

b&

I get your point, and like I said, I don’t worry about it. I KNOW not updating iOS is all I need to maintain perfect battery life.

That said, the thing is that this isn’t a massive inconvenience, I think. If it were to become one, I’d just go back to the 20w charger. I can just charge overnight, and everything would be fine even if it took 5+ hours.

We are creatures of habit, so it’s more the slight feeling of “well, I’ve been using iOS devices for 15 years and I’ve never fast charged a small-ish battery iOS device… this has always worked for me. Is this change (which does NOT inconvenience me too much) worth it?

I can always just switch back if it’s a huge annoyance (and I will).

Also, I’m a bit of a statistics fan (I like to track this), and with long-lasting iOS devices my health-to-cycles ratio has been poor even with slow charging, mostly due to my low cycle count throughout many years. My Xʀ has 356 cycles with 89% health. I’m sure that’s due to its 5.5 years of age more than anything, but if it’s already poor with a 5w charger… if it’s not a massive inconvenience, why should I push it? Like I said, too annoying? I’ll switch back.

It’s more to see how it fared for other people.

And like I said, I KNOW health is irrelevant if the device is on its original iOS version (I’ve used an iPhone 6s on iOS 10 with 60% health and battery life was like-new), but again… why push the issue if I can help it and it’s not a massive annoyance?

Who knows… perhaps @James6s number of 93% in two years (with a user who cycles it more than me… I’m assuming, but with my very low 60 cycles/year average it’s a pretty safe assumption) holds true for me and it’s fine. That said, within two years my Xʀ on iOS 12 was at 94%, with not too many cycles and 5w charging. That’s why, if I can help the issue on an iPhone which I’ll use for years and it’s not too annoying, I will.

 

[Jackbequickly]

5-10 watts is good enough for me. My series 7 is still at 100%.

 

[Cobalt Blizzard]

Most important is not to expose battery to extreme temperatures. Not worth to worry about anything else.

 

[Iwavvns]

The Battery Health reading is useful, people's obsession with it and posting endless threads about their readings isn't.

Good point. People also need to remember that both battery health and battery charge remaining are “best guess” anyway, based on electrical pressure, and will never be exact.

 

[sw1tcher]

get AC+ and stop worrying

It doesn't make any sense to pay $129 per year for AppleCare+ just in case the battery needs replacing -- it's pretty much a guarantee it won't need to be replaced within the first 2 years since Apple will refuse to replace it if battery health isn't at 80% or less -- versus paying $99 when it actually does need replacing which in all likelihood will be during year 3 or year 4 of ownership.

By year 3, you'd have paid $387 for AppleCare+ vs $99.

I know AppleCare+ covers more than just the battery. But unless you're a klutz, most people probably won't need it. I've never felt the need to buy it. I've never had an iPhone battery go below 84%... even ones I've kept and used for 5 years.

 

[BenGoren]

I KNOW not updating iOS is all I need to maintain perfect battery life.

Apple isn’t Microsoft. It’s repeatedly happened that new versions of iOS have algorithms that are logically equivalent to previous ones but take less work to calculate, thereby improving performance in general, including battery life.

For a relatable example, the famous mathematician, Friedrich Gauss, was tasked in grade school with adding all the numbers from one to 100. All the other students were busy wearing down their pencils, but young genius Gauss very quickly realized that there’s an easy way. Let n be the number you want to add up to; then the answer is n(n+1)/2. For 100, that’s (100 * 101) / 2 = 10100 / 2 = 5050.

Note: the first day or so after an update, iOS does a boatload of stuff in the background, which sucks battery, usually noticeably. After that, you’re no worse than back to normal.

As others have mentioned, the biggest thing that will kill your battery is heat, especially heat when charging. That’s bad news if you need to make road trips across the Arizona desert. If you really want to maximize your battery life, move to Ulaanbaatar.

 

[BenGoren]

It doesn't make any sense to pay $129 per year for AppleCare+ just in case the battery needs replacing -- it's pretty much a guarantee it won't need to be replaced within the first 2 years since Apple will refuse to replace it if battery health isn't at 80% or less -- versus paying $99 when it actually does need replacing which in all likelihood will be during year 3 or year 4 of ownership.

By year 3, you'd have paid $387 for AppleCare+ vs $99.

I know AppleCare+ covers more than just the battery. But unless you're a klutz, most people probably won't need it. I've never felt the need to buy it. I've never had an iPhone battery go below 84%... even ones I've kept and used for 5 years.

I had an Xs for ages. Loved the thing. Idiotically forgot to take it out of my pocket before putting it through the laundry. AppleCare had long since expired, and Apple never got around to offering it as an add-on for phones that old.

I had one requirement for its replacement: AppleCare+.

I’ve gotten … a replacement iPad Pro, Apple Watch, and probably something else. It’s paid to replace at least two laptop motherboards. And too much piddly stuff, like an Ultra watch band, to remember.

Over the long haul, I’ve probably lost money on it? Maybe? Actuarially, I would expect to.

But the convenience, the peace of mind … an argument could be made that it’s the best product Apple offers.

b&

 

[TechnoMonk]

I keep my iPhones 6-7 years, there are lot more significant factors you can’t control that deteriorate battery than baby sitting. I have AC+, and take my launch day iPhone 13 PM to sauna and steam room 4-5 days a week. If heat really degraded, it would be fed by now. I have better battery health than folks who babysit their phones. That said, expect battery deterioration to accelerate after 3.5-4 years. Time/age is one the biggest contributor to battery health.

 

[jz0309]

It doesn't make any sense to pay $129 per year for AppleCare+ just in case the battery needs replacing -- it's pretty much a guarantee it won't need to be replaced within the first 2 years since Apple will refuse to replace it if battery health isn't at 80% or less -- versus paying $99 when it actually does need replacing which in all likelihood will be during year 3 or year 4 of ownership.

By year 3, you'd have paid $387 for AppleCare+ vs $99.

I know AppleCare+ covers more than just the battery. But unless you're a klutz, most people probably won't need it. I've never felt the need to buy it. I've never had an iPhone battery go below 84%... even ones I've kept and used for 5 years.

Whether or not AC+ is worth it is an individual choice, and as you say it covers more than battery.
The obsession by the OP over battery is, well, let’s just leave it at that

 

[SBlue1]

It doesn't make any sense to pay $129 per year for AppleCare+ just in case the battery needs replacing -- it's pretty much a guarantee it won't need to be replaced within the first 2 years since Apple will refuse to replace it if battery health isn't at 80% or less -- versus paying $99 when it actually does need replacing which in all likelihood will be during year 3 or year 4 of ownership.

By year 3, you'd have paid $387 for AppleCare+ vs $99.

I know AppleCare+ covers more than just the battery. But unless you're a klutz, most people probably won't need it. I've never felt the need to buy it. I've never had an iPhone battery go below 84%... even ones I've kept and used for 5 years.

A good friend is working for an insurance company. He tells me the only insurance you really need is for situations that could seriously derail you, like liability, health, or household insurance. No need for insurance on TVs, phones, or computers. It’s cheaper to replace devices in the rare case they really break than to pay high annual fees.

 

[BenGoren]

A good friend is working for an insurance company. He tells me the only insurance you really need is for situations that could seriously derail you, like liability, health, or household insurance. No need for insurance on TVs, phones, or computers. It’s cheaper to replace devices in the rare case they really break than to pay high annual fees.

Your friend is absolutely, unquestionably correct — from a purely financial perspective.

As, of course, it absolutely must be. The insurance companies have to make a profit, so you know immediately that the amount they pay out in total / on average is less than the amount they charge in total / on average.

But!

The calculation considers only the monetary value of the objects being insured.

Once you include the personal value of the service provided by the insurance company, the calculation can dramatically change.

For a big home / auto / life insurance company, the “value-add” for services is negligible. Indeed, horror stories about people trying to get claims paid tells suggests it might even be negative. I’m sure the corporate boards view it as a necessary but unwanted expense.

But, for AppleCare+ … well, you actually really truly do get really good service.

Which is why I pay for it.

b&

 

[SBlue1]

Your friend is absolutely, unquestionably correct — from a purely financial perspective.

As, of course, it absolutely must be. The insurance companies have to make a profit, so you know immediately that the amount they pay out in total / on average is less than the amount they charge in total / on average.

But!

The calculation considers only the monetary value of the objects being insured.

Once you include the personal value of the service provided by the insurance company, the calculation can dramatically change.

For a big home / auto / life insurance company, the “value-add” for services is negligible. Indeed, horror stories about people trying to get claims paid tells suggests it might even be negative. I’m sure the corporate boards view it as a necessary but unwanted expense.

But, for AppleCare+ … well, you actually really truly do get really good service.

Which is why I pay for it.

b&

And I guess it also makes a difference if you are in Europe where you got a warranty or if you are from the US.

 

[BenGoren]

And I guess it also makes a difference if you are in Europe where you got a warranty or if you are from the US.

Ah — good point, but you actually make it for me.

First, yes, no question: consumer protection in the States is miserable compared with Europe. And, with the CFPB under existential assault from President Musk, it’s not getting any better.

But that’s entirely orthogonal to why I recommend AppleCare+.

I’m not familiar with Europe’s minimum standards for warranty protection, but I’d be shocked if Apple’s standard warranty in the States was anything less. I’d bet you a cup of coffee it’s plenty better than the European minimum requirements.

But that’s not why you want AppleCare+.

The full reason is in the full name … “AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss Protection.” My beloved old iPhone Xs? That I put through the washing machine? Apple didn’t yet have AppleCare+ when I bought the Xs … but, if I do the same thing today to the 13 mini I replaced it with, it’ll be covered by AppleCare+. Even though it’s at least a few years old, and “washing machine” is emphatically not “normal and expected use and conditions.” I’ll have to pay something out of pocket for a replacement, but nowhere near full price — and it also won’t amount to much more than a minor inconvenience to get the replacement.

That’s not something that you get with a standard European warranty. Even in Europe, you’d still have to pay for that sort of service.

b&

 

[TechnoMonk]

A good friend is working for an insurance company. He tells me the only insurance you really need is for situations that could seriously derail you, like liability, health, or household insurance. No need for insurance on TVs, phones, or computers. It’s cheaper to replace devices in the rare case they really break than to pay high annual fees.

Depends on use. I travel a lot and the way people throw around bins in the airports can make your devices fly. I had some one tank my MBP going through security. That’s 2-3 K right there. If you are in controlled environment, you don’t need to worry.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Okay, so, I have a small quandary. I am somebody who keeps my iOS devices and my iPhones for a long time. I’m also somebody who doesn’t update iOS, and due to long-term testing, I’ve found that battery health is largely irrelevant if the device is kept on its original iOS version.

In spite of that, I’ve never really wanted to push the issue (why would you if you can avoid it, right?) so I have always tried to preserve battery health as best I could, by following three rules very, very diligently:

-Avoid heat
-Use the slowest possible charger
-Avoid wireless charging

In practice: always charge with a wired, original 5w charger.

On to my quandary:

I’ve recently upgraded to an iPhone 16 Plus. I purchased a 20w charger, and I’ve been using this for the four days I’ve had my iPhone.

The quandary happened because… this is cool! Used to the almost ridiculous slowness of my iPhone Xʀ running iOS 12, the charging speed of the 20w charger is amazing.

How much of a difference in terms of long-term battery health would a 20w charger make? We are talking years of charging, I’m not upgrading in six months or whatever.

I have already purchased a usb-c to usb-a charger to use a 5w charger (and to plug my first USB-C iPhone to my beautiful 2015 MacBook Pro), so that’s not a problem.

Any 20w long-term users who can tell me their health and cycles?

What would you do in my situation? I thought perhaps I could avoid overnight charging and charge before bedtime as the 20w charger is faster, but I fear that’s bad for health anyway.

Would you tolerate the slow charging speed if you knew you were using an iPhone for many years?

PD: I will also never replace a battery. Original batteries forever.

I only use the 5w usb-a to usb-c charging method and don't let my device get below 35-40% and never charge over 80-85%. My 15PM was purchased the day after release and still shows 100% capacity (apple and coconut battery). I can make it through the entire day no issues with this charge but if on the rare occasion I need more juice I'll let it go to 95-100%

 

[FeliApple]

I only use the 5w usb-a to usb-c charging method and don't let my device get below 35-40% and never charge over 80-85%. My 15PM was purchased the day after release and still shows 100% capacity (apple and coconut battery). I can make it through the entire day no issues with this charge but if on the rare occasion I need more juice I'll let it go to 95-100%

Just curious, cycle count?

I’m leaning towards this option tbh, even though I won’t suffer the effects of battery health degradation doesn’t mean I can’t take a little care of it if it doesn’t bother me.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Just curious, cycle count?

I’m leaning towards this option tbh, even though I won’t suffer the effects of battery health degradation doesn’t mean I can’t take a little care of it if it doesn’t bother me.

Just shy of 200 (196)