Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 7 Battery maintenance

K

kevinbeared

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 27, 2015
63
187
Hi all,

I just received my new iPhone 7.

Ten years ago, it was recommended to discharge enterly our battery at least once a week to keep battery life at maximum and it was really not good to let it connected all the time, now it is recommended to charge it when you can to avoid using cycle for nothing.

I was wondering, as i work on computer, and don't need my iPhone when i go around the office, wouldn't it be better for my iPhone to let it connected for charge all day, than using a cycle during this day where its doesn't really need it ?

Sorry for poor english !


Thanks
 
kevinbeared said:
Hi all,

I just received my new iPhone 7.

Ten years ago, it was recommended to discharge enterly our battery at least once a week to keep battery life at maximum and it was really not good to let it connected all the time, now it is recommended to charge it when you can to avoid using cycle for nothing.

I was wondering, as i work on computer, and don't need my iPhone when i go around the office, wouldn't it be better for my iPhone to let it connected for charge all day, than using a cycle during this day where its doesn't really need it ?

Sorry for poor english !


Thanks
Click to expand...

If you want to avoid cycles, leaving it plugged in will avoid that.

Leaving plugged in will not harm your battery as it will quit charging when full and when it drops a little it will charge again.

If you just charge your device while sleeping everyday, the battery will last longer than you will want to keep the phone.

Best to not worry and just use your phone as Apple has put a lot of technology into it so you do not need to worry.

Enjoy you new phone!:apple:
 
  • Like
Reactions: david.calvo.756, Rina11, BigMcGuire and 1 other person
Honestly, it doesn't really matter what you do. Aside from physical stresses including exposure to extreme temperatures, no normal charging and discharging should have a significant negative effect on the life span of your battery.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jshtroutman, CreamEggBear and ABC5S
I know that I used to run down my battery once a month and then let it fully charge. Most of the time I forget to do that anymore. Like the others suggested, just use your phone on a daily basis as Apple intended. As long as you don't expose your phone to extreme temperatures, you should be okay.
 
Like others have said, avoiding exposure to extreme temps will help preserve battery life. I think it is mostly heat that damages batteries.

The recommendations from website Ars Technica were to exercise the battery daily with shallow discharges, and to avoid deep discharges when possible.
 
I run down my batteries fairly often as it keeps the software percentage meter calibrated. There is a built in circuit to prevent full depletion.
 
sunking101 said:
I run down my batteries fairly often as it keeps the software percentage meter calibrated. There is a built in circuit to prevent full depletion.
Click to expand...

se1000 said:
Deep discharges are not good for modern lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries. Top off when you can to preserve battery longevity.
Click to expand...

Both these comments are true I believe and they both contradict each other slightly.

My own opinion from what I've read is it's best not to let your battery discharge too low (say below 20%) too often but it won't hurt if you do it now and then as it should be protected from depleating so much that it damages it and a full 100% to 1% discharge is good for calibration. For maximum lifespan of the battery though shallow discharges are better on a more daily basis.
 
sunking101 said:
I run down my batteries fairly often as it keeps the software percentage meter calibrated. There is a built in circuit to prevent full depletion.
Click to expand...

I don't think there is a software calibration, the battery itself communicate its percentage
 
I think today's Apple devices are so good in terms of batteries that you really don't have to do anything in particular to keep them alive. Besides, battery service can be had at an Apple service location as well which usually only affects those of us who keep their devices longer than the majority who swap after two years to a new device.
 
Newtons Apple said:
If you want to avoid cycles, leaving it plugged in will avoid that.

Leaving plugged in will not harm your battery as it will quit charging when full and when it drops a little it will charge again.

If you just charge your device while sleeping everyday, the battery will last longer than you will want to keep the phone.

Best to not worry and just use your phone as Apple has put a lot of technology into it so you do not need to worry.

Enjoy you new phone!:apple:
Click to expand...
Do you have any documentation that the iPhone/iPad bypasses the battery when plugged in?

If that isn't the case then you are not "saving" any cycles.
 
WashupDawg said:
Do you have any documentation that the iPhone/iPad bypasses the battery when plugged in?

If that isn't the case then you are not "saving" any cycles.
Click to expand...

OK I will play.

I did not say the battery is bypassed. Phone uses the battery no matter plugged in or not.

If you use your phone off the charger you will use more cycles in a shorter period of time.

If your phone stays on the charger all day, the charger will only kick in when the battery get below like 97% and quits charging when it reaches 100%. Depending on what you phone uses while on the charger and idle, it would take days to reach a full cycle where if unplugged you could run your phone to empty and charge it, using a full cycle.

Do not need documentation as I have observed this on my iPhones for years now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HEK and BigMcGuire
WashupDawg said:
Do you have any documentation that the iPhone/iPad bypasses the battery when plugged in?

If that isn't the case then you are not "saving" any cycles.
Click to expand...

It is well known that iOS and macOS devices charge to 100% then stop charging. Once the device reaches 95% or (99% as indicated by iOS/macOS) They charge back up to 100%. This happens all night long depending on how much standby battery drain you have.

OP. Keeping your battery between 20% and 80% is the healthiest for it. Under 20% and above 80% puts strain on the battery that degrades it over time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: addamas and BigMcGuire
Mlrollin91 said:
OP. Keeping your battery between 20% and 80% is the healthiest for it. Under 20% and above 80% puts strain on the battery that degrades it over time.
Click to expand...

I recall someone in another thread saying they never charged their battery past 90% unless they absolutely needed that extra 10% on a particular day.

Even after several years their maximum battery capacity was still close to the rated capacity when new out of box.
 
Retired Cat said:
I recall someone in another thread saying they never charged their battery past 90% unless they absolutely needed that extra 10% on a particular day.

Even after several years their maximum battery capacity was still close to the rated capacity when new out of box.
Click to expand...

I've heard the same thing. Unfortunately my OCD prevents me from doing that. But I never let it drop below 20.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire
Retired Cat said:
I recall someone in another thread saying they never charged their battery past 90% unless they absolutely needed that extra 10% on a particular day.

Even after several years their maximum battery capacity was still close to the rated capacity when new out of box.
Click to expand...

It would be a great features to add that the phone charge everytime at 80%, and then you have an option to charge it at 100% with the warning that doing this a lot will harm the battery and to use it when you will need it, but doing it a few times by month will do nothing !
 
kevinbeared said:
It would be a great features to add that the phone charge everytime at 80%, and then you have an option to charge it at 100% with the warning that doing this a lot will harm the battery and to use it when you will need it, but doing it a few times by month will do nothing !
Click to expand...

Thing is, this thread contains no proof that charging an Apple device past 80 percent does anything bad to the battery. I have a lot of Apple devices and that includes lots of iPods and iOS units. They never needed particular babying when it came to the battery.
So unless we see some test of sorts that confirms that charging a modern Apple device past a certain point is bad, I will file these claims as anecdotal, at best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Newtons Apple
ericwn said:
Thing is, this thread contains no proof that charging an Apple device past 80 percent does anything bad to the battery. I have a lot of Apple devices and that includes lots of iPods and iOS units. They never needed particular babying when it came to the battery.
So unless we see some test of sorts that confirms that charging a modern Apple device past a certain point is bad, I will file these claims as anecdotal, at best.
Click to expand...

The best thing we have right now is this page

http://www.apple.com/batteries/why-lithium-ion/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back