Is it harmful to keep iPhone always plugged in to save battery cycles?

[Aneef]

Hey there,

I purchased my iPhone 7 plus last November and currently its battery is down to 93.4% and 240 charge cycles.
I needed to ask that in order to prolong the battery life (as in long-life of battery), is it advisable to keep the iPhone always (or most of the time, like currently I am at 100% battery but still have my iPhone plugged in to my Mac) plugged in to decrease the number of charge cycles?

 

[0007776]

I don't think it would be harmful, it stops charging when full. But if you are leaving it plugged in all the time why not save money and just get a landline?

 

[Aneef]

I don't think it would be harmful, it stops charging when full. But if you are leaving it plugged in all the time why not save money and just get a landline?

No I won't be leaving it all day though, but when I'm let's say browsing on my computer and my phone is sitting there idle so I just thought that why not connect it to laptop so that it charges meanwhile and doesn't drop battery on idle.
Currently I'm in office and I'll be sitting here for like 8 hours, so during this time I have it connected to the computer. When I return to home I normally have 40% left on the battery, this way I'll have 100%

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

I believe so even though everyone will disagree with me.

I charge it to 100%, leave it plugged in for another 10min then unplug it.

Conclusion: after 3 years, my iPhone 6 has a battery wear of only 6%

 

[joeblow7777]

I’d say, just use the phone and not worry about it. Your battery should last years with normal use before it degrades noticeably.

 

[44267547]

As others have noted, everybody treats their iPhones differently with charging cycles. When my iPhone is not being used, I typically have it on the charger if applicable. That's my regiment, but everyone will vary.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Not harmful unless it gets too hot. So if you have it charging while navigating on a hot day on the dashboard, it will decrease battery life.

If you maintain the optimal temp, then no. Keeping it plugged in won’t harm it.

 

[bambooshots]

I’d say, just use the phone and not worry about it. Your battery should last years with normal use before it degrades noticeably.

If he’s a normal user, the figure may be only a year and a half to two years.

IIRC Apple states the batteries are guaranteed to hold 80% charge after 500 charge/discharge cycles for the iPhone.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Use you phone and enjoy the technology. What are you saving it for? Use it and charge it while sleeping.

 

[Nozuka]

i think it won't hurt the battery. my macbook is on the charger most of the time and still has 88% capacity after 5 years.

 

[Hey Now]

Lithium ion batteries don’t like to spend excessive amounts of time in a completely charged or completely discharged state. When storing them for extended periods, it’s generally recommended they be stored somewhere around mid-capacity (the exact percentage differs in various sources I’ve found). Keeping a lithium ion topped off at 100% to reduce cycle-related stress is false economy, because it then experiences the stress of being continuously fully charged - which it wouldn’t have otherwise experienced had it been cycled normally.

My personal practice with my devices and lithium ion flashlight batteries is to charge and use the batteries as needed, avoiding excessive time at 100% or 0%, and most critically, avoiding hot temperatures for any period of time. Leaving a lithium ion in a hot car is the worst thing you can do if you want to maximize your battery longevity.

 

[eyoungren]

Since 2009 when I got my first smartphone every phone I have owned has been plugged in at night and served as a nightstand clock and alarm.

So, roughly eight hours of being plugged in with the screen on.

Here where my 6s+ is after two years.

 

[Catul]

Conclusion: after 3 years, my iPhone 6 has a battery wear of only 6%

What app are you using to display this information (charge cycles etc)?

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

If he’s a normal user, the figure may be only a year and a half to two years.

IIRC Apple states the batteries are guaranteed to hold 80% charge after 500 charge/discharge cycles for the iPhone.

This is in line with my personal experience. I checked the battery stats on my 6s Plus a couple of days ago and the battery was at 85% with 497 charge cycles. I've had the phone since February 2016.

 

[akash.nu]

I believe so even though everyone will disagree with me.

I charge it to 100%, leave it plugged in for another 10min then unplug it.

Conclusion: after 3 years, my iPhone 6 has a battery wear of only 6%

View attachment 721197

Unless you’re on iOS 9, that app data is not valid. Since iOS 10 Apple has stopped the APIs that expose system data.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

What app are you using to display this information (charge cycles etc)?

Just search Battery Life on the App sotre, there's a few app that can give you that battery wear information, you can delete the app after. It's only a few MB

 

[ventmore]

Unless you’re on iOS 9, that app data is not valid. Since iOS 10 Apple has stopped the APIs that expose system data.

I thought I remembered reading that they’d stopped apps accessing that data reliably. It seemed a little suspect when I tried one of the battery apps from the store the other day and it said my iPhone 7+, which I got 2 weeks after launch, had 0% battery wear.

 

[MrX8503]

I would let it drain down once in a while. For normal usage you should charge it when it hits 50%

 

[Patrick3949]

Use you phone and enjoy the technology. What are you saving it for? Use it and charge it while sleeping.

Yes I charge my phone in night everyday and I don't have problem with battery

 

[akash.nu]

I would let it drain down once in a while. For normal usage you should charge it when it hits 50%

Definitely not required.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I would let it drain down once in a while. For normal usage you should charge it when it hits 50%

That is just plain wrong.

Apple intended for us to charge it anytime. Basically too many worry about the battery when it will take care of itself. Just charge at night while sleeping and repeat daily.

 

[dumastudetto]

We all buy new iPhones every year anyway so why worry?

 

[MrX8503]

Definitely not required.

That is just plain wrong.

Apple intended for us to charge it anytime. Basically too many worry about the battery when it will take care of itself. Just charge at night while sleeping and repeat daily.

Apple does implement safeguards so you can use it any way you want, but that’s the optimal usage for lithium batteries.

For long storage, you also want to store at 50%

 

[ABC5S]

What app are you using to display this information (charge cycles etc)?

Also interested in the app he is using. I know about other apps but I like to know about where you get this one and what the name of it is

 

[bufffilm]

We all buy new iPhones every year anyway so why worry?

Correction: Some of us buy new iPhones every year.

Neither I nor my three siblings (and their families) buy new phones every year.