Question about iPhone 16 Plus Battery Charging to 90% for Better Battery Health?

[marcusalwayswins]

Hi Everyone,

I’ve just purchased the new iPhone 16 Plus, and since I’m completely new to the iOS ecosystem, I had a quick question about charging limit? .

I’ve heard that keeping the battery charging limit set to 90% (using the new Charging limit feature in Settings) supposedly helps preserve the battery’s health in the long run.

Is there any truth to this?

Does charging only up to 90% actually make a noticeable difference to battery longevity, or is it more of a myth?

Would really appreciate insights or experiences from long-time iPhone users!

Thanks in advance.

 

[MacCheetah3]

It’s not a myth, although most people oversimplify and take it out of context. Optimize charging and charge limits are primarily for use cases in which the device spends a significant or most (more so than not) time connected to a charger. If you’re routinely using (i.e., discharging) and (re)charging the device/battery, stopping short of any percentage is negligible at best in affecting degradation.

Some examples:

• Using a smartphone as a GPS connected to a USB charging port.
• Having your iPhone on a MagSafe charging stand as an always on display (e.g., notifications, reminders)
• Using a MacBook as a primarily desktop replacement, connected to a dock or other power source the vast majority of time.

If a battery-equipped device is to remain stored or connected to external power source for long periods, ~50% state-of-charge is best, 60-80% are good compromises.

Lastly:

Avoid extreme ambient temperatures.​

Your device is designed to perform well in a wide range of ambient temperatures, with 62° to 72° F (16° to 22° C) as the ideal comfort zone. It’s especially important to avoid exposing your device to ambient temperatures higher than 95° F (35° C), which can permanently damage battery capacity. That is, your battery won’t power your device as long on a given charge. Charging the device in high ambient temperatures can damage it further. Software may limit charging above 80% when the recommended battery temperatures are exceeded. Even storing a battery in a hot environment can damage it irreversibly. When using your device in a very cold environment, you may notice a decrease in battery life, but this condition is temporary. Once the battery’s temperature returns to its normal operating range, its performance will return to normal as well.

Batteries - Maximizing Performance

Maximize the life and lifespan of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in your MacBook, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

www.apple.com

Related:

iPhone battery and performance - Apple Support

Understand iPhone performance and its relation to your battery.

support.apple.com

P.S. I’ve only had two batteries swell in three decades. Both instances occurred after leaving the batteries at a high(er) charge level with only sporadic usage.