Other Tips to Maximizing Battery Health

[Banglazed]

Lithium-ion batteries provide the best performance because they can last longer and charge more efficiently. As such, I believe users should be more informed on how to properly charge their device. There are many misconception on how to properly charge our iPhone or iPad.

These batteries can deliver 100% of its original capacity during the first year. However, Apple guarantees the battery will maintain 80% of its original capacity after 500 charge for iPhone, 1000 cycles for iPad and MacBook within the warranty period with free battery replacement.

The problem with battery degrading over time is due to us, users, who contribute to the chemical aging of the battery over time from heavy use by increasing the rate of discharge, fast charging by increasing heat in the device and constantly charging the device from 0-100%. These factors have one thing in common, heat rapidly degrades the battery than charge cycles. As such, the ideal temperature is 62° to 72° F (16° to 22° C).

Tips:
1. Keep device at room temperature.
2. Minimize excessive screen brightness that may contribute to heat
3. Keeping stored device at least 50% charged
3. Charge with OEM parts or MFI and without any heat conductive cases.
4. Minimize fast charge to only quick juice
5. Maintain partial discharge and charge within between 10-80%.
6. Avoid full discharge but allow a full charge once in awhile to re-calibrate the battery
7. Turning device off once in awhile can increase performance than letting the device fully discharge
8. Enable low power mode (may throttle) to extend battery life during that period
9. Avoid overnight charge
10. Turn off features you rarely use or have no need (Background App Refresh, Airdrop, True Tone, Raise to Wake etc)

Short version: As for myself, I maintain my charge between 5-80% with the best battery experience.

Give it a try and let me know if it improve your battery or not!

Sources:
https://www.apple.com/batteries/
https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/
https://www.apple.com/batteries/service-and-recycling/
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-.../#and-unplug-your-phone-once-it-reaches-100-7

 

[Seth Matthews]

Lithium-ion batteries provide the best performance because they can last longer and charge more efficiently. As such, I believe users should be more informed on how to properly charge their device. There are many misconception on how to properly charge our iPhone or iPad.

These batteries can deliver 100% of its original capacity during the first year. However, Apple guarantees the battery will maintain 80% of its original capacity after 500 charge for iPhone, 1000 cycles for iPad and MacBook within the warranty period with free battery replacement.

The problem with battery degrading over time is due to us, users, who contribute to the chemical aging of the battery over time from heavy use by increasing the rate of discharge, fast charging by increasing heat in the device and constantly charging the device from 0-100%. These factors have one thing in common, heat rapidly degrades the battery than charge cycles. As such, the ideal temperature is 62° to 72° F (16° to 22° C).

Tips:
1. Keep device at room temperature.
2. Minimize excessive screen brightness that may contribute to heat
3. Keeping stored device at least 50% charged
3. Charge with OEM parts or MFI and without any heat conductive cases.
4. Minimize fast charge to only quick juice
5. Maintain partial discharge and charge within between 10-80%.
6. Avoid full discharge but allow a full charge once in awhile to re-calibrate the battery
7. Turning device off once in awhile can increase performance than letting the device fully discharge
8. Enable low power mode (may throttle) to extend battery life during that period
9. Avoid overnight charge
10. Turn off features you rarely use or have no need (Background App Refresh, Airdrop, True Tone, Raise to Wake etc)

Short version: As for myself, I maintain my charge between 5-80% with the best battery experience.

Give it a try and let me know if it improve your battery or not!

Sources:
https://www.apple.com/batteries/
https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/
https://www.apple.com/batteries/service-and-recycling/
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-.../#and-unplug-your-phone-once-it-reaches-100-7

#9 is total crap. There is no negative to charging overnight. None.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

All good advice except I think #1 is unpractical and #9 is not an issue. The phone stops charging when it reaches 100%..

 

[C DM]

Charging overnight shouldn't really result in something that needs to be avoided.

Not sure about the whole part about turning the device off once in a while increasing performance in relation to battery life.

Also the part about discharging and changing fully once in a while to recalibrate, it doesn't really recalibrate the battery but can recalibrate the meter that measures how full the battery is. That said, seems like while Apple had some information about that some time ago, they no longer mention it.

 

[JPack]

#9 is total crap. There is no negative to charging overnight. None.

It keeps the batteries within the 80/20 rule. Ideally, you don't want to perform a full charge or a full discharge. You'll gain more cycles out of the battery.

Tesla for example, recommends to only daily charge to 90% capacity. Charge to 100% only when needed for long trips.

 

[Applejuiced]

Don't update your iOS version

 

[Jimmy James]

Are you kidding me? I'm going to be sure that my 6 month old phone needs a new battery at the reduced price by the end of this year. I'm playing within their rules.

 

[dazz87]

Don't update your iOS version

/thread

 

[PBz]

It keeps the batteries within the 80/20 rule. Ideally, you don't want to perform a full charge or a full discharge. You'll gain more cycles out of the battery.

Tesla for example, recommends to only daily charge to 90% capacity. Charge to 100% only when needed for long trips.

While I do charge overnight... can confirm the Tesla thing. It’s actually a setting that prevents charge getting to 100%.

 

[Newtons Apple]

The OP will spend most his time worrying about his battery. What a waste, just use your phone and enjoy the technology. You will replace it every 1 to 2 years so it all makes no difference.

 

[Julien]

• Charge to 80% cut off iPhone and place in 72º low humidity environment.
• About once a month charge battery back to 80% and cut off and place in 72º low humidity environment.
• Battery should last about 10 to 15 years.

 

[Seth Matthews]

It keeps the batteries within the 80/20 rule. Ideally, you don't want to perform a full charge or a full discharge. You'll gain more cycles out of the battery.

Tesla for example, recommends to only daily charge to 90% capacity. Charge to 100% only when needed for long trips.

Show me proof that charging overnight damages the iPhone battery. Not what someone says or recommends...show me tests that can be repeated and offer the same result.

 

[Gryfter]

Show me proof that charging overnight damages the iPhone battery. Not what someone says or recommends...show me tests that can be repeated and offer the same result.

Its not about damaging, its about prolonging the battery for those who dont upgrade their phones every 1-2 years.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

Have fun reading!!!

 

[pgoelz]

Show me proof that charging overnight damages the iPhone battery. Not what someone says or recommends...show me tests that can be repeated and offer the same result.

First of all, EVERYTHING degrades a lithium cell. Time, temperature, charging, discharging. Lithium cells start degrading the moment they are manufactured and continue to degrade until they are recycled. But time spent at 100% charge and time spent near 0% charge are particularly damaging. What the OP is trying to minimize by avoiding an overnight charge is time spent being forcibly held at 100% charge. Since none of us have access to actual datasheets, the impact on cell service life from being held at 100% charge (say) 8 hours per day is difficult to quantify.

In addition to being a long time cellphone and laptop user and a retired electrical engineer, I also have been flying electric model aircraft for a couple decades and in that capacity as well as professionally, I have looked more closely at the characteristics of lithium cells than a casual user. I was particularly surprised (when I finally DID get my hands on a real datasheet) at the rate of degradation vs. cell voltage, which started increasing slightly BEFORE 100% charge (4.2V/cell) and continued to increase exponentially at and beyond 4.2V/cell. The increase in degradation with increasing voltage was such that even small calibration issues with the charge circuitry could noticeably increase cell degradation.

Over the years I have adopted a use protocol for my aircraft batteries where I store them between 20% and 80% charged. I never keep them fully charged for more than a couple hours. This simple protocol has dramatically increased the service life of my lithium cells and it is applicable to phone batteries as well. If you talk to the electric vehicle manufacturers you will find they do the same thing to minimize cell degradation.

Probably more than you want to know, but there IS some logic behind much of the OP's guidelines. How practical it is depends on the individual user.

Paul

 

[PBz]

Use it. Charge it. Repeat.

 

[metsjetsfan]

So sounds like basically don't use your phone at all. Or spend half your waking life worrying about your battery and get maybe 50 more cycles out of it- thats diminishing returns.

Would it be better to just do whatever and get a new battery or phone if needed?

Even if you did all those things its no guarantee you would have helped your battery. It definitely increases your chances but it doesn't guarantee anything, I feel that battery chemistry is not an exact science(am not trained or certified expert).

 

[Seth Matthews]

First of all, EVERYTHING degrades a lithium cell. Time, temperature, charging, discharging. Lithium cells start degrading the moment they are manufactured and continue to degrade until they are recycled. But time spent at 100% charge and time spent near 0% charge are particularly damaging. What the OP is trying to minimize by avoiding an overnight charge is time spent being forcibly held at 100% charge. Since none of us have access to actual datasheets, the impact on cell service life from being held at 100% charge (say) 8 hours per day is difficult to quantify.

In addition to being a long time cellphone and laptop user and a retired electrical engineer, I also have been flying electric model aircraft for a couple decades and in that capacity as well as professionally, I have looked more closely at the characteristics of lithium cells than a casual user. I was particularly surprised (when I finally DID get my hands on a real datasheet) at the rate of degradation vs. cell voltage, which started increasing slightly BEFORE 100% charge (4.2V/cell) and continued to increase exponentially at and beyond 4.2V/cell. The increase in degradation with increasing voltage was such that even small calibration issues with the charge circuitry could noticeably increase cell degradation.

Over the years I have adopted a use protocol for my aircraft batteries where I store them between 20% and 80% charged. I never keep them fully charged for more than a couple hours. This simple protocol has dramatically increased the service life of my lithium cells and it is applicable to phone batteries as well. If you talk to the electric vehicle manufacturers you will find they do the same thing to minimize cell degradation.

Probably more than you want to know, but there IS some logic behind much of the OP's guidelines. How practical it is depends on the individual user.

Paul

Interesting. However, I have been charging my iPhones overnight for years, and I have never had to get a new battery and have never had any issues with my phones. So, real world, it doesn't matter.

 

[eyoungren]

Tips:
1. Keep device at room temperature.
2. Minimize excessive screen brightness that may contribute to heat
3. Keeping stored device at least 50% charged
3. Charge with OEM parts or MFI and without any heat conductive cases.
4. Minimize fast charge to only quick juice
5. Maintain partial discharge and charge within between 10-80%.
6. Avoid full discharge but allow a full charge once in awhile to re-calibrate the battery
7. Turning device off once in awhile can increase performance than letting the device fully discharge
8. Enable low power mode (may throttle) to extend battery life during that period
9. Avoid overnight charge
10. Turn off features you rarely use or have no need (Background App Refresh, Airdrop, True Tone, Raise to Wake etc)

1. I live in Phoenix, Arizona and the primary car I drive has no air conditioning and the windows do not roll down. Not going to happen.
2. I use the Autobrightness tweak.
3. I use my device. Don't store it.
4. No fast charging with an iPhone 6s+
5. I use my phone and pay no attention to this.
6. Phone goes on charger at night and sits with screen on (clock app) all night. Full charge in the morning.
7. Device restarts at 7:30 am every weekday morning via a scheduled Activator action.
8. In over two years I have dropped below 10 percent less than 5 times.
9. Nope. Un-unh. Not going to happen. I use my iPhone as a nightstand clock as I have every phone I've had since 2009.
10. Already off. Either have no need for them or devices that are not compatible.

I have less than 300 cycles on my iPhone and go to bed with no less than 70% of battery every night. My iPhone is off charger from 5:30am to midnight.

 

[PBz]

1. I live in Phoenix, Arizona and the primary car I drive has no air conditioning and the windows do not roll down. Not going to happen.
2. I use the Autobrightness tweak.
3. I use my device. Don't store it.
4. No fast charging with an iPhone 6s+
5. I use my phone and pay no attention to this.
6. Phone goes on charger at night and sits with screen on (clock app) all night. Full charge in the morning.
7. Device restarts at 7:30 am every weekday morning via a scheduled Activator action.
8. In over two years I have dropped below 10 percent less than 5 times.
9. Nope. Un-unh. Not going to happen. I use my iPhone as a nightstand clock as I have every phone I've had since 2009.
10. Already off. Either have no need for them or devices that are not compatible.

I have less than 300 cycles on my iPhone and go to bed with no less than 70% of battery every night. My iPhone is off charger from 5:30am to midnight.

My pops used to say.. only AC this thing has is 4/75 .. 4 windows at 75 mph.. we restored a lot of cars.

 

[Seth Matthews]

Its not about damaging, its about prolonging the battery for those who dont upgrade their phones every 1-2 years.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

Have fun reading!!!

Again, I pass my iPhones down every year to my wife, then child, etc. Meaning we have each phone up to my child for three years, yet I charge my iPhones overnight and have no issues with the battery on ANY of those phones. So, real world, it doesn't matter. Charging it overnight isn't going to matter.

 

[eyoungren]

My pops used to say.. only AC this thing has is 4/75 .. 4 windows at 75 mph.. we restored a lot of cars.

If only my car had manual windows!

Unfortunately they are all power windows so unless I want the public traipsing through my parked car or borrowing it and not returning it I have to keep them up.

Right PITA when i's over 110º out during summer though.

 

[rui no onna]

Don't update your iOS version

Nah. That's only if you don't want battery health to affect device performance.

Battery will still deteriorate with use regardless of iOS version. It just won't slow down your phone.

 

[BorderingOn]

The problem with instructions like this is the user doesn't really know what 0% and 100% are versus what the battery meter displays. I know the phone will not let you completely discharge the battery but I don't know how close 0% is to fully discharged and I have no idea if 100% is really a 100% charge or not.

IMO, just let the built in charging logic deal with the battery and don't spend time worrying about it. If the battery does fail, the cost to replace is trivial compared to all the time wasted "managing" the battery manually.

 

[Hal~9000]

Nah. That's only if you don't want battery health to affect device performance.

Battery will still deteriorate with use regardless of iOS version. It just won't slow down your phone.

While the physical battery will deteriorate over time... I can’t begin to tell you how many posts I’ve seen by other people on how iOS 11 decreased the battery life on their iPhones 7 or below.

I feel major iOS updates on older models have the potential to decrease both performance and battery life.

 

[Makayla]

I for one find threads like this very useful, at least in helping me not do something glaringly wrong.

As long as Apple doesn't hold me responsible for following it to a "T" or otherwise I am "abusing" my phone.