How To Save Battery & Preserve Battery Health On iPhone
Your iPhone battery is the most important part of your device. If that isn't working, then all the features and apps in the world won't do you any good. However, with a few easy steps, you can make sure that your battery holds a charge and stays charged for longer.
The lithium-ion batteries inside new iPhones more reliable, longer-lasting, and safer than previous generations. That said, they aren't without their quirks and needs. Here are some great tips on how to extend the life of your iPhone battery and get the most out of it:
How to Preserve iPhone Battery Health
In the past, cell phone batteries had to be treated to a full charge then a full deplete. Since they're now made of lithium-ion, modern iPhone batteries can tolerate a partial charge much better than previous generations. It's best to do partial charges when you can instead of the old-school method of letting it die then recharging.
It's also incredibly annoying to wait for the phone to turn back on if you let the battery deplete fully. Moreover, doing so repeatedly starts to shorten the battery's life. Lithium-ion batteries typically prefer to be in the sweet spot of about a 50-80 percent charge. The closer and more consistent you are with that percentage window, the happier your iPhone's battery will be.
Now, most of us charge our iPhones while we sleep. This type of overnight charging does sort of break the rules, but it's not terrible for your phone. iPhones are built with an inherent sensor so that once they hit a 100% charge, they adjust the electricity flow. Instead of what used to be like getting a sip from a waterfall, now it's much more like a sink. Plug your iPhone in and it will use what it needs then turn off the faucet.
Can My iPhone Battery Get Too Hot?
Yes. Lithium-ion batteries are amazing, but they can be a bit finicky about the weather. They don't like to be extreme heat or cold and have a built-in shutoff switch if the temp gets too high or too low. If it's too warm, the screen will darken a bit. Let this act as a warning system to cool down the iPhone's temperature.
Is My Battery Overheating Bad?
As you might have guessed, yes. It's not great for your battery, but also it's not catastrophic. Every battery has a lifespan, and leaving it in extreme temperatures can shorten it. However, every iPhone is built with a safety precaution that shuts off the battery before the ambient temperature can do extensive damage. That said, if you're frequently seeing your iPhone battery turning off due to temperature, your battery is getting damaged and you may want to intervene before further damage to your battery. Overheating can contribute to the degradation of the iPhone battery.
How to Prevent iPhone Battery Overheating
It's not reasonable to leave your phone behind just because your battery might get a bit chilly. So, if you're planning on hitting up the slopes or the beach, be sure and take some extra precautions. Precautions like taking it with you instead of leaving it in a warm car can help. Another way to keep your battery healthy is to keep your iPhone in a protective, wrap-around case which will reflect light, let heat escape, but also help keep the battery at an optimal temperature.
Maximize Battery Life & Lifespan Long Term
When storing your iPhone for a long period of time, it's best to leave it on a half charge. When you tuck it away on a low charge you run the risk of putting your device into a "deep discharge state" which completely ruins the battery. Conversely, storing it with a full charge can also damage the battery. Therefore, you're going to be storing it for a very long term, aim to take your iPhone out and charge it to 50% every six months or so.
What to Do if iPhone Battery Won't Hold a Charge
This can be super scary, but there are some troubleshooting steps you can take and they usually do the trick. First, check your charger. Check over your charging cable, both the USB port and lightning side for damage. Next, take a look at your charging brick, often times a bent prong can prevent a proper charge. Also, be sure to charge with an outlet instead of a device like a laptop.
If it's still not charging, check your charging port. Your iPhone might have something lodged in there, or it might be damaged. Check out Apple's full guide on battery health. And, if all else fails, make an appointment with the Genius Bar, and they'll give your device a thorough review.
Is Wireless Charging Bad for iPhone?
There has been quite the controversy and a whole host of experiments and studies into this. Simply put, no. It is perfectly safe for your iPhone to wirelessly charge. Some solely charge wirelessly, some do a mixture, and some only do wired charging. Any of the above is just fine!
The first time you wirelessly charge, you might notice a bit of warmth created when Qi charging, but it's not too hot for the iPhone battery. Plus you get the added benefit of charging without wear and tear on your cables or port. Moreover, wireless charging has been around since the iPhone 8 and the amount of battery degradation between traditionally charged iPhones and Qi charged is minimal.
How to Make an iPhone Battery Last Longer
Due to the chemistry inside the lithium-ion batteries, the fewer times you completely deplete your battery, the better. So, try to make your initial charge last all day instead of outlet hopping throughout the day. Things like turning down your brightness, using headphones instead of the speakers, and shifting your iPhone into airplane mode when you can. In poor connection areas, your iPhone 11 works harder to stay connected to weak signals, and it drains the battery.
Airplane mode can feel like you've stranded yourself, but it really does help by turning off connections to other devices that might be pinging the phone and draining the battery. A good alternative is to head into your settings and turn on Low Power Mode. It's not as effective as airplane mode, but it lets you stay connected to the outside world. Also, while you're in your settings why not check out which apps use the most juice? You'll be able to pinpoint which ones do the most damage and can close or delete them accordingly.
What Does Low Power Mode Do?
Great question! Low Power Mode shuts off the Background App Refresh. This means that all the apps on your phone aren't seeking out signal and updating with all the latest notifications or even happenings. As an example, the Mail app. You'll have to go in and pull down to refresh your inbox instead of getting the badges automatically.
How to Protect a New iPhone 11
In addition to avoiding extreme temperatures and keeping your iPhone free of debris, there's a way to take care of your battery. Specifically, download your updates! Be sure to keep your apps up to date, companies frequently tinker with their apps to give you more battery life. Also, iOS updates help your iPhone run at peak capacity and your battery will thank you for it.
Additionally, check in on your battery health every once in a while. Under Settings > Battery > Battery Health to see how your battery is faring. Every battery has a limited lifespan, and sadly, there's no way around it. However, take our simple steps and you won't have to worry about that for years to come!
The second only to the battery, the screen is the most vital part of the iPhone. Curious about how to protect it? Here's how to protect your iPhone's screen.
