We often come across different opinions on how to charge or maintain the life of smartphone batteries. We know that current lithium ion-based technology is currently the best cost-benefit, the batteries are lightweight, capable of producing high energy density and are still rechargeable. Their defect is still to have little or no effect on memory loss.
Many people ask us how to work day to day with the batteries of their devices, is it good to carry the smartphone all night? or would it be better to let it finish the battery to recharge? We researched and talked with some smartphone manufacturers and we will now answer your questions.
But before we start, let’s get some insight into the operation of lithium-ion batteries.
How do lithium-ion batteries work?
We need to understand how batteries work to understand how they degrade. Knowing how to understand the degradation of the battery, we can avoid actions that wear out the battery, thus increasing the life of our devices.
The lithium batteries work by a physical/chemical reaction, which moves electrodes and lithium ions, this flow generates an electric current, which feeds smartphones, notebooks, tablets and even electric cars (which in these cases has the electric power converted for mechanics).
During the discharge of the battery, the lithium ions migrate from the anode to the cathode, and the electrons move through an external circuit in the same direction as the ions. This movement generates an electric current that is sent by the circuit for the device to take advantage of it.
The charge is the reverse. There is an external power source, charger, that applies an overvoltage forcing the lithium ions to pass in the reverse direction. When there are no more lithium ions to draw, the battery is fully charged.
Previously understanding the operation of the batteries, where ions and electrons are moved as the stage progresses, we can see that there are the poles, the electrolyte and the ions themselves that need to be in full working order to keep the battery running properly.
We ask our readers through surveys on the site, Facebook and Twitter, how they handle battery charging. The vast majority of people, more than 60% of them, leave the smartphone charged at night while sleeping. It is easy to understand this habit, simply by needing to keep the other day with full charge, users tend to charge the smartphone during the sleep period. When you wake up, the device is fully charged, ready for another day of use. But is this the ideal cargo model? Let’s look at some questions that are frequently asked questions from people regarding batteries.
Is it true that smartphone batteries are “addictive”?
The manufacturers were unanimous in not classifying the term addiction, but rather loss of useful life. Positivo says the batteries still lose capacity, much less than they used to. Asus claims that the lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones no longer have this feature known as “charging memory”. It was common in nickel batteries.
It’s a Myth.
I bought the new phone, need to do a full charge, or up to 12 hours as some stores recommend?
Here the answers were varied, but the vast majority of manufacturers suggest a full charge, not for calibrating the battery, but for the intense use the device will have in the first few hours, with updates, installations and configurations. And it will not take 12 hours of charge as some mobile phone shops report. Yes, charge completely. When you reach 100%, you can use the device.
Positive says customers should fully charge and discharge the battery in the first three cycles. To calibrate the load measurement and prevent the unit from displaying a load percentage different from the actual level.
It’s a Myth.
How long should I leave to charge the phone? Can I leave all night?
Asus has a system that manages the battery charge. When it reaches 100%, the charge automatically pauses and also prevents so-called micro charge cycles (small discharges and recharges when the phone is switched on).
Sony has a technology called QNovo that automatically detects the user’s most common charging habits and controls the charging rate for the battery to reach 90%, pause charging, and recharge up to 100% near the time the normally disconnects the Xperia from the charger.
The Positive states that the ideal is to prevent the device from charging all night. Leaving the device connected to the charger with the battery level at 100% for a few hours may, in the long run, reduce the storage capacity of the battery.
The Multilaser says that the product is designed to make intelligent management of energy, so the user does not have to worry about addictions, battery wear, or right time to connect the device to recharge.
Motorola claims that branded chargers and smartphones have protection systems that prevent the load cells from reaching extreme states, so users can leave the device plugged into the charger overnight.
In summary, the charger can be used at any time, for as long as necessary. So you can carry it all night.
It’s a Truth.
Should I discharge the entire battery to recharge?
According to Asus, this practice reduces battery life because the longer the charge and discharge cycles, the greater the stress on the battery and the shorter the life of the battery. The lower the charge and discharge cycles of the battery, the longer the battery life. The ideal to increase the life of a battery is to always make partial loads.
Positive advises that exhausting the battery level every time is not good either. Ideally, keep the battery level above 20%.
Motorola mentions that it is not necessary to discharge by complete, it is possible to use the charger when it needs, regardless of the level of charge.
In short, manufacturers are against full discharge to avoid loading/unloading cycles.
It’s a Myth.
Is it wrong to use your smartphone while charging?
Asus, Motorola and Multilaser report that it is possible to use the smartphone normally, without restriction. The complete Multilaser saying that the power supply system reduces the load power if necessary to prevent overheating and premature wear of the product.
Sony and the Positive are against, mainly because of the heating of the device.
Although some manufacturers are against, most say that it is possible to use the device, as long as it is taken care of the temperature of the same.
It’s a Myth.
I will leave my smartphone turned off for more than a week, what battery level should I leave?
Positive aims to keep the smartphone with loads between 50 and 80%. And on appliances with a removable battery, it is best to remove the battery before storing the device.
Sony argues that the closer to 100%, the more battery it will get when it is turned on again.
Asus also indicates partial load between 50 and 70%, keeping the device in a place where the temperature is not high.
Motorola does not set a minimum value, however, if it is to leave the unit off for long, suggest half of the charge, 50%.
The Multilaser says that batteries manufactured from 2017 have a protection system that will only be triggered if overheating occurs, so the battery level can be any.
The worst thing that can happen to a battery is to heat it up?
Yes, one of the main causes of battery degradation is overheating. When it overheats, there may be a reduction in the chemical reaction of the electrolyte to the anode, the decomposition of the electrolyte, oxidation of the electrolyte by the cathode, decomposition of the anode and the electrode. All of these cause short circuits, which can even cause explosions. And we have already reported many of them here at Teknologya.
All manufacturers have made it clear that you should not keep your smartphone in places where there is sunshine, in a closed car, or even use the device in heavy activities while charging.
Ideally, the battery should not exceed 45° C. Therefore, if your smartphone is warmer than your hand, keep it at rest until it decreases the temperature. You can measure the battery temperature with Aida 64 or CPU-Z apps.
It’s a Truth.
Can I ever stop charging an electronic one before the charging reaches 100%?
The batteries currently used in electronic equipment are those of lithium ion polymer, which do not comply with complete charge and discharge cycles. Therefore, the user can unplug the equipment from the wall outlet before the battery is fully charged.
It’s a Myth.
Some tips left by manufacturers
Among the answers of the manufacturers, we also received some tips so that the consumers can have more conscience of use of the apparatuses.
Motorola
The following are some important safety, battery life and environmental precautions:
- avoid exposing the product and/or battery to sources of high heat and/or humidity;
- never try to remove a fixed battery. Some models are designed with the built-in battery and may be damaged if it is removed by an unskilled person;
- although some devices have removable batteries, never use sharp materials to detach them from the smartphone;
- never attempt to open, cut or incinerate a battery;
- whenever discarding an electronic device or battery, look for an appropriate location. Throwing these items in regular trash can cause damage to the environment. The kiosks and technical assistance of Motorola are prepared for the reception and correct destination of these materials.
Verdict
We can note that the manufacturers are emphatic in ensuring that there is no more battery addiction, rather a shelf life that is degraded as the device is misused. Mainly for exposing the battery to constant use in high temperatures. Avoid:
- Leave your smartphone exposed to the sun;
- Use the camera for a long time;
- Charge the cell phone while doing intense activities like playing; The game itself will warm up your smartphone, as it will require more processing. The charge also heats the device, so two activities that will overheat can damage the battery cells.
- GPS in vehicle + charger: this can be a villain. Usually we use a holder that is attached to the glass, leaving the smartphone exposed to the sun, with the GPS, charger and screen attached, the cell phone tends to get very hot. There are brackets that are attached to the air outlet of the vehicle. In addition to the air outlet help to cool the product, it will be protected from solar incidence.
We can also say that manufacturers guarantee that you can charge at night without damaging the product, the charging systems identify that there is no need to charge and “turn off” the charger.