Tip 1. How to Charge Your New iPhone for the First Time
There are some myths connected to charging your iPhone for the first time regarding battery calibration. However, the lithium-ion batteries currently used in iPhones do not need calibration. So,
- You don’t necessarily need to charge the iPhone to 100% for the first time.
- Furthermore, you don’t need to drain the battery to 0% before starting to charge.
- Optimally, keep the battery percentage between 80%-20%.
In essence, you can charge the new phone at your convenience and for however long you want.
Tip 2. Should I Charge My iPhone to 100 Percent?
Well, it’s neither here nor there. Charging your phone to 100% is not extremely problematic, so you can do it daily or occasionally if you have strenuous work/commute hours or traveling schedules.
However, keeping it at 100% for long, i.e., still charging after it is maxed out, is a problem. It puts more stress on the battery and can affect its overall lifespan. So, as per Apple’s and our recommendation, turn on Optimized Battery Charging (more info and steps shared later).
Moreover, experts claim that the lithium-ion batteries used in our smartphones are most efficiently charged between 20% and 80%. So, if you can maintain this sweet spot during charging, it’s a win-win situation.
Tip 3. At What Percentage Should I Start Charging My iPhone?
Although there’s no specific percentage at which you should start charging, it’s generally recommended not to let the battery drop to zero. Mostly because completely draining the battery frequently can affect its ability to hold the charger, eventually shortening the battery life.
As mentioned above, 20%, aka Apple’s default low-power mode warning, could be considered the lowest limit. It’s also worth noting that frequent partial charges are better for your iPhone’s battery than infrequent full charges.
In simpler words, don’t wait until the battery level drops significantly. Charging the iPhone at any opportunity, whether at 30, 40, or 60 per cent, is better than waiting and risking it dropping below the recommended percentage.
Tip 4. Can I Charge My iPhone Overnight?
Many people wonder whether it’s safe to leave their iPhone charging overnight. Thanks to Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging feature, it is perfectly safe to do so. The feature automatically learns your daily charging routine and accordingly, delays charging past 80% until it’s time to unplug.
So, while the phone gets a 100% charge when you unplug it, it does not stay in that state for long. Moreover, you can also set a battery-full alert and unplug it when it’s all juiced up.
Tip 5. How Often Should You Charge Your iPhone?
Up till now, we’ve established some facts about iPhone battery charging,
- Do not charge your iPhone over 100%.
- Avoid taking your battery below 20%.
- Frequent partial charges are preferred over infrequent full charges.
Keeping these battery charging tips in mind, we can conclude that you can charge your iPhone as often as you need, just avoid taking it below 20%.
If you’re wondering how it affects your charging cycle, don’t worry. Interestingly, a full charge cycle is completed when your phone goes from 0% to 100% or any combination that adds up to 100%. So, let’s say you take the device from 50 to 100%, then 40 to 90%, it will then complete one charge cycle (50 + 50).
Tip 5. Can I Use a Fast Charger for My iPhone?
Absolutely, you can use a fast charger for your iPhone, although here are some things to consider,
- Use an Apple-certified fast charger and cable – An MFI-certified charger and Lightning cable ensures both safety and efficiency. On the other hand, a non-certified can potentially damage your iPhone’s battery or cause a safety hazard.
- Manage the heat – iOS and the battery are programmed to avoid overheating. Apple has even added a charging-on-hold setting to stop the device from heating. However, you can also chip in to ensure proper heat dissipation, if you feel the phone is heating up, take off the case, especially if you use a thick protective case.
Note: If your iPhone is charging slower than usual, here are some reliable fixes to stop iPhone from charging slowly.
Tip 6. Does Wireless Charging Affect Battery Health in the Long Run?
Wireless charging, like any other charging method, can affect battery health in the long run, but the impact is generally minimal. Generally speaking, wireless charging generates more heat than wired charging.
Excess heat harms overall battery health. However, experts agree that advanced smartphones (including iPhones) and wireless chargers are designed to manage heat effectively and minimize damage.
Therefore, it is necessary to use a certified wireless charger—not necessarily a Magsafe one, but a trusted one.
Tip 7. Enable Optimized Charging
We’ve mentioned the feature multiple times in the article already. Now, let’s learn how to enable it. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging → toggle on Optimized Battery Charging.
Tip 8. Maintain the Temperature of the Phone
High temperatures can affect not only the functions of your device but also the battery’s health. For one, the phone will quickly lose its charge. If it heats up repeatedly, it will reduce the battery’s capacity to hold the charge.
Thankfully, Apple has incorporated a charging-on-hold feature that stops charging if the temperature spikes up. And resumes charging when the temperature returns to normal.
Tip 9. Optimize Your iPhone Settings
Every battery-saving guide will give you this suggestion. Our devices are packed with a multitude of features. However, to extend our day-to-day battery life, we’ll need to enable/disable these features or settings according to our use case.
Some examples include,
- Turn on auto-brightness.
- Toggle off background refresh for certain or all apps.
- Check which apps are hogging the battery and disable/delete them accordingly.
- Toggle on low-power mode when the phone is not in use.
Tip 10. Use an MFi-Certified Charger and Cable
We can’t emphasize this point enough, so we’re repeating it. Companies have to pay a premium to Apple for MFi certification. Thus, these accessories are more expensive than the other competitors.
However, a certified accessory marginally reduces the risk of phone or battery damage, data breach, etc. So, consider it a long-term investment rather than an expenditure for your phone’s prolonged life.
Tip 11. Choose to Update your iPhone Wisely
Some updates, especially the first few iterations of any new OS can be a battery hog. Sometimes, new bugs are introduced alongside the new features. Thankfully, Apple actively processes and resolves these issues in the next update.
So, before you download a new update, do a quick Google search about its effect on the battery. Update the iPhone if all is well, or wait for a few days.
FAQs
Heat is the worst enemy of your iPhone’s battery. So, avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or charging it while it’s warm. Furthermore, letting your battery drain completely frequently will also harm the battery’s overall lifespan.
You can take steps to prevent it from degrading further, but you can’t recover what’s been degraded. If your battery health is significantly degraded, the best solution is to replace the battery.
There are multiple factors to consider. For instance, if the iPhone is in prime condition and can still avail iOS updates for at least two more years, replacing a battery is cheaper. However, if the phone is very old (almost outdated), changing the battery will improve things, but not for long. So, weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding.
You need to understand that the batteries will degrade eventually. And all you can do is slow down the process with the charging tips mentioned above. So, keep an eye on the number, but don’t fret unless it falls too quickly (in that case, contact Apple Support).
Usually, the iPhone will alert you that the battery health is significantly degraded when it dips below 80%. While you can still use the iPhone without much issue, it won’t hold the charge as it used to, i.e., it will drain quickly.
While interrelated, these two are different terms. Battery health refers to the condition of your iPhone’s battery and how well it’s performing. Whereas, battery life refers to how long your iPhone’s battery can last on a single charge.
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Last updated on 16 July, 2024
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