Smartphones have become a part of our daily lives, but many of us are still not sure how accurate they are – stories about batteries exploding and exploding on the nightstand are circulating on the Internet, while self-proclaimed technologists are sharing untrue tips.

One of the most common misconceptions about smartphones is that they can be put into a charger overnight. If this can be prevented by charging the smartphone at some point, how much will it damage the battery?

For starters – here’s how batteries work

Smartphones use lithium ion batteries. The batteries have two electrodes – graphite and lithium cobalt oxide. Between them is a liquid electrolyte that allows lithium ions to pass between the electrodes. When you charge the phone, they move in the opposite direction.

Batteries or their lifespan are calculated in cycles. For example, after 500 full cycles, the iPhone can retain 80 percent of its original capacity. The charging cycle is described as using up one hundred percent of the battery capacity, but not all at once – you can spend 60 percent of the day and charge the battery, at another 40, and only then will you “do” one cycle. That is, the battery loses capacity over time and you can take steps to keep it healthy.

What affects battery life?

Battery life depends on the resistance or impedance of the battery. Keeping the battery fully charged will increase the percentage of parasitic reactions, which will gradually increase the impedance over time. We have a similar situation with empty batteries. Lowering the battery to “zero” accelerates a series of chemical reactions that quickly destroy it.

The load caused by the required applications (gaming while charging the smartphone) also affects the health of the battery, and the resulting increased temperature, if high enough, can cause electrolyte damage and accelerated depletion. Another factor that is not talked about much is the speed of charging. If you have a fast charger, your battery will run out quickly. Fortunately, the problem of fast charging in motor vehicles is more pronounced than in smartphones, at least to some extent it also affects the supply and power supply of your mobile device.

Also, be sure to use official personal equipment or a certified replacement. Inexpensive chargers without a certificate will not only endanger battery life – they will also damage your smartphone.

How dangerous is it to connect a smartphone to a charger overnight?

All smartphones, especially newer ones, can recognize when fully charged and stop charging immediately – they turn off automatically when the battery is zero. Manufacturers integrate cut-off points into each battery – they identify when the battery is full or empty and carefully monitor how much you can discharge or charge.

Leaving the phone on the charger overnight will not damage the battery, but it will gradually deplete it. At some point, it will decrease by one percent and then refill to one hundred percent. Manufacturers such as Apple have fixed this by tracking the time when the user normally wakes up and setting a charging time of one hour before waking up to avoid the aforementioned inconvenience. We remind you that this is more harmful than overheating and mechanical damage, and points to “digital trends” that depend on the quality of the material.

What is the best way to charge your phone?

Charging smartphones in ‘small’ cases is good for long-term battery health.

As you may have heard, a maximum battery life of 20 to 80 percent is recommended for maximum battery life.

In short:

If you want to improve the battery efficiency of your smartphone, follow these short tips:

• Always use official chargers or one with a clear certificate
• Do not allow the device to overheat. If necessary, remove from the mask overnight
• Hold the battery so that it is 20 to 80 percent charged
• Do not allow the battery to fully discharge
• If you do not turn off the phone while charging, do not use the required applications
• Use fast charging only if necessary

(Tportal.hr)