Four phone charging mistakes that shorten battery life

Avoid Obsessing Over Keeping Your Charge at 100%: The first step is to let go of the obsession with charging your phone to 100%, because while it might seem like the best way to use your phone throughout the day, in the long run, it damages the battery.

As Anikrishnan explains, the reason is that “lithium-ion batteries experience more stress when kept at full charge for extended periods,” and maintaining your phone at 100% charge creates unnecessary strain that accelerates battery wear. On the other hand, keeping the charge between 20% and 80% is more beneficial for battery life. Anikrishnan recommends charging your phone during the day rather than overnight, so you can monitor the charge level and unplug it before it reaches full capacity.

Disclaimer: Nowadays, mobile phones use lithium-ion batteries, which have become a key part of portable or mobile technology since the 1990s due to their ability to store energy in a small space. While these batteries charge quickly and have a longer lifespan compared to other types, that doesn’t mean they last forever. Sandeep Anikrishnan, Chief Technology Officer at Lionvolt, a battery innovation company, says that “a phone’s battery life decreases over time due to internal electrochemical degradation.”

February 25, 2025 | 3:17 am