Is it safe to charge phone overnight? Tips to extend battery life

Although it is a widespread habit, most people do not know if it is good for our battery’s health or, on the contrary, it can affect the operation of our device.

The useful life of the batteries in our mobile devices is not based solely on the date of assembly. There are many other factors, not the least of which are extreme temperature fluctuations and our charging habits. 

And based on these customs, some people fear “overcharging” their smartphone batteries. A relatively justified concern since some Samsung Galaxy Note 7 caught fire only a few years ago due to battery problems. 

However, this is unlikely to happen unless a device has a serious manufacturing defect. If we do a little research on the subject, we can find opposed opinions. 

So, we present you with the myths and truths of charging iPhone or Android phones, particularly when plugged in overnight.

The amount of charge going into our devices shouldn’t be an issue, as most are smart enough to stop charging once the battery is full, recharging as needed to stay 100% the rest of the time. We have it loaded. 

The only problem that can cause charging performance to drop occurs when the battery overheats, as excessive heat can cause damage to the terminal. It is best to remove any covers or casing when we charge it overnight to avoid this. 

Also, it is convenient to leave the phone on a flat and hard surface so that the heat dissipates efficiently.

One of the problems we can face when charging our terminal is the extraordinary speed with which new-generation devices are loaded. 

One solution to slow down the time it takes for devices to reach 100% is to use a wireless charger, as these devices don’t use as much power to recharge the batteries, making them take longer to charge fully.

Most devices are designed to work in a wide range of temperatures, between 16 and 22 degrees. However, regularly exposing our devices to high temperatures above 35 degrees could damage them. 

If this were to happen, Apple terminals, for example, will temporarily “turn off” until the temperature returns to average values. In the same way, they try to avoid these temperatures with these security systems. 

The companies recommend not charging devices in high ambient temperatures, as they can be severely damaged. Fortunately, the same does not happen with low temperatures since lithium batteries are better prepared to deal with the cold. What we can notice is a decrease in its performance. 

However, this is usually temporary, and the terminal’s productivity should return to its normal state once we return to warmer areas.

Battery memory is a fairly old concept applied more to older nickel-cadmium batteries than modern lithium-ion units. Therefore, while it was previously better to let the storm dissipate entirely before charging it, now we must do the opposite.

 It is best to keep a lithium-ion battery between 50 and 80% charged to extend its life. So charging in short bursts during the day is probably the best way to maintain your performance in the short and long term.

Also, both Android and iOS allow you to use low-power modes to extend battery life during the day, allowing you to conserve battery life even more.

official chargers

Although any type of charger can indeed be used, it is better to use an official one. The chargers of the big brands have been checked repeatedly to ensure an optimal and, more importantly, constant charge. 

So we must know that, once we start using third-party chargers, we will be entering a risky territory where we can end up damaging the battery of our terminal without realizing it. Lithium-ion batteries have a limited number of charge cycles, so it’s best not to use them up. 

So to keep your battery performing for as long as possible, rather than letting your laptop, tablet, or phone die entirely and then charging from scratch, it’s better to keep your battery charged in short bursts rather than on a cycle. Complete. 

If we use complete charge cycles, the battery stops charging sooner and consumes faster and faster as it breaks down. iPhone users, for example, have a feature in iOS that will tell them the status of their battery and if they need to be replaced.