In the world of lithium-ion batteries, smartphones take center stage. However, it has continued to generate controversy; Will charging for a long time (or overnight) damage your battery?

There are many factors that determine a phone’s battery life, including manufacturing age and chemical age. The latter refers to the gradual degradation of the battery due to variables such as temperature fluctuations, charging and discharging patterns, and general usage.

Over time, chemical aging of lithium-ion batteries reduces charging capacity, battery life and performance.

According to Apple, a typical iPhone battery is designed to last up to 80% of its original capacity in 500 full charge cycles under normal conditions. Research has found that a 2019 smartphone battery can undergo, on average, 850 full charge/discharge cycles before dropping below 80% of its capacity; That is, only 80% of the initial battery capacity remains after two to three years of use. At this point, the battery begins to drain significantly faster, according to a new report cited by “Science Alert” from the prestigious science website “The Conversation.”

Need to charge your phone overnight?

Most new generation smartphones take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to fully charge.

Charging times will vary depending on your device’s battery capacity; Larger capacities require more time, as well as the amount of power provided by the charger.

Charging your phone overnight is not only unnecessary, but it also accelerates battery life. Therefore, full charging cycles (from 0% to 100%) should be avoided to maximize battery life.

In this context, Samsung states: “Repeated charging of the battery up to 100% may negatively affect the overall life of the battery. Likewise, keeping iPhones fully charged for long periods of time can be detrimental to battery health. Instead of charging the battery fully, it is recommended to charge the battery up to 80% and never allow it to drop below 20%.

Can you overcharge your phone?

In theory, lithium-ion batteries can be overcharged. But this can lead to safety hazards such as battery overheating and fire. However, the good news is that most modern phones have built-in protection that automatically prevents the battery from charging above 100%, preventing damage from overcharging. However, every time the battery level drops to 99% (due to apps running in the background), “intermittent charging” occurs; It will start charging again to maintain a full charge state. Intermittent charging causes battery wear and tear over time. That’s why many manufacturers have features that regulate it. Apple iPhones offer more than 80% charging delay functionality. Samsung Galaxy phones offer an option to specify 85% charging rate.

Could your phone explode while charging?

Charging your smartphone is unlikely to explode; Especially now that most phones have automatic protection against overcharging. However, over the years, we have seen many reports of phones exploding unexpectedly. This is usually caused by manufacturing defects, poor quality hardware or physical damage. Lithium-ion phone batteries rise in temperature when they cannot dissipate the heat generated during charging. It can cause burns or in extreme cases fire. Additionally, these batteries operate effectively within a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C. As the ambient temperature rises it will expand, leading to a fire or explosion.

Using the wrong, defective or poor quality charger or cable can cause overheating, fire hazard and phone damage.

Tips to increase battery life

Although there are built-in safeguards to protect your phone’s battery, a cautious approach can make it last longer.

Here are some ways to protect your phone’s battery:

– Install the latest software updates to keep your phone up to date with battery efficiency improvements provided by the manufacturer

– Use original or certified power chargers, as power delivery (amps, volts, and watts) varies among off-market chargers and may not meet required safety standards.

– Avoid exposing your phone to high temperatures. Apple and Samsung claim that their phones work best in ambient temperatures between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius.

– Limit your charge to 80% of full capacity and never drop below 20%.

– Do not leave your phone charging for a long time, for example overnight, disconnect it from the power source when the battery reaches 100%.

– Place your phone in a well-ventilated area when charging, and avoid placing the charger under a blanket, pillow, or your body when connected to a power source.

– Monitor your battery health and use it to detect unusual trends such as taking longer to charge or draining the battery faster. If you notice that your phone is overheating or its back is swollen, contact an authorized service center and get it fixed. Checked and fixed. If you want specifics about your phone and battery, the best option is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.