The internet is famously rife with misinformation – even about the lifespan of your batteries. Some of the information we’ve bought into might be doing more harm than good, like how our devices, which once held a full day of charge, now die within a few hours.
But how do you know what’s true and what’s a myth? Should you use third-party chargers with your smartphone? Can you charge a cordless vacuum overnight without damaging the battery?
In a sea of tech blogs, there’s seemingly infinite advice about extending your devices’ battery life. Separating fact from fiction can make all the difference in keeping your tech functional for longer. Here, we’ll unpack five of the most popular myths about battery life, bringing you one step closer to becoming a tech-savvy consumer.
Myth #1: Charging your devices overnight will overload the battery.
We’ve all heard the rumour that leaving your device to charge past 100% will overload the battery. It’s an inconvenient idea – charging your phone or Bluetooth earbuds while you sleep (and can’t use them) is the best way to ensure your tech is as ready to go as you are. Luckily, this myth isn’t true.
This myth suggests that plugging in your devices for too long will overload the battery, prematurely rendering them useless. But even with a cord connected, modern lithium-ion batteries stop charging once they reach full capacity – the risk of overloading is virtually non-existent.
However, this myth is derived from fact. Older technology experienced something called ‘trickle charging’, meaning charging devices would briefly drop to 99% before using a small boost of energy to bring them back up to 100%. This often caused batteries to age slightly faster, but not by much. Newer devices – like the Apple iPhone – are designed to keep their charge under 80% to prevent trickle charging if plugged in for an extended period of time.
Devices that use more power, like household appliances, have different requirements even with the same modern lithium-ion batteries. If you use a cordless vacuum to clean your house, it benefits from being charged on a timed smart plug to prolong its life and unplugging when it’s fully charged. These batteries prefer partial discharge cycles rather than constantly being fully discharged.
Myth #2: You should let your device die before charging it to preserve battery life.
Does letting your devices hit 0% charge before reaching for the charging plug preserve battery life? Not anymore. Nickel-based batteries of the past benefited from the cycle of dying and reviving, but these extremes actually cause modern lithium-ion batteries to hold less and less power over time.
Never let your devices completely die before charging them. In fact, if you can help it, avoid letting your battery’s charge drop below 20% – especially if you use a fast-charging cord that generates a lot of heat.
Myth #3: Turning off your device sometimes will help the battery last longer.
This is another myth leftover from the days of nickel-based batteries. When you quit playing Candy Crush on your phone or stop vacuuming up that rogue kitty litter, your devices’ batteries experience the same level of wear as if they were powered down. So, while unplugging from tech can be a good mental reset, it won’t do anything to help your battery life.
Myth #4: You can only use the original charger for your device, or you’ll damage the battery.
Admittedly, this idea has some merit. Cheap chargers can become a safety hazard and deliver too much current to your device, degrading the battery and shortening its lifespan. However, you don’t necessarily have to use your device’s original charging cord. If you choose to use a third-party charger, ensure it meets current safety standards, is compatible with your device, and is manufactured by a trusted brand.
Myth #5: A battery’s lifespan is very short.
Do you know how we measure a battery’s lifespan? Batteries typically last about 500 charge cycles (up to 3 years). A ‘charge cycle’ is the number of times the battery has been drained to zero and then fully charged. This is measured cumulatively – if your device used 60% of its energy on Monday and 40% on Tuesday, that counts as a single charge cycle. If your devices aren’t lasting as long as they should, you may be using a faulty charging cord or allowing them to die too frequently.
Key Takeaways
Maintaining the health of your devices’ batteries is imperative to getting the most out of your tech. Remember:
- Charging your devices overnight won’t overload the battery, but if you’re using an older device, you may want to invest in a timed smart plug to minimise trickle charging.
- Letting your devices die before plugging them in is actively deteriorating the battery life – don’t do it!
- To switch your devices off, or not to switch your devices off? It makes no difference to your battery.
- If you must use a charger from a third-party manufacturer, make sure it’s compatible, safe, and trustworthy.
- Your battery life is measured in charge cycles. Devices that last less than three years may suffer from a worn-out battery.
