How to charge your smartphone battery to last longer. Experts: Most people charge their smartphone incorrectly

Many smartphone users are interested in how to properly use their battery.

Most of them are concerned about whether it is necessary to completely discharge the battery, whether it is possible to leave the phone on charge for a long period, and how many charge-discharge cycles the battery will withstand. One of these important questions is whether it is worth regularly charging the battery to 100%. Today we will answer it.

Currently, smartphones use lithium-based batteries and lithium-polymer (Li-Pol) batteries. They have a long service life and do not require regular discharge, as they do not have a “memory effect”.

Usually we put the smartphone on and only turn it off in the morning. Naturally, we start our day with a 100% charge, although it actually takes 2-3 hours to achieve this figure. On the one hand, you shouldn’t be afraid of overcharging - each lithium battery is equipped with a special controller that turns off the power supply to it at the right time.

On the other hand, we get the battery regularly filled to its limit. Moreover, before the morning the battery will have time to discharge a little several times and be charged again. All experts agree that these small cycles will not bring benefit to the battery, as well as the constant desire to charge it to the limit. Rather, this will lead to a decrease in battery capacity, as well as a decrease in its resource.

Take a few simple recommendations into account.

Try, if possible, not to leave your smartphone charging overnight - this way you will avoid the overnight “small discharge - small charge” process. There is no need to subject the battery controller to constant load, since any protective device can fail, and voltage surges on the power line can damage not only the charger, but also the phone itself.

Do not try to fill the battery to capacity; this is not necessary. If possible, stop the charging process before reaching 100%, the optimal limit is 90-95%. This is especially true at high ambient temperatures, because a characteristic feature of lithium batteries is an increase in capacity when heated. Thus, by charging the battery 100% near a heat source or in the sun, you will actually receive a small overcharge, which can negatively affect its service life.

Make it a rule not to completely discharge your smartphone - it is better to charge it whenever possible, for example, in the car or from a portable battery. This will avoid, which is very harmful.

A new battery for modern smartphones costs a lot of money, and replacement can often only be done at a service center - devices are now monolithic. , this will help avoid unnecessary costs.

Unfortunately, many cell phone holders charge their devices incorrectly. This leads to the fact that the battery soon becomes unusable and the charge does not last for a long time. You will find out how long it takes to charge your phone from our article.

Types of mobile phone batteries

In order for your phone battery to last as long as possible, you need to find out what type it is. You can find this information on the battery case, in the documentation included with the phone, or on the manufacturer’s website.

Currently, cell phones are powered by lithium-based batteries. The most common batteries are Li-Ion (lithium-ion) and Li-Po (lithium-polymer) devices.

Such batteries have a number of advantages

  • lungs;
  • able to work at low temperatures;
  • charge quickly;
  • accurately show the charge level.

In older phones you can find a Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) battery.

Phone charging rules

  1. Whatever type of battery you have, overcharging will negatively affect the operation of the device.
  2. Start charging your mobile device when the battery charge is below 10 percent.
  3. An expensive modern phone comes with a charger. In most cases, the power stops flowing when the battery is fully charged, even if you have not disconnected the power supply. The exception is cheap chargers of Chinese origin.
  4. While using your phone, alternate full charging cycles with incomplete ones. This means you need to stop charging your phone at 80 percent.
  5. If your phone is not used for a long time, you need to remove the battery from the device. It must be stored in a cool, dark place.

How to save battery power

  • Turn down the brightness of your phone screen. If the automatic brightness adjustment function is available, use it. Based on the room illumination parameters, the phone will independently select the optimal screen brightness;
  • Use your cell phone regularly;
  • Lock your phone when you are not using it;
  • Use GPS services only as needed;
  • In places with weak or no communication signal, put your phone in airplane mode;
  • Turn off data networks when you are not using them (Wi-fi, Bluetooth, etc.);
  • If possible, do not unlock your phone unless necessary;
  • It is recommended to listen to music through headphones. Using speakers drains your battery;
  • Do not use animated images for your desktop;
  • Leave on the desktop of your mobile device only those applications that you use every day;
  • Once a month it is recommended to do a full cycle of charging and discharging the phone. You need to charge the device to 100 percent, and then use the phone until the battery runs out.

If I had a dollar, every time people complain that the battery on an Android smartphone takes a long time to charge, then I wouldn’t have much left to become a millionaire.

This is of course a joke, but the problem exists. People are massively buying phones that allow them to watch movies, listen to music, play games, and everyone understands that such a device can be charged.

Just note that today we charge our smartphone almost every day, but if you don't treat the battery properly, then within a few months, you will have to connect your device to the charger every few hours.

Additionally, there are a few rules that need to be applied to the battery so that within a year the battery doesn't become just good for garbage - especially if you have one of the new, swanky types where the battery can't be replaced without a specialist.

This was the introduction, and now I’ll tell you in order: why the phone took a very long time to charge, quickly discharged, and what to do then.

How long should an Android phone or smartphone charge?

You can find out the condition of the battery of your Android device. .

There are a lot of phones, like smartphones, for example, samsung galaxy, lenovo, xiaomi, meizu, asus, htc, lumia, etc., and their charging times are different.

Fully charging a feature phone or a modern smartphone lasts on average 0.5 - 5 hours. So, with a capacity of 1500 mAh it will charge faster than with 3000 mAh.

Moreover. If the phone is turned off, it will also charge faster than when it is turned on, and you are also watching a movie, which is not recommended. Some smartphones support fast charging, then the charging time increases sharply, but wears out faster.

Therefore, before you start panicking why the phone battery takes a long time to charge, look at the battery capacity - perhaps this is normal for it

Reasons why your phone takes a long time to charge and discharges quickly

What is the reason that the phone takes a long time to charge and discharges quickly? There is more than one reason, but the main one, of course, is the battery itself.

Perhaps while charging you have the Internet, Bluetooth, GPS, player running, many applications open, cool wallpapers, you are listening to music, and so on.

All this undoubtedly affects the charging speed of the battery of an Android phone or smartphone.

Also, the reason may be in the USB connector or controller. The connector can be cleaned and the contacts can be bent.

Another reason is the charger itself. Try something else or from your computer. There are also precedents when the charging speed increased when the cable was replaced (I saw it personally).

Moreover, you can safely try even replacing the original cable with another one - there are examples that the problem is solved.

Above, I gave only a few reasons why the phone took too long to charge, but here we go.

Summarizing the main reasons why your phone takes a long time to charge

  • Poor contact between USB port and micro USB
  • Bad cable
  • Bad adapter (charger).
  • Bad phone or smartphone battery
  • Bad firmware (update)
  • Along with charging, many unnecessary processes are launched

What to do when your phone takes a long time to charge

If, for example, you have a Samsung Galaxy s3, s5, j3, etc. smartphone, try to determine what the problem is with the GalaxyChargingCurrent program. With its help you can determine which direction to move.

NOTE: an old, used battery can charge faster than a new one - a paradox, but a fact.

You can also calibrate the battery. How – Not always, but sometimes calibration solves the problem.

ATTENTION: wireless charging is available in some smartphones today, for example, Lumi 92, or Samsung Galaxy S4, but it is better not to use it - it significantly reduces its lifespan.

IMPORTANT: Do not completely discharge the battery. A battery that is completely discharged and left unused for a long time should not be suddenly charged to full capacity - this could put it at risk.

REMEMBER: the increased temperature that accompanies the process of charging the phone leads to a decrease in the life of the battery and other electronic components.

How to prevent your phone from taking too long to charge

Do not allow complete discharge. Partial recharging is better than constant full recharging. Do not expose the battery to high or low temperatures for long periods.

If you actively use the battery, after some time (a certain number of cycles), its performance will decrease significantly.

Then don't be afraid of replacement. Contrary to what people may think, even on devices without a removable back cover, you can replace the battery, except it may require you to take the phone to a technician.

The worst thing that can happen is when there is no way to replace the battery in the phone and the end of its life marks the end of the smartphone.

There are, however, ways to charge your phone faster and keep it in good condition longer.

Recommendations for avoiding long-term charging of a phone or smartphone

It's best not to charge your device at night - it can't "wake up" itself to trigger an alarm.

At night, use a weaker charger. Batteries last longer when they are charged less. Charge the battery at room temperature - preferably below 25°C and above freezing.

If possible, do not fully charge your phone. Up to 85-90 percent is quite enough to maintain the condition for a longer period of time.

If the temperature increases by more than 10°C during the process, something is wrong. Replace the charger.

If you depend on fast charging, use a short cable with thick wires. Current losses will be less. Be careful on hot days - do work in a cool place. Beware of cheap chargers.

Cheap ones do not take into account battery characteristics. I also recommend watching the video on how to increase the battery charge in your phone. Good luck.

There are many myths surrounding charging a battery (especially for the first time). People are often mistaken, using unverified information, which greatly reduces the battery life, and in some cases endangers their health. That is why we decided to talk about how to properly charge a new smartphone battery so as not to damage it.

How to properly charge your smartphone

The first thing to remember is that all batteries are subject to natural degradation, no matter how carefully the device is used and charged. The battery capacity will gradually decrease and after 2-4 years it will have to be replaced. Of course, if your smartphone doesn’t become obsolete first. Such a large gap is associated both with the difference in the quality of battery models, the technologies used to make them, and with the peculiarities of their use by users.

How to charge a new battery

Probably, many have heard that a new smartphone should be charged in a special way - discharge it to zero, and then leave it at the outlet for 10-15 hours. But in reality, this is only a reason for speculation - the charge microcontroller in a smartphone will not allow the battery to discharge below normal (even when the device turns off from 0%) and charge above it.

The only thing you really need to do for the first time is to charge your smartphone completely to 100%. This is necessary so that the electronics synchronize the displayed battery capacity with the real one and subsequently show the correct remaining charge.

Polar myths about battery charging

Many of the myths on this list are either untrue to begin with or are not relevant to modern battery types.

  • Should the battery always be discharged to zero?- This is wrong. After a year of such use, you will notice that the smartphone is not enough even for a full day. No longer a new device should be discharged to a third of its capacity, and charged to 90-95%. You can also completely discharge the device once every six months, or after a long period of not using the smartphone, followed by charging it to 100%, so that the device synchronizes the system information with the actual charge indicators. This will extend the life of the battery and reduce the risk of fire.
  • Do you always need to charge the battery to 100% at one time?- This approach is not only not useful, but also harmful; it is much better to recharge the battery several times. Charging during the day in three or four times, during which the battery fullness will remain within 40-90%, allows you to minimize battery degradation.
  • Can't you use your phone while charging?- Another myth. However, there are devices for which this approach is really relevant: budget models with a poor cooling system. As you know, the battery heats up during charging, and with active use (Internet and video games), the smartphone additionally overheats due to the processor. Failure to comply with the temperature regime of lithium-ion batteries is one of the main factors in their accelerated wear.
  • Does your smartphone need to be charged overnight for the first time?— The first charge should last until the battery is full; rumors that this needs to be done for about 10 hours have absolutely no justification in relation to lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries.

Regarding lithium batteries, which most modern smartphones are equipped with. An interesting rule applies here: a full charge-discharge cycle wears them out, and partial recharges, on the contrary, increase their service life.

Preventing battery wear

Now let's figure out how to extend the life of your smartphone battery for as long as possible:

  • Consider the temperature. In cold temperatures above 20 degrees, most Li-On batteries simply stop delivering current, and when heated to more than 45 degrees, degradation processes are activated. You can charge your phone only at above-zero temperatures, and the reference operating temperature for modern batteries is considered to be +20 degrees.
  • If you are not going to use the device for a long time, it is recommended to turn it off with the charge at around 50%.
  • Charge your device whenever possible. Try to charge the battery several times a day (but not too often), keeping the charge level between 40% and 80%.
  • If you need to increase battery life, turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when they are not in use, the same applies to unnecessary applications running in the background that increase the device's power consumption.
  • Do not cover your smartphone. Close contact with materials with low thermal conductivity makes it difficult to remove heat from the phone, and this increases the risk of fire. This is especially true when using fast charging, in which case it would be a good idea to remove the phone from the case.

And don’t forget to follow electrical safety rules: use original chargers, and when using cheap Chinese chargers of questionable quality, do not leave your smartphone on charge for a long time without supervision.

But you shouldn’t be afraid to keep your smartphone on charge for an extra hour either; modern phones are equipped with advanced charge microcontrollers that turn off the power supply and recharge the battery at the required intervals to compensate for the resulting discharge. This does not have any noticeable effect on battery wear.

Quick Charge

But fast charging is worth talking about separately. When using QC, or its analogues, a higher power current is supplied to the battery, thereby speeding up the charging process, but there is one side effect - the battery gets very hot, and this, as we know, accelerates its degradation.

Why isn't fast charging the default? In addition to the obvious heating, fast charging is very uneven. The first 50-70% of the charge usually takes more than half as long as the remaining part. Because of this, the user may get into the habit of charging the device at 50%, which is harmful to the battery's health.

It is better to use Quick Charge only when really necessary, and in other cases give preference to regular charging. You should be especially careful with budget devices that support this technology, as well as non-original QC charging adapters.

Conclusion

To consolidate the information, let’s summarize how to properly charge the battery.

At the time of buying:

  1. New smartphones are shipped from the factory with a battery filled to 50%; you only need to charge it fully before using it.

During operation:

  1. Do not discharge your smartphone to zero.
  2. Maintain partial discharge-charge cycles within 40-90% to maximize battery life.
  3. Do not charge your smartphone in sub-zero temperatures.

During storage:

  1. Do not leave the battery completely discharged for a long period of time.
  2. Charge your unused smartphone to 50% and keep it turned off, recharge the device every few months.

That's all. Do not believe the myths circulating on the Internet and treat new information with a critical point of view. You shouldn’t fanatically overestimate the importance of proper charging, because if you follow the basic rules, electronics will not let you ruin your battery before the smartphone itself becomes obsolete.

Correctly for its longevity, the situation with batteries needs to be clarified. The whole point is in their types. Previously, portable laptops were equipped with iron-nickel and nickel-metal hydride batteries, but now laptops and smartphones have lithium-ion batteries.


Nickel batteries have a so-called “memory effect”. The essence of this phenomenon is as follows: if you charge a battery that is 30% full, the remaining 70% is remembered by the device as “full charge,” and it is clear that the original capacity is reduced. That is why the principle of charging a nickel battery has become widely known. Chemical changes when recharging a full battery result in reduced capacity in the future.


Modern portable ones are equipped with lithium-ion batteries that do not require full recharging.

How to charge your smartphone correctly

The device requires regular charging. Do not allow your smartphone to discharge completely, to 0%. Even draining the battery to 50% is not a good option. When the charge drops by 10-20%, it is already necessary to recharge the device.


The device cannot be left on. Modern lithium-ion devices do not require constant 100% recharging. The optimal charging option is from 40 to 80%. Try to stay within these boundaries. If the battery is fully charged, 100%, then it should not be left on charge; it is precisely such actions that lead to a reduction in the service life of electronic devices.

How to charge a smartphone if this process occurs at night

To ensure that lithium-ion batteries last for years, to maximize their lifespan, it is best to purchase energy-efficient outlets. When you charge the device overnight, special sockets automatically turn off the charger after a specified amount of time.


If the phone or laptop is not of Chinese origin, then it already has a native charge controller, which, upon reaching 100%, will automatically turn off charging, and in some cases even indicate full charging with a sound signal. Naturally, such normal devices can be left online for a long time.

How to charge your smartphone to increase its service life

Once a month, but not more often, you should completely discharge the electronics, and then charge them 100%. These steps are necessary to calibrate the device. The fact is that the devices show the remaining charge in minutes or percentage; these functions can become confused with frequent small recharges, and therefore they should be adjusted monthly in this way.


It is unacceptable to allow the device to overheat, this will significantly shorten its service life. For this reason, you should not work with your laptop on your lap.

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