Originally published at: 7 Tips For A Healthier, Happier Battery - Fairphone
Did you know, one of the leading reasons why people decide to buy a new phone is a dying battery? That adds up, because a battery on its last legs can directly impact the performance of your device. It can slow it down, cause it to freeze up and hang, and die on you at the most inopportune times. One of the most requested products in our webshop is also the battery. Most people pick one up two to three years after buying a phone from us, but some also pick one up as a back-up to use when on-the go. That’s because swapping in a fully charged battery in a Fairphone is super easy. You can literally pop, swap, and go. (FYI, if you’re in the market for a smartphone, now is the time to make the fair choice. The Fairphone 4 and the Fairphone 5 both now come with a FREE spare battery. Just saying.)
It goes without saying, then, that taking care of your battery’s overall health can help extend its lifespan and help you beat the industry average. The longer you keep your battery going, the less your battery’s carbon footprint, after all. Here are seven ways you can start improving your battery’s lifespan.
- Keep your phone cool: Heat plays a huge role in speeding up battery degradation. That’s why it is always important to keep your smartphone in relatively cool conditions. Do not leave it in direct sunlight or inside a hot car for example. While chances of it exploding are minimal (but not completely zero), bringing the heat can do quite the number on your smartphone’s battery.
- Keep a check on battery-intensive apps: This is for the joystick warriors and future Scorseses out there. While it’s amazing to shoot stuff for hours, be it with the camera or in PUBG Battlegrounds, it doesn’t do wonders for your smartphone’s battery. Gaming and photography apps tend to build up heat in your smartphone’s chassis. Check your app usage to see which ones are using the most power and optimize them (and your usage) accordingly.
- Avoid non-compatible chargers: USB-C chargers are a dime-a-dozen nowadays. That doesn’t mean you should be content plugging in any charger on your phone. Using chargers with higher voltage outputs can stress the battery and lead to faster degradation. Make sure you are using chargers that are either recommended by the manufacturer or are specifically designed for your phone.
- Don’t let your battery go down to zero: Letting your battery discharge completely means your smartphone battery will have to work harder to get it back up to a 100%. Lithium-ion batteries, like the ones found in most smartphones, tend to perform better and for longer, with shallow battery cycles. That’s why it is recommended to keep the battery level above 20% always.
- Overcharging isn’t the best either: In the past, there used to be serious concerns about leaving your battery to charge overnight. Today, most modern smartphones automatically cut off the power supply when your phone battery reaches 100%. However, it is still recommended to remove your device from the charger when it is done charging. In the long run, your battery will thank you.
- Update your phone’s software: Your phone’s software goes a long way in extending your day-to-day battery life and overall battery health. So when manufacturers roll out software updates, there’s always a good chance there might be tweaks made to improve your battery’s performance in relation to your phone’s software. So, keep your phone up to date always.
- Go halfsies for deep storage: If you’re planning to retire your phone temporarily, don’t store it away with a 100% charge. Opt for 50% instead. Storing a lithium-ion battery at full charge for long periods of inactivity can quicken battery degradation.
Of course, like all things, even batteries have a shelf life. If you feel your battery’s not performing like it used to when you first got it, it’s time to swap in a new one. Make sure to recycle your old battery with a local recycler. That will go a long way to reduce electronic waste and help make new batteries.
FYI, if you pick up a new Fairphone 4 or Fairphone 5 now, we’ll give you a spare battery for free. That’s double the battery life right there!