When to Charge Your iPhone or iPad for Optimal Battery Life

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Are you confused about how to properly charge your iOS devices, like an iPhone or iPad? You’re not alone! There’s a lot of misinformation floating around, often dating back to older battery technologies. Today, we’ll clarify some common misconceptions about charging Lithium-ion batteries and lay out the best practices for keeping your devices charged and healthy.

Understanding Lithium-Ion Batteries

Unlike older Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) batteries, Lithium-ion batteries used in modern devices like iPhones don’t require deep discharging or full charging cycles. In fact, frequently letting your device battery drop to zero can be detrimental. So, what are the best practices?

Charge Whenever You Want

The first rule? Charge your device whenever you feel like it! You don’t need to wait for your battery to hit rock bottom before plugging it in. It’s perfectly fine to charge your device when it’s at around 40% and unplug it around 80%. You won’t harm the battery by charging it at any percentage, and there’s no need to turn off your device while charging.

Overnight Charging is Ideal

One of the best charging practices is to plug in your device overnight. Modern iPhones stop charging automatically once they reach 100%, so you’re safe from overcharging. If you set up automatic backups through iTunes or iCloud, your device will backup every night while it’s asleep and connected to Wi-Fi. This way, you wake up to a fully charged phone with your data securely backed up.

Take Advantage of Optimized Charging

Starting with iOS 13, Apple offered an "Optimized Charging" feature. When activated, your phone will charge to 80% overnight and then resume charging closer to the time you usually wake up. This innovative feature helps extend the lifespan of your battery by reducing the time spent at maximum charge. It also lowers the number of charge cycles, which is key to maintaining battery health.

For instance, if you put your phone on the charger by 9:30 PM, it will charge to 80% and stay there until around 6 AM, when it resumes charging to 100%.

What to Do If Your Battery Life Seems Off

If you find your battery is draining faster than expected, Apple provides guidance for managing battery performance. You can find more information here.

Key Charging Insights

Smart Charging: Your iOS device has a built-in charging mechanism that prevents overcharging, making the charging brick or cable merely a source of power.
Avoid Complete Draining: Draining a Lithium-ion battery to 0% even once can harm it. If it shuts off at 0%, there’s still a small amount of charge left to protect the battery, but leaving it uncharged for too long can lead to permanent damage.
Charge Earlier: It’s wise to charge your device when the battery dips below 20%. This helps prevent unexpected shutdowns and keeps you connected when you need it most.
Manage Extended Unused Periods: If you won’t use your device for a while, charge it to around 50% before putting it away. Avoid letting it sit unused for weeks.
Use Quality Chargers: Only use high-quality USB power sources. Avoid cheap, unbranded chargers to prevent damage—and potential safety hazards.
Fast Charging Options: For iPhone 12 and later, you can fast-charge with a compatible USB-C power source. When fast charging, the device might slow down the charge rate as it reaches about 75% to avoid overheating.

What Can You Use for Charging?

Any Apple power source with USB-A or USB-C outputs will work.
Third-party chargers should be from reputable manufacturers and certified "Made for iOS" (MFI).
Look for Qi-compatible wireless chargers and MagSafe chargers for seamless charging experiences.
Avoid any unknown or cheap powering options that could harm your device.

Last Thoughts on Battery Health

Keep in mind that all batteries have a limited lifespan. Over time, their total capacity decreases, generally under normal usage, with iPhones able to maintain about 80% capacity after 500 cycles. If your battery performance drops below this, it may be time for a replacement, which Apple can help with.

By following these tips, you’ll not only keep your iOS device running efficiently, but also extend its battery life. Now that you know how to charge your devices properly, you’re set to keep your phone powered up and ready to go at all times!