Hey Dubuque, Phone Battery Not Holding Up? Fix These Bad Habits to Stay Charged

It’s amazing that in a few short years, science fiction has become real life. We can check the temperature and weather patterns across the globe, schedule a car ride or buy plane tickets, and even video chat, all with a small device nearly everyone carries around. Yes, our cell phones are modern tools that are extremely versatile and have become a literal carry-on. The tech in these tiny machines is astounding: the batteries that run them, however… ugh.

Let’s just put it this way: if your phone battery still lasts all day after a year and can hold a full 100% charge, you’re probably using an old-school Nokia. Those things were indestructible. You could run one over with your car at 16 years old, and it would still work just fine... allegedly. Anyway, I have been looking across the inter-webs for ways to lengthen the life of my iPhone's battery without paying for a full-on replacement.

Well, according to tech experts at How-To Geek, the problem isn’t that phone batteries are bad. Rather, it’s how we're using them. Lithium-ion batteries, which power nearly every phone today, don’t like extremes. Leaving your phone dead at 0% or plugged in at 100% all night puts stress on the battery and speeds up its decline. Essentially, extremes are bad for batteries. Think of it like eating nothing all day, then going to an all-you-can-eat buffet. Your stomach wouldn’t love that either, and if you overfill... yuck.

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How-To Geek suggests keeping your battery between about 20% and 80% whenever possible. That means fewer dramatic last-minute charges and fewer overnight “hope for the best” situations. The good news? Topping off your phone during the day is actually fine. Better in fact. What really matters are charge cycles, not how many times you plug in your phone. Small, frequent charges are easier on the battery than having it "gorge" nightly.

Additional heat is another battery killer. Using your phone while it’s charging (I'm super guilty on this one), playing games it can’t quite handle (guilty again, probably), or relying too heavily on wireless charging can all generate extra heat, and heat is public enemy number one for battery health. And yes, software updates suck and eventually can brick older phones, but they are necessary for your battery's health, as some bug fixes can correct energy consumption and usage. Being the avid hikers we are, my family usually brings mobile charging packs on adventures. That extra battery is great in case of an emergency, or if you know your battery won't last the day while taking pictures and running GPS on the trails.

The bottom line? Your phone doesn’t need perfection, but it may need a new routine. Treat the battery a bit better, and it might return the favor.