Best Practices for a Smartphone Battery: Should You Unplug It After Charging?
Many people believe it's a best-practice to keep their smartphone plugged in overnight, starting the new day with a fully charged phone. However, is this really necessary? What are the best practices to maintain a healthy smartphone battery? Let's explore the pros and cons of leaving your phone plugged in and the best ways to care for your device's battery.
Overnight Charging: A Commonsense Practice
Many users, particularly in households where safety and convenience are top priorities, choose to plug their phones in overnight. This ensures that the phone is fully charged in the morning, ready for the day's use. Additionally, various features such as cloud backups and software updates can occur automatically if connected to Wi-Fi during the night. If something unexpected happens, a fully charged phone can be more manageable.
Manufacturers' Overcharge Protection
Modern smartphones and laptops come with built-in overcharge protection mechanisms. Once the battery reaches full charge, the device automatically switches to the power supply, providing the necessary power. Therefore, there's no immediate need to unplug the phone as soon as it reaches full charge. However, for safety reasons, it's recommended to unplug the charger from the socket once the phone has finished charging.
Charging Beyond Full Charge
My personal experience with my Samsung S9 suggests that leaving the phone plugged in for extended periods may not necessarily cause harm. In fact, many users report that the phone stays at full charge and continues to recharge slightly, but this can vary with different models and usage patterns. Some users keep their phones plugged in overnight and have noticed no significant impact on their battery life.
Recommended Battery Charging Practices
Experts recommend that the battery should be unplugged once it depletes to 20%, and then be recharged in the morning. This practice helps to manage the battery's health and ensures it supports the phone throughout the day. Using the phone while it's plugged in can keep it at full charge and avoids the wear and tear of partial discharge cycles, which can ultimately reduce the battery's lifespan. When the phone is plugged in, the charger runs the device, and any excess power goes towards maintaining the battery level.
Modern Phone Technology and Battery Management
For modern smartphones released after 2018 or 2020, the decision to leave the phone plugged in or not is largely a matter of personal preference. These devices come equipped with advanced cutoffs and safety features that manage the charge and protect the battery. The phone's electronics is designed to monitor and regulate battery health, so it's generally safe to leave the phone plugged in, even while using it.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision to unplug your smartphone after reaching full charge is a matter of convenience and personal preference. While long-term overnight charging may not harm modern devices, it's important to monitor and manage your battery's health to ensure optimum performance. By following these best practices, you can maintain a healthy smartphone battery and enjoy a longer, more reliable device.