Households across Britain are being cautioned against charging their phones overnight. For countless Brits, plugging in their device before bedtime has become second nature.
However, whilst waking up to a fully charged battery might feel rewarding, keeping your phone connected to the charger all night long is actually ‘one of the worst things you can do’.
Tech specialists warn that this apparently innocent routine could be gradually damaging your phone’s battery whilst also inflating your electricity costs well beyond a few pennies.
Given that smartphone batteries now command prices exceeding £100 for professional replacement, and numerous contemporary devices make DIY fixes virtually impossible, even minor adjustments to your charging practices could deliver substantial savings over time, reports The Manchester Evening News.
“Most people don’t realise that overnight charging is one of the worst things you can do to a lithium-ion battery,” explains a spokesperson from Outplayed.
“It’s convenient, but convenience often comes at a cost.”
The issue extends beyond simply leaving your device plugged in for longer than required.
Contemporary smartphones represent sophisticated technology, yet their batteries prove remarkably fragile when exposed to heat and extended charging periods.
Heat accumulation stands as the main destroyer of your mobile device.
The charging process produces heat, and lithium-ion batteries deteriorate considerably more rapidly when exposed to elevated temperatures. People are being warned against leaving your phone charging under a pillow or duvet as you’re causing battery damage, and even charging on your bedside table isn’t ideal.
Once your battery hits 100 per cent, your charger doesn’t simply switch off. Instead, it continues “trickle charging” – constantly topping up the battery throughout the night to maintain that full charge.
“Think of it like constantly filling up a full glass of water,” the Outplayed spokesperson said.
“The battery is working overtime to manage this constant input, which wears out the cells much faster than you’d expect.”
Maintaining your battery at 100 per cent for hours at a time is far more demanding on the cells than allowing it to fluctuate between 20-80 per cent charge levels.
The tech specialists say that straightforward modifications to when and how you charge can significantly extend your battery’s lifespan.
Outplayed suggests charging during daylight hours when you can disconnect once the battery reaches capacity.
Target partial charges rather than complete 0-100 per cent cycles, and consider using a slower charger when you’re not in a hurry, as rapid chargers produce more heat and strain the battery.
Contemporary phones are becoming cleverer about this too. Apple’s Optimised Battery Charging and Samsung’s Protect Battery mode both learn your routine and delay charging past 80 per cent until you actually need it.
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