4 habits to avoid when charging your iPhone

The lithium-ion batteries in iPhones always generate heat during charging because some of the energy is converted into heat and lithium ions move between the electrodes. This is normal, but if the heat increases too much, the battery will age faster, its capacity will decrease, and there is a potential risk of instability.

Therefore, the most important thing when charging an iPhone is to avoid any habits that increase the device's temperature. In addition, Apple has integrated many features to help protect the battery that users should take advantage of.

1. Avoid frequently charging your battery to 100%.

Many people believe that the fuller the battery, the longer it will last, but this isn't entirely true for lithium-ion batteries.

When a battery is kept at 100% for extended periods, the battery cells are subjected to high voltage, accelerating chemical aging and causing the battery capacity to degrade more rapidly over time. Additionally, fully charged batteries are less efficient at storing energy, with some of the electrical energy being converted into heat.

If you're using an iPhone 15 or newer models, you can set a Charge Limit so that the battery only charges to a certain level instead of always staying at 100%.

To set it up, open Settings > select Battery > tap Charging > set the charging limit as needed.

2. Don't overlook the optimized battery charging feature.

A common rule of thumb for extending the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is to maintain the battery level between 20% and 80%, avoiding letting the battery completely drain or keeping it at full charge for extended periods.

However, this isn't always easy to do, especially for those who have a habit of charging their devices overnight.

Fortunately, iPhones are equipped with an Optimized Battery Charging feature. This feature learns the user's usage habits, pauses charging at around 80%, and only fully charges the battery just before you normally unplug it.

This helps reduce the time the battery has to maintain a high voltage level, thereby limiting the aging process.

To enable this feature, open Settings > select Battery > tap Charging > turn on Optimized Battery Charging.

3. Avoid playing games or running demanding tasks while charging.

Tasks such as playing high-graphics games, editing videos, or running demanding applications will cause the system-on-a-chip (SoC) to operate at a higher power than usual.

In that case, the device consumes more power and generates more heat. While the charging process itself generates heat, running heavy tasks while charging can cause the iPhone to overheat significantly.

For example, playing PUBG Mobile while charging will cause the phone to overheat much more than when just reading emails or texting.

Unless absolutely necessary, users should limit their use of the iPhone while charging or only perform light tasks to reduce the device's temperature.

Additionally, you should place your phone in a well-ventilated area while charging, avoiding placing it under pillows or blankets, or using overly thick phone cases that hinder heat dissipation.

4. Avoid using low-quality chargers.

Users can charge their iPhones with many different types of chargers, but chargers from unknown sources or that do not meet standards can pose many risks such as overheating, damage to the charging port, unstable charging, and even damage to the device's motherboard.

Apple recommends using genuine chargers or MFi-certified (Made for iPhone) accessories. This is a certification program for third-party accessories that meet standards for safety, performance, and compatibility with Apple devices.

When buying chargers from other brands, users should carefully check the MFi certification label and choose products from reputable manufacturers to avoid buying counterfeit or low-quality goods.

Although the price might be slightly higher, a standard charger is a worthwhile investment to protect your iPhone and extend its battery life for many years of use.