Smartphone batteries utilize lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery technology that has the capability to be recharged unlike other technologies. It’s the hardware that basically powers your smartphone on a daily basis. Lets look at several tips on how you will be able to get the most of our smartphone battery.
Charging the battery
Its is always advisable to charge the battery to full capacity before using it for the first time or when it has been unused for extended periods. Use only smartphone manufacturer’s approved battery, charger, and cable specifically designed for your device. Incompatible battery, charger, and cable can cause serious injuries or damage to your device.
When you connect the charger improperly, this may cause serious damage to the device and in most cases any damage caused by misuse is not covered by the warranty. Use only USB Type-C, lightening (for iPhones and iPads) or mini- USB cable supplied with the device. The device may be damaged if you use an incompatible USB cable.
To save energy, unplug the charger when not in use. The charger does not have a power switch, so you must unplug the charger from the electric socket when not in use to avoid wasting power. The charger should remain close to the electric socket and easily accessible while charging.
- Connect the USB cable to the USB power adapter.
- Plug the USB cable into the device’s multipurpose jack (audio and data transfer port).
- Plug the USB power adapter into an electric socket.
- After fully charging, disconnect the charger from the device. Then, unplug the charger from the electric socket.
How to reduce smartphone battery consumption
Most smartphones provide various options that help you conserve battery power .
- Optimize the device using the device care feature this is mainly for Samsung devices.
- When you are not using the device, turn off the screen by pressing the power button or decrease the back-light time off to less than 10 seconds to turn off screen within 10 seconds when you are not using the phone
- Activate power saving mode. Most phones came with power saving mode that optimizes your battery life by switching off power consuming features like data and high power consuming activities
- Close unnecessary apps.
- Deactivate the Bluetooth feature when not in use.
- Deactivate auto-syncing of apps that need to be synced.
- Decrease the screen brightness.
Battery charging precautions and tips
When the battery power is low, the battery icon appears empty. If the battery is completely discharged, the device cannot be turned on immediately when the charger is connected. Allow a depleted battery to charge for a few minutes before turning on the device.
If you use multiple apps at once, network apps, or apps that need a connection to another device, the battery will drain quickly. To avoid losing power during a data transfer, always use these apps after fully charging the battery. It should be noted that using a power source other than the charger, such as a computer, may result in a slower charging speed due to a lower electric current.
We love using our devices whilst they are charging, this may not be a bad thing but you should note that it may take the battery longer to fully charge the battery. So if you want you battery to recharge quickly do not use it while its charging. For some devices, if they receive an unstable power supply while charging, the touchscreen may not function. If this happens, unplug the charger from the device.
While charging, the device and the charger may heat up. This is normal and should not affect the device’s lifespan or performance. If the battery gets hotter than usual smartphone manufacturer put in precautions to stop charger from charging this is avoids battery explosions. If this occurs during wireless charging, disconnect the device from the charger to let it cool down, then charge the device again later.
If you charge the device while the charging port is wet, the device may be damaged. Thoroughly dry the USB port before charging the device. If the device is not charging properly, take the device and the charger to a device maker’s Service Center to check out the battery.
Is fast charging safe?
Most flagship smartphones now come with the fast charging feature to allow users charge their phones in shorter times. This means you have to use a special charger that deposits more than usual power to your phone to charge in less times. Vivo recently announced Super FlashCharge 120W technology that is capable of fully charging a 4,000 mAh phone battery in just 13 minutes.
If the device heats up or the ambient air temperature rises, the charging speed may decrease automatically. This is a normal operating condition to prevent damage to the device.
Wireless Charging
Smartphones that support wireless charging have an built-in wireless charging coil. You can charge the battery using a wireless charger which in most cases is sold separately.
Fast wireless charging
If supported, you can charge your device faster using the fast wireless charging feature. To use this feature, you must use a charger and components that support the fast wireless charging feature. In Samsung phones, if the fast wireless charging feature is not activated, launch the Settings app, tap Device care -> Battery-> Settings, and then tap the Fast wireless charging switch to activate it.
Its should be noted that the on/off option will be added in your device’s settings menu when you first place it on the charger. While charging, you cannot activate or deactivate this feature. Some wireless chargers come with fans, so it may produce noise during fast wireless charging.
How to wirelessly charge the battery
Place the center of the device’s back on the center of the wireless charger. The estimated charging time will appear on the notification panel. The actual charging time may vary depending on the charging conditions.
After fully charging, disconnect the device from the wireless charger. Please ensure not to;
- Place the device on the wireless charger with a credit card or radio-frequency identification (RFID) card (such as ATM card or a key card) placed between the back of the device and the device cover.
- Place the device on the wireless charger when conductive materials, such as metal objects and magnets, are placed between the device and the wireless charger.
The device may not charge properly or may overheat, or the device and the cards may be damaged.
Wireless PowerShare or reverse wireless charging
In 2018, Huawei ushered in the technology that allows reverse power sharing on their Mate 20 Pro. Most manufactures have adopted this technology to allow users share their battery juice to other devices like ear buds, phones or smartwatches. This technology will take a toil on your battery life so only share your battery power if you are you have enough juice to last you throughout the day.
You can still charge another device even while charging your device. Depending on the type of accessories or cover being used, the PowerShare feature may not work properly. It is recommended to remove any accessories and cover being used before using this feature.
When charging, place the other device on the center of your device, with their backs facing each other. The location of the wireless charging coil may vary by device model. Adjust the devices to connect with each other properly.
When you are finished charging, disconnect the other device from your device. Only devices that support the wireless charging feature can be charged using this feature. Some devices may not be charged. If you charge the other device while charging your device, the charging speed may decrease or the device may not charge properly depending on the charger type. If the remaining battery power drops below a certain level, power sharing will stop.
Do you have any smartphone battery tips that you can share? Feel free to leave in the comment section below.
