Does Charging an iPhone Overnight Damage the Battery?

Whether you use iPhone or any other mobile, there is one thing in common in most of us: we have a habit of charging our phones overnight. As a result, most people have their chargers on the bedside table; they want a fully charged device when they wake up. You have probably heard that it’s not good to leave your iPhone charging overnight and also the opposite, that it’s perfectly fine to do so. So which one is the truth? First, we need to understand the kind of battery we use in modern times and then why charging your iPhone overnight is terrible.

A decade ago, NiMH batteries were used in mobile phones, but modern iPhones use Li-Ion batteries because they are quicker to charge. Nevertheless, there is a problem with Li-Ion batteries as they generate a lot of heat, which can lead to overheating of a device. This would be a significant problem you may face while charging your iPhone overnight.

However, in the case of the iPhone, it features optimised charging which learns from your daily charging habits to improve your battery’s lifespan. As a result, the iPhone battery is expected to lose only 10% of its capacity each year. Apple says an iPhone battery “is designed to retain up to 80 per cent of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions,” but daily overnight charging accelerates its degradation.

According to Apple, a complete charge cycle is finished when you’ve used an amount that equals 100 per cent of your battery’s capacity. For example, when you use 65% of the battery in one day, fully recharge it and use 35% the next day – that is one charge cycle. A charge cycle every day means your iPhone battery will drop to 80% capacity in less than three years.

Plug the iPhone in before it asks you to enter a low-power mode, meaning iOS will ask you to turn that on when you hit 20% power or lower. So, plug it in when the device is 30-40%. If you’re using a fast charger, the iPhone gets to 80% quickly. Pull the plug at 80-90%, as going to 100% when using a fast charger can strain the battery. Keep the phone battery charge between 30-80% to increase lifespan.

iPhone isn’t a device with significantly longer battery life, but you can still use it for a long time by charging it right. But if you are not charging it overnight, how would you go a whole day without losing power? Here are a few tips to charge your iPhone correctly to keep it healthy.

1) Stop charging your iPhone overnight

Most of us have an hour or two before work or school. If you manage your time correctly, you can charge the iPhone right after waking up. Then, when you take breakfast, shower and get ready, your iPhone will be charged 70-80%, enough to last for most of the day.

2) Carry a charger with you wherever you go

It may sound inconvenient, but placing a separate charger in the office and car is easy. You can charge it during the lunch break too. It may be short, but frequent charges work better than a one-long charge. You would also have an opportunity to leave your iPhone aside for socialising.

3) Use a portable charger (Power bank)

A power bank is super helpful if you are usually on the move. It’s a great solution to your charging problems and doesn’t cost much. Plenty of power banks are available with different charging capacities according to your use.

We are so much into our phones these days, whether for browsing the Web, making calls, watching videos, playing games or texting. That’s why we hardly have time to leave them to recharge their batteries. So instead, we prefer to leave it plugged in overnight on a nightstand and have a 100% charged phone to start the day.

However, by doing so, we are killing the batteries slowly and decreasing the life of our iPhones. If you plan to use your iPhone for a year or two, you shouldn’t care how you charge it, but if you are going to use it for a long time, consider taking care of the battery correctly.

In a nutshell, charging your iPhone frequently and when needed works better than charging it overnight; that way, you could use it for an extended period and get a good resell value for your iPhone. Speaking of selling your old iPhone, you can sell it to Mobile Guru. It’s a 100% Australian reseller and offers up to 24 months warranty with 30 days of return policy. Call 1300 362 017 or email hello@mobileguruaustralia.com.au, and a dedicated team will gladly help you.