Nowadays, nearly everyone uses a cellphone.
Whether to communicate, check messages, scroll social media or play games, cellphones have become an integral part of many people’s daily routines.
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However, there are plenty of myths surrounding how to get the most out of your handheld device — including how long it should be charged.
PC Mag discusses several of these rumors and sets the record straight about how many are actually false.
Read below for more:
MYTH 1: Charging an iPhone overnight overloads the battery.
Smart devices these days are advanced enough to avoid being overloaded.
Many modern cell phones, tablets and laptops include extra protective chips, so once the internal battery hits 100% capacity, the charging stops.
However, older phones could have issues, as they might constantly trickle a little energy into the battery every time it hits 99% while still plugged in.
This can eat into the device’s lifespan, though newer operating systems and optimized battery settings can allow devices to stay below the 80% charge threshold when left on a charger overnight.
Just be careful not to leave anything on top of the charging device — such as books, other devices or pillows — as they can cause your phone to become heated and possibly damage the battery.
MYTH 2: Freezing a phone prevents battery problems.
The lithium-ion batteries used in your smartphone don’t respond well to either extreme heat or extreme cold.
Charging a phone in freezing or baking (over 95 degrees) temperatures can kill the battery faster, so try to avoid these environments when giving your device some juice.
And don’t put your phone in the freezer.
MYTH 3: The battery should drop to zero before charging a phone.
Running a phone until it’s dead — or even close to dead — can wear out the battery faster than normal.
This can potentially help recalibrate the internal sensor that displays the phone’s battery level, though that’s not always the case, either.
Instead, the optimal strategy is to keep your phone’s battery charged between 30% and 80% if you want to extend its lifespan.
And while fast-charging can give your phone more juice more quickly, it’s not supported by all models, so if your phone doesn’t support it, it’ll be just another thing to strain the battery.
MYTH 4: Swipe up on apps to save battery.
This method of closing iPhone apps can help to reboot the app itself, but it doesn’t do anything to help your battery.
In fact, opening and closing apps over and over again can actually use up more energy than if you just left it running in the background.
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