Unfortunately, everyone uses their phones at this time of day, which makes it the worst time to charge them
At the end of the day, many people choose to charge their mobile phone before going to bed, making sure it is on the list for use the next day. Although this practice is a convenience, it can be one of the biggest mistakes that can happen, negatively affecting the useful life of this component.
To understand why, it’s important to know how lithium-ion batteries, which are what most cell phones use, work. It’s worth noting that they have a limited number of charge cycles that are completed when the battery is charged from 0% to 100% and then discharged back to 0%.
Each cycle corresponds to the use of its total capacity, regardless of whether you do it once or in several partial loads. For this reason, charging habits are essential to prolonging the life of your device.
It is important to note that charging your phone at the wrong time not only accelerates battery degradation but can also cause issues such as overheating or decreased performance in the long run.
The worst time to charge your cell phone is undoubtedly at night. Although it seems practical to leave it plugged in while you sleep, this practice leads to several problems that affect the battery. When the phone reaches 100%, it enters a state of “trickle charging,” where it constantly receives small amounts of power to stay at its peak.
This process generates heat, which is one of the main enemies of batteries, as it accelerates their degradation. In addition, if the device is on an unventilated surface, such as under a pillow, the accumulated heat can lead to increased corrosion.
In addition, long-term charging also involves the unnecessary use of battery cycles. Although manufacturers incorporate protection systems to prevent overcharging, these systems do not prevent the stress that cells experience when they remain at high levels for extended periods of time.
For this reason, it is important not to leave your phone plugged in overnight to avoid mistakes when charging it. In addition, keep the battery between 20% and 80%, as this range reduces wear and extends the life of this component.
Also, it is essential to avoid exposure to extreme cold or heat, as high temperatures, whether due to the sun or prolonged charging, have been shown to be particularly harmful to batteries.
Because low-quality accessories can cause overheating and damage to the battery and other components of the mobile phone. Try to charge your phone at times when you can disconnect it when it reaches the ideal charging level. For example, during the day, while you are doing other activities.
Adopting these habits will not only improve your phone’s performance, but it will also prevent common problems caused by bad charging habits. While it may seem practical, doing this overnight is a common mistake that has negative long-term consequences.