Why do phone manufacturers hide this fact about the battery, which they fear will upset users?
It has been almost 30 years since the birth of the digital phone, and since the advent of these devices in 1995, their batteries have evolved significantly. However, to this day, they still have inherent limitations. Most modern mobile phones use lithium-ion batteries, which, although they offer high capacity and efficiency, are prone to degradation over time due to unavoidable chemical processes.
- Charging the battery to 100% reduces its lifespan.
A large number of smartphone users are unaware of a harsh truth: charging a phone to 100% damages the battery and reduces its lifespan. A perfect example of planned obsolescence. However, manufacturers have chosen not to disclose this information publicly, fearing consumer backlash over the idea of not achieving a full charge.
Lithium-ion batteries are used in most modern devices, but they are subject to chemical degradation when stored at high voltages. “Maintaining the maximum charge continuously reduces the battery life by 20 to 30 percent after just one year,” says American Dr. John Goodenough, one of the inventors of this technology. A study by Battery University supports this claim, noting that a battery loses up to 40 percent of its original capacity after 500 full charge cycles, while if it is limited to 80 percent, the loss is no more than 15-20 percent.
Although this information is well known in the industry, major manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have chosen not to make it public. However, internal guidelines from these companies recommend avoiding 100% charging.
- How are major brands responding to this?
Some companies have started introducing hidden features to mitigate this problem. Since iOS 13, Apple has implemented a system that keeps the charge at 80% overnight. Samsung and Google have also developed similar mechanisms, but their effectiveness depends on the user’s charging habits.
Similarly, some Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Huawei offer a “Battery Optimization Mode” that limits charging to 80-90%, although this option is not enabled by default or publicly promoted. For more conscious users, there are apps like AccuBattery or Battery Limiter, which alert you when you reach a certain charge level to prevent premature wear.