Most people are guilty of this: You’re using your phone and all of a sudden you see that dreaded red bar signaling that your battery is about to die. And then it does. It’s annoying when it happens, and even more so when you have to search for an outlet or power bank to charge your phone up again. But don’t worry, there are ways to prevent this from happening.
Of course, you can always charge your smartphone up whenever you see a power socket or use a power bank to stay in the green, but the tips that I want to present to you are meant to go beyond just re-charging as often as you can because sometimes, you just can’t.
10 Tips to maximize your phone’s battery
Here are 10 tips for prolonging your smartphone’s battery life. Some of the tips address the things you can do to preserve energy for your day, while other tips aim at prolonging your battery’s lifetime since both aspects lead to maximizing usage time if you view the subject from a holistic perspective.
1. Keep your phone updated
One of the best things you can do to prolong your smartphone’s battery life is to keep it updated. Operating system updates often include battery-saving improvements, so it’s important to install them as soon as they’re available. You can usually set your phone to update automatically, or you can check for updates manually by going to your settings app and selecting “software update.”
2. Use power-saving mode
Most smartphones have a “power-saving mode” or “low-power mode” that can help to prolong battery life. This mode typically reduces screen brightness, disables background data, and limits processor usage. You can usually enable power-saving mode manually in your phone’s settings, or some phones will enable it automatically when the battery gets low.
3. Reduce screen brightness
One of the biggest drains on your smartphone’s battery is the screen. If you want to prolong battery life, it’s important to reduce screen brightness as much as possible. You can usually do this in your phone’s display settings. Many phones also have an “auto-brightness” feature that will adjust screen brightness based on ambient light levels.
4. Disable unnecessary features
Your smartphone probably has a lot of features that you don’t use regularly. If you want to save battery life, it’s a good idea to disable these features. For example, if you don’t use GPS or Bluetooth, you can turn them off in your phone’s settings app. Many phones also have features like NFC and wireless charging that can be disabled if you don’t need them.
5. Use apps sparingly
Another big drain on your smartphone’s battery is apps. If you’re not using an app, it’s a good idea to close it so that it doesn’t continue running in the background and using up battery life. Additionally, it’s a good idea to limit the number of apps you have installed on your phone so that they don’t all compete for resources and drain your battery faster.
6. Avoid extreme temperatures
Extreme temperatures can be damaging to your smartphone’s battery life. It’s important to avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight or in a hot car for extended periods, as this can cause the battery to overheat and degrade more quickly. Similarly, you should avoid exposing your phone to cold temperatures for prolonged periods, as this can also damage the battery.
7. Don’t let your battery drain completely
It’s generally not a good idea to let your smartphone’s battery drain completely before charging it again. This can cause what is known as “battery memory,” where the battery only charges up to a certain point because it thinks that is at its full capacity now. Try and charge your Battery when it reaches around 20% if possible instead of waiting until it dies completely. Discharge cycles are still necessary though for the Battery indicator to stay accurate; once every 30 charges should do the trick without severely damaging capacity levels. However, if you must let it die completely, make sure you charge it back up as soon as possible afterward.
8. Use adaptive charging
If your smartphone supports adaptive charging, it’s a good idea to use this feature. Adaptive charging is a technology that adjusts the amount of power that is sent to your phone while it’s charging, based on the needs of the battery. This can help to prolong the life of your battery by preventing overcharging.
9. Avoid using bad chargers
I’m not convinced that only official chargers are okay to be used to charge your smartphone. However, I believe that there are also low-quality products out there that could harm not only your battery’s efficiency but might even harm your entire home or cause a fire hazard if things go wrong. So, be very careful with the chargers you use and make sure they are certified by a well-known safety organization.
10. Turn off your phone when you’re not using it
This one is pretty self-explanatory: if you’re not using your phone, turn it off. This will help to prolong battery life by preventing the battery from being drained while it’s not in use. Many people like to leave their phones on “standby” mode so that they can receive calls and texts, but this can use up more battery power than if you just turned the phone off completely.
Conclusion
A smartphone’s battery life can be improved by following a few simple tips. By turning off features that are not needed, adjusting screen brightness, and disabling wireless connectivity when not in use, users can extend the amount of time their device can last between charges. In addition, charging the phone regularly and using a power bank when necessary can also help to keep battery life optimized.
Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. We use them to stay connected with the world, take pictures and videos, and store important information. But one downside to all that power is a shortened battery life. We hope that you found the tips useful and wish you to always stay powered throughout your day.
Photo credit: The feature image has been done by Antonio Guillem.
