Figuring out the optimal charging routine for your iPhone can ensure your battery lasts as long as possible. With iPhones being such a vital part of our everyday lives, you want to take proper care of your device’s battery so it doesn’t wear out quickly. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of iPhone batteries, factors that affect battery life, optimal charging habits, and tips to extend your battery’s lifespan.
How iPhone Batteries Work
First, let’s go over some key things to know about how iPhone batteries function:
- iPhone batteries are lithium-ion batteries, which is the standard for modern smartphones and tablets.
- The battery capacity or mAh (milliampere hours) rating determines how much charge it can hold. Higher mAh = longer battery life.
- Lithium-ion batteries slowly lose capacity over time as they go through charge cycles. After hundreds of cycles, the battery begins degrading more rapidly.
- Heat accelerates the degradation process of lithium-ion batteries.
- Letting the battery fully drain places strain on it and should be avoided when possible.
Knowing these basics will help you understand how to optimize your iPhone’s battery life. Now let’s look at some of the factors that affect your battery’s lifespan.
Factors That Impact iPhone Battery Life
There are several variables that determine how long your iPhone battery will last between charges:
iPhone Model and Age
Newer iPhone models have progressively larger batteries and more efficient processors and screens. This translates to longer battery life compared to older models. And as mentioned earlier, batteries lose capacity as they age, so a 3-year old iPhone will need charging more frequently than a brand new one.
iOS Version
Apple’s iOS updates include various performance enhancements and battery optimizations. Keeping your iPhone up to date with the latest iOS version can help maximize daily battery life.
Screen Brightness
One of the biggest battery drains on your iPhone is the screen brightness. The brighter you set the screen, the more battery power it consumes. Keeping brightness below 75% extends battery life.
App Usage and Background Activity
Actively using apps, especially graphically-intensive games, will substantially reduce battery compared to idle standby time. And apps refreshing data in the background can also accelerate battery drain.
Location Services
Using GPS and location services in apps eats up battery life. You can toggle location access on a per-app basis to optimize battery when location isn’t needed.
Wi-Fi and Cellular Connectivity
Actively using Wi-Fi and cellular data consumes more power than when the iPhone is in Airplane Mode. Poor signal from a weak cell tower also drains the battery faster as the iPhone ramps up its transmit power.
Extreme Temperatures
Exposing your iPhone to very warm or cold environments, like left in a hot car in summer or a freezing cold winter night, can temporarily reduce battery performance. Optimal range is around room temperature.
Now that we’ve covered the essentials on how iPhone batteries work and what affects their lifespan, let’s get into specific recommendations and best practices for charging…
How Often Should I Charge My iPhone?
With normal daily use, most iPhone models can go 1-2 days between full charges. Certain ultra-high capacity models like the iPhone 11 Pro Max may last closer to 2-3 days.
To maximize your battery’s lifespan, avoid frequent full discharge and charge cycles. Keeping your iPhone charged between 40-80% as much as possible is ideal. However, this isn’t always practical for most people, so here are some good general charging guidelines:
- Plug your iPhone in to charge overnight up to 80-90%. This ensures you start each day with a full charge.
- Top up your iPhone around midday back up over 50% if needed.
- Try not to let your battery drop below 20% before recharging.
- Power down your iPhone when battery is low rather than allowing full discharge.
- Aim to keep battery levels between 40% and 80% during your awake hours.
The key is avoiding frequent 100% to 0% full discharge and charge cycles. Sticking to partial top-ups during the day maintains healthy battery levels without excessive strain.
Should I Let My iPhone Battery Drain Completely?
No, you should avoid fully draining your iPhone’s battery all the way to 0% whenever possible. Deep discharges put a lot of strain on lithium-ion batteries and degrade their overall lifespan. The exceptions would be if you need to calibrate the battery gauge or perform a hard reset by draining the phone completely.
Does Charging Overnight Harm my iPhone Battery?
Charging your iPhone overnight is generally fine and poses no harm as modern lithium-ion batteries stop accepting charge when they reach 100%. However, keeping your iPhone plugged in after it reaches full charge does subject the battery to elevated voltages which adds slight wear. Try to unplug your iPhone once it hits 100% rather than leaving it plugged in all night.
Should I Disable Charging Features Like Optimized Battery Charging?
No, features like Optimized Battery Charging on newer iPhones help reduce wear and extend lifespan. Optimized Charging learns your daily charging routine and holds your iPhone’s battery at 80% while charging overnight until right before you normally unplug it. This reduces wear from prolonged 100% charges. Keep this and similar battery health features enabled.
Tips to Extend Your iPhone Battery Lifespan
Here are some additional tips to get the most out of your iPhone battery and extend its overall lifespan:
Use Low Power Mode
Flip on Low Power Mode when you need to squeeze extra hours from your iPhone battery. This disables background refresh and throttles performance.
Disable Unneeded Background App Refresh
Apps that continually update and refresh in the background drain battery. Disable background activity for apps that don’t need it.
Reduce Screen Brightness
Your screen drains a significant portion of battery power. Lower brightness below 75% and set Auto-Brightness so it optimizes for your environment.
Turn Off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi When Not in Use
Keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi toggled off when not actively needed to conserve battery in between charges.
Avoid Exposing iPhone to Extreme Heat or Cold
Try to keep your iPhone around room temperature rather than leaving it baking hot in the sun or freezing overnight in a cold car.
Update to Latest iOS Version
Apple’s latest iOS updates include battery health optimizations. Keep your iPhone up-to-date for best battery performance.
Replace Aging iPhone Battery
If your iPhone battery is over 2-3 years old, has degraded significantly, or is causing unexpected shutdowns, consider replacing the battery to restore battery life and performance.
iPhone Battery Replacement Cost
If you determine your iPhone battery needs replacing, Apple offers battery service and replacements at these typical costs:
| iPhone Model | Battery Replacement Cost |
|---|---|
| iPhone 14/14 Plus | $99 |
| iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max | $99 |
| iPhone 13/13 Mini/13 Pro/13 Pro Max | $69 |
| iPhone 12/12 Mini/12 Pro/12 Pro Max | $69 |
| iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max | $49 |
| iPhone XS/XS Max | $69 |
| iPhone XR | $49 |
| iPhone X | $69 |
| iPhone 8/8 Plus | $49 |
| iPhone 7/7 Plus | $49 |
| iPhone 6S/6S Plus | $49 |
| iPhone SE (1st or 2nd gen) | $49 |
Apple may offer additional discounts on battery replacements depending on your iPhone’s warranty status. Third party repair shops generally offer lower cost battery replacements than Apple but may use inferior quality parts.
Conclusion
Getting the most out of your iPhone battery requires finding a good routine that avoids excessive strain from frequent full charge cycles. Keep your battery between 40-80% charge as much as possible. Recharge partially drained batteries with top-up charges throughout the day. Avoid leaving your iPhone plugged in overnight after it reaches 100%. And take advantage of iOS battery health features. With some diligence and smart charging habits, your iPhone battery can maintain excellent lifespan and performance even after years of use.