Loading the iPhone looks like one of the simplest tasks that exist. You just have to connect the cable, wait a few hours and voila, but what many users do not know is that this daily routine, apparently harmless, You can be damaging the battery In the long term.
And no, we are not talking about using a charger of doubtful origin or leaving it plugged in all night, although that also has its consequences, but of a habit that we all do: load the iphone at 100% always.
Is it bad to load the iPhone up to 100%?
Yes, it may seem strange, but keeping the battery to the maximum capacity constantly is not the best for your health. In fact, Apple has been recognizing it for years and has even implemented specific functions in iOS for Limit the load in order to protect the battery. The problem is that many users ignore or deactivate them without knowing that they are lengthening the useful life of their iPhone.
The iPhone batteries, like those of most current electronic devices, are lithium ions. This type of batteries have a useful life measured in loading and download cycles. Every time you load your iPhone from 0% to 100%, It is considered a complete cycle. With the passage of time, the more cycles consumes, the lower the maximum capacity that the battery can retain. But in addition to the cycles, heat and stress that is generated by constantly maintaining the battery in 100% it is also harmful.
Apple clearly explains it on its website: “The battery works better when it is maintained between 20% and 80% load.” That is why they introduced the function called optimized loadthat delay the load of that last section of 20% to just before the device use. That is, if you usually wake up at 8:00, the iPhone is loading up to 80% during the night and only completes 100% just before your alarm sounds. This reduces battery stress and delays its degradation.
Activates the optimized load on the iPhone
The problem appears when these types of functions are deactivated, either because the user considers them annoying or because he does not really understand their usefulness. And that is where the most harmful habit comes into play: leave the iPhone plugged in all night, every day, and with the optimized load deactivated. It may seem practical, but in the long term you are subjecting battery to unnecessary stress for hours, every night. The result is that over time you will notice how autonomy decreases drastically and Battery health percentage (Available in Settings> Battery> Health and battery charge) Lower faster than expected.
So what can be done to avoid it? The ideal is to load the iPhone when you need it, without obsessing to reach 100%. For example, if you go for 30% and you know that in an hour you will leave home, nothing happens to leave it at 80% if it is enough for you. Besides, Be sure to have activated The optimized battery charge option, available from iOS 13, and also the new load function with 80% limit if you use iOS 17 or higher, which directly prevents the device from loading beyond that percentage.
In short, keeping the iPhone charged 100% all the time looks like a good idea, but in the long run it can end up getting expensive. If you want to prolong the useful life of your battery, it is enough to adopt small changes in your load habits. Your iPhone, and your pocket, will thank you.
