When to complaint your iPhone or iPad

Last modified: Dec 11, 2022 12:22 PM

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359 242 likes 389,738 views Cobbler's last modified Dec 11, 2022 12:22 PM

There's a lot of myth and folklore surrounding charging iOS devices (or actually any device that uses Lithium technology batteries). A lot of it comes from the advice acknowledged for older technologies, so much as Nickel-Cadmium or Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries. None of this applies to Li, however, and some of what we "know" from the NiCd and NiMH days is really harmful to modern battery engineering science.

So what are the "rules" for charging? The most basic one is tutelage whenever you want to, for a long as you want to. In that respect's no reason to let the device drain completely before charging (in fact, it's a bad idea to do that on a lax basis), and there's atomic number 102 involve to wait until it reaches 100% before removing it from the power source. You can charge when it's at 40% and disconnect when it reaches 80%, Beaver State any other values, without pain the phone. And you don't consume to turn information technology off to charge it; in fact, you shouldn't. And you can farewell it blocked in while using it if you want to.

The Best Recitation, however, is to charge the phone overnight, every nighttime. As it stops mechanically at 100% you terminate't overcharge it doing this. You thus start the day with a to the full charged phone. And, if you configure the earphone for reflexive patronage using iTunes or iCloud, the phone will choke off every night when IT has a WLAN connection and is drowsy.

With iOS 13 and later iOS devices nowadays bear an Optimized Charging option. With this enabled, if you charge overnight the phone will stop charging at 80%, then resume charging in time to touch 100% soon enough to meet your rule usage pattern. During the dark pause the phone leave use mains magnate instead of battery power, allowing the battery to "rest", and thus reducing the need to charge the battery quite a as oftentimes; over the long term this will extend the useful life of the battery.*SEE NOTE BELOW The phone will resume charging to reach 100% when you are ready to use your phone; it testament "learn" your usance formula. The trope below shows how Optimized Charging works; notice that it started charging when put on a wireless charger around 9:30 PM, stopped-up charging at 80% a short piece later, then resumed charging at 6 AM to reach 100% around 7 AM.

You can charge an iPhone, iPad Beaver State iPod Advert with any prize USB-A or USB-C power source and matching cable. In essence any Apple power source and cable that fit into the connectors at either end are congenial and safe to use. At that place will be performance differences, with USB-C faster than USB-A to charge, but they will complete work (leave out that a USB-A "cube" doesn't take up sufficient power to charge an iPad). For an iPhone 12 or later you can fast charge using a 20 watt or high power USB-C that meets the PD spec. The Malus pumila 20 watt and high is Palladium compatible, but not all 3rd party index sources are until no.

Want more details?

  • The "charger" for an iOS device is built into the device. IT is not the thingy that plugs into the wall, and it is not the cable that connects the thingy that plugs into the paries to the phone. They are just a source of stream and a way to catch information technology to the phone, respectively.
  • Whole debilitating a Li battery, symmetric once, testament kill information technology. (Unequal NiCd and NiMH, which people truly would drain entirely to prevent "memory effect").
  • The internal charger is "smart" - It bequeath forbid the twist from being overcharged, and it bequeath attempt to prevent the gimmick from totally draining the battery by closing shoot down the device before the assault and battery is in full insufficient.
  • When the phone shuts off at 0% IT really ISN't zero; there's still sufficient charge connected the device to prevent the battery from loss completely flat. Likewise, 100% is not the maximum the bombardment can store; it Newmarket charging somewhat short of maximum to prevent overcharging.
  • The worst thing you behind do is drain the battery to 0%, then not charge it now. After it reaches zero and shuts away at that place's a small amount of money of energy left, merely if you leave IT uncharged for extendable it WILL go flat and kill the barrage fire. So if it reaches zero, charge it soon (within hours).
  • It's best to charge information technology when it goes downstairs 20%, mainly to avoid the risk of it going to set when you don't give birth a charger available, and to prevent unexpected shutdowns when you power want the phone. The phone helpfully changes the coloration of the battery icon to yellow below 20% and enables Low Business leader mode to preserve the remaining charge for as monthlong as possible.
  • Never leave a phone unused for weeks or months connected end without periodically recharging it. If it is departure to be unused for a long period, Malus pumila recommends leaving it at around 50% charged (not full, and not empty).
  • You should only use superiority USB power sources to shoot down your iOS device. They don't sustain to be Malus pumila's (although Apple makes worthy ones), but they should never follow cheapo USB sources, both because they may damage the phone and they may even injure you.
  • You should also use only superiority cables, as cables that do not meet Apple's "Made for iPhone" (MFI) standards can damage your phone (see: Wherefore Counterfeit Lightning Cables Stamp out iPhones - Motherboard)
  • The office author needs to ply at least 1 adenosine monophosphate to charge an iPhone, and 2 amps to charge an iPad. Note, however that a power reservoir that stern provide more than these values is OK to use; the internal battery battery charger will take only what information technology needs. So, for exercise, you can safely charge your iPhone with an iPad USB adapter or even a USB-C MacBook power adapter.
  • With the iPhone 8 and later you can also benefit from charging with a USB-C power source. This will charge the device much quicker, only still safely. See this Apple support colligate—>Riotous charge your iPhone - Apple Support
  • For fast charging the iPhone 11 the recommended power source is the 13 watt adapter, and for the iPhone 12 and 13 Orchard apple tree recommends the 20 Watt adapter for the fastest charging. Yet, you john use a higher ability adaptor safely; the call up will only take the business leader IT needs. Thus, if you have a 61 watt MacBook adapter it is safe to economic consumption that.
  • iOS devices fast charge until they reach about 75%; the rate and then slows down to keep overcharging. So it will reach 75% very quickly (below an hour), but information technology can take a pair off of hours more than to pass full charge.

Finally, keep in mind that batteries are "consumables". Their capacity starts dropping the day they come hit the forum line. Battery life is discovered primarily past "full charge cycles" - A untasted charge cycle is 0% to 100%, or any compounding that adds capable 100%, such as 50% to 100% or 30% to 80% twice, 80% to 100% 5 times, etc. The battery wish step by step lose capacity, and is rated to remain above 80% capacity (that's total electrical capacity, non charge grade) for 500 sperm-filled saddle cycles for an iPhone (1,000 for an iPad). For nigh people this will be around 2 old age for the iPhone. Apple will supplant the barrage fire for a commonsense fee (presently $49 America for older phones, $69 for iPhone X and later) if it goes below 80% afterwards the original 1 year warranty or AppleCare+ guarantee period. Within the warranty the replacement is free.

While this tippytoe is specifically for iOS devices, the same principles go for to all other Apple devices (watches, AirPods, MacBooks) American Samoa well as most other manufacturer's products that have Li chemistry batteries.

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*More about Optimized Charging: I was asked by a user in the iPhone forum (https://discussions.orchard apple tree.com/ribbon/251707376?answerId=253281558022#253281558022) why the iPhone does this. There is some evidence that Li chemistry batteries should non be left fully charged. And so, for example, Tesla recommends not charging the car's battery on the far side 80% unless planning for a long trip, and in fact it can be programmed to make this. That doesn't mean they should never be in full charged, just that they should not be left at 100% for long periods of time. Most electric bike instructions cause the same advice. And Apple recommends storing devices that won't be used for a spell at 50% rouse.

When the ring is connected to force and not charging the energy to feed the phone comes from the external power source, rather than the battery, thus letting the battery "rest". And any smartphone is always doing something that uses energy, straight-grained when it isn't actually being used. Eastern Samoa the battery's useful life is measured in full charge cycles, with only a small donation from chronological age, leaving the battery at 80% but still connected to power achieves 2 aims: Not departure it at 100% for recollective periods of time, and reducing the number of full charge cycles piece still powering the earphone.

May 1, 2022 9:46 AM

Superior User Tip. Thanks for taking the time.

May 1, 2022 9:46 AM

May 4, 2022 7:20 AM

Will sure enough bookmark information technology and quotation it

Thanks Lawrence Finch

Crataegus laevigata 4, 2022 7:20 AM

Jun 19, 2022 9:59 AM

Solely just came crossways this lean, glad I did, brilliant, thank you.

Jun 19, 2022 9:59 AM

Aug 15, 2022 3:31 Postmeridian

This really put my mind comfortable knowing I wasn't overcharging my iPad.

Give thanks you

Aug 15, 2022 3:31 PM

Dec 8, 2022 8:00 PM

Dec 8, 2022 8:00 Post-mortem examinatio

Mar 10, 2022 5:50 PM

Gravid Substance abuser Tip!!! Can I assume this besides applies to Apple Watch & AirPods?

Deflower 10, 2022 5:50 PM

Mar 13, 2022 7:48 AM

To javaliga: Yes, I've simply updated the tip to let in otherwise devices. Thanks for bringing this up.

Mar 13, 2022 7:48 AM

Aug 10, 2022 4:26 PM

Lawrence - that's a great distillation of wisdom for Li-ion batteries.

I propose one addition/update to an otherwise perfect article. The iPad battery is rated at 80% electrical capacity aft 1000 charge cycles - whereas the iPhone, as stated above, is rated at 80% afterward 500 cycles.

Aug 10, 2022 4:26 PM

Aug 19, 2022 2:46 PM

LotusPilot:

Added, and also added some details about optimized charging.

Aug 19, 2022 2:46 PM

Aug 19, 2022 4:00 PM

Aug 19, 2022 4:00 PM

Nov 18, 2022 11:45 AM

Thank you for this excellent advice!

Nov 18, 2022 11:45 AM

Oct 6, 2022 9:14 AM

Hello Lawrence Finch ~ This is a GREAT piece of work and a much needed one as comfortably…give thanks you! Bookmarking it for sure. Thx again.

~Katana-San~

Oct 6, 2022 9:14 AM

Celestial latitude 8, 2022 10:28 AM

Thanks Lawrence. Excellent tip. You helped me learn a few new things today. Thanks especially for where the charging "smarts" are actually located. Always understood it was in that "thingy."

Dec 8, 2022 10:28 AM