7 Tips for Longer-Lasting Batteries
Safety boundary (reviewed 2 August 2026): This 2011 article is retained as historical context, not as a repair guide. Never open, puncture, boost, bypass protection on, or continue charging a swollen, damaged, leaking or unusually hot lithium-ion battery. Disconnect it if safe, move away from combustible material, and use the device or battery manufacturer’s service and disposal instructions. Use only a charger and cable that meet the device manufacturer’s specification.
Smartphones are becoming more and more common in recent years. With all the applications and functionality loaded into the phone, it is hard to get the phone to last for a decent amount of time (1 day or so). Normally, the capacities that the batteries can hold drops over time. This can be due to aging, wear and tear or user-negligence. It is frustrating when you charge your batteries and they are dead within an hour or 2.
Note: If you are looking for rechargeable AA/AAA batteries (E.g. Energizer Recharge), please visit /7-tips-to-take-better-care-of-your.html.
Basic Information:
- Your smartphones/tablets/laptops uses lithium ion batteries.
- Your lithium ion batteries discharges by itself when left alone. (just like any other batteries)
Here are some tips to take better care of your batteries (SPECIFICALLY: Lithium ion batteries - Li ion)
1. Do NOT do deep-cycle discharges
Deep cycle discharges are only for calibration purposes. (More about this later) For the technically disabled, deep-cycle discharges means running the battery down to the red (5% to 20%) and charging it back up. Your lithium ion battery is not designed for such purposes. The battery lifespan will be shortened dramatically if you keep this practice up.
Studies have shown that the higher the charge level is at before you charge again, the longer the lifespan of your battery will be. (Meaning: The less you use before you charge again, the longer your battery will serve you)
What should you do: Do NOT do deep-cycle discharges. You will kill your battery faster than you think.
2. Do NOT overcharge/use unauthorised chargers
Lithium-ion packs and devices normally use charging and protection electronics, but damage, a defective pack or incompatible charging equipment can still create a fire hazard. Do not assume that every loose cell or charger has adequate protection.
What should you do: Only use a proper, reputable charger.
Note: This is mainly applicable to the lithium ion batteries found in those hobby helicopters/cars.
For normal consumer smartphones, the charging chip is in the smartphone itself. All it needs is the DC from the adaptor.
3. Charge your electronics while they are powered off.
Using a device while it charges can add heat and may make charging slower; the charger is not “confused”. If the device becomes unusually hot, disconnect it if safe and follow the manufacturer’s service guidance.
** What should you do:** Power off your electronics before/while charging.
Note: Personally, I do not practice this because I need my electronics to be on. (And because I’m quite lazy) But if you’re looking to prolong your battery lifespan, do it.
4. Do not expose your batteries to high heat/freezing temperatures
Heat is the worst enemy of batteries. Pretty straightforward.
At low temperatures, you should not attempt to charge your batteries. This is because the maximum voltage that the batteries can take is reduced at cold temperatures.
What should you do: Do not expose your batteries to direct sunlight. The Sun will heat up your batteries and you can kiss your battery goodbye.
Note: If the battery gets very hot, stop charging immediately, remove the device from proximity to flammable materials and bring it to a non-combustible surface.
Do not charge outside the temperature range stated by the manufacturer. Allow a cold device to return naturally to its specified charging range; do not heat a battery directly.
Note for laptop users: Do not remove a built-in laptop battery. Use the manufacturer’s charge-limit or battery-health setting when one is available, keep vents clear, and arrange service if the pack swells or overheats.
It is recommended to employ sufficient cooling measures to prevent early failure of your laptop batteries.
5. Try not to charge the battery to the max
When the battery is charged to the maximum, it will stress the battery. When the battery is stressed, it will kill itself faster. It is just like us, the more stressed we are, the higher the probability of a heart attack. (A different analogy: Imagine stuffing yourself with food all day long, and I think that you will be extremely uncomfortable for the day.)
Another reason why it is not recommended to charge the battery to the max is that at such a high charge level, the battery will generate more heat than normal. This excess heat is not welcomed as lithium ion batteries are extremely sensitive to heat.
The batteries manufacturers know this and the charging algorithms for your lithium ion batteries automatically cuts power off at 100%. Then, it will let the battery discharge until ~95% before charging it back up again. This cycle will repeat until you unplug it from the charger.
What should you do: TRY not to charge the battery to the max. But if you need the full charge, its fine also. It is not as damaging to the battery as doing deep discharges.
Note: This is the reason why electric car manufacturers limit the charge in the electric cars’ batteries to 80%. In certain laptops, there is a functionality that will limit the charge in the batteries to 80%. For instance, in Samsung laptops, there is a battery life extender functionality that cuts off power to the battery when it reaches 80%.
6. It is OK to do a partial charge
Partial charge: A charge that is not to the max.(100%)
Partial charging is generally compatible with lithium-ion batteries. A deliberate full discharge is not routine battery care; perform a calibration cycle only when the device manufacturer explicitly documents one for that model.
7. Storage: Store the battery with the charge level at around 40% to 60%
If you have to store li-ion batteries, keep them at 40% to 60% charge level. All lithium ion have a protection circuit that will deactivate if the charge level drops below a certain amount. When that happens, no matter what you do, your battery just will NOT charge. If the low charge level is maintained for a long time, electrical short may result when you attempt to recharge it.
Now, you might say why not just charge it to the max (100%) then leave it there? The problem is when you charge it to 100%, you are stressing the battery. The battery charge level will drop faster than normal.
This is the reason manufacturers ship your smartphones/tablets/laptops partially charged. The charge level allows for lower aging related stress on the battery and gives some room for the battery to self-discharge during storage.
What should you do: Store lithium ion batteries partially charged at a cool place. You must check their charge level regularly and top up their charge accordingly. Do NOT let their charge drop too low.
Safety note: Never “jump-start” or boost a lithium-ion cell that its protection circuit has disabled. Isolate it and use the manufacturer’s service or regulated battery-recycling route.
Note on calibration of Li-ion batteries:
A calibration procedure concerns the device’s displayed charge estimate, not the cell chemistry. There is no safe universal procedure or three-month schedule. Do not deliberately run a lithium-ion battery flat. If the displayed estimate is persistently wrong, use only the calibration steps published for the exact device model, or arrange authorised service.
Alternatively, you could just buy a portable charger for your smartphone to compensate for the deteriorating battery life. Here are a few good portable chargers:
Note: The mAh rating shown on a portable charger indicates its battery capacity. Phone battery capacities vary a lot by model, so compare using each device’s listed specification rather than a single fixed number.