This Straightforward Trick Could Add Years to Your iPhone’s Battery

Do you dread watching your iPhone’s max battery capacity drop over time? Do want to keep your iPhone’s battery health at 100%? Well, there’s one trick that iPhone fans have claimed keeps their battery capacity from dropping quickly (and they swear by it).

The rule is straightforward. Don’t let your iPhone’s battery charge drop below 25%. When it gets close, charge it up again. That’s it.

So, does this really work? Is it actually worth giving up a quarter of your iPhone’s battery life to help preserve the battery?

Well, there’s no official study at this time, but a number of iPhone users have attested that this method works, especially in the first couple years of service.

Even after full discharges to recalibrate battery readings, the trick still appears to keep battery capacity from diminishing.

How Does It Work?

There’s logic to this method, despite the lack of official proof. The lower a battery charge gets, the weaker a battery becomes, and the harder the battery has to work to provide the necessary charge for everything the iPhone needs to do. That puts a strain on the battery, which reduces its efficiency.

Run your battery at low power frequently, and permanent damage starts to occur, which reduces capacity and battery lifespan. Keeping the battery at 25% or above ensures the battery doesn’t have to work too hard to supply power.

The good news is that today’s lithium-ion batteries are otherwise pretty durable. Older batteries were pickier about how they were charged and how many times you charged them, but Apple has created a strong line of batteries that can handle more casual charging. Don’t worry about:

1. How many times you charge: Don’t worry about how many times you have to charge your iPhone, especially when following the 25% rule. iPhone batteries are rated for more than 500 complete charge cycles, which may take years to reach.
2. Leaving your iPhone connected to the charger: This no longer poses any significant damage to your battery, as long as your iPhone doesn’t get too hot.
3. Using alternative chargers: Don’t worry if you end up connecting you iPhone charger to a larger iPad charger or something similar. The wattage will differ, but the battery should be able to handle it without trouble. Just make sure the wired chargers you’re using are MFi-Certified by Apple.

It’s also important to use new batteries straight from Apple. These are the batteries designed to work correctly with your iPhone. You won’t even be able to get battery readings from used or third-party batteries. Plus they can be dangerous.

Finally, keep in mind that lithium-ion batteries are still fragile in some conditions. They remain sensitive to extreme temperatures, which will cause permanent damage no matter how well you manage your battery life. If temperatures drop below freezing in your area, don’t leave your iPhone out in the cold. If summers get particularly hot, don’t leave it in the sun. And avoid putting your iPhone by heaters or fires. That will help ensure this easy trick remains effective.