Featured Image Credit: Petrunjela/Getty Images
Topics: Technology, iPhone, Phones
Ellie Kemp
Keeping your phone's battery topped up is one of modern life's many banes.
Most of us wouldn't survive without our smartphones, whether we'd like to admit it or not.
From keeping up with friends on social media, to work emails and online banking, we quite literally live our lives through them.
So, when our battery starts draining faster than usual, it's concerning and could put us in danger.
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What if my phone dies while I'm using maps, or need to call someone in an emergency?
While we can carry around portable chargers, the bigger issue is often our phone's battery not holding charge like is used to.
While it’s easy to blame heavy app use or screen time, the real reasons run deeper, right inside the tiny chips and systems your phone uses to manage power and charging, expert at Mouser, a leader in electronic components and authorised distributor of Analog Devices, warn.
Now, they explain why our phones tend to lose juice faster than usual - and the ideal 'sweet spot' we should keep our phones charged at.
According to Mark Patrick, Director of Technical Content at Mouser, every battery has a lifespan, with most able to handle between 500 to 800 full charge cycles. "A charge cycle means using 100% of your battery’s capacity, whether that happens all at once or in smaller periods throughout the day," he explains. "After those 500 to 800 cycles, your battery’s ability to hold a charge naturally begins to decline.
“So, if you’re charging your phone every day, you’re wearing out your battery in as little as 500 days, so under two years, which is why it suddenly feels like your phone can’t keep up anymore.”
It makes sense - the more we're on our phone, the worse we're damaging the battery.
Fortunately, there are a few simple habits that can make a huge difference to our battery health.
Charging your phone up 100 percent - and, on the flipside, letting your battery hit zero - piles on additional stress onto your battery.
Battery management systems inside your phone help protect the battery, but sticking to the charge 'sweet spot' between 20 and 80 percent keeps it happier for longer, Mark explains. So, while we might think it's smarter to be topped up to 100 percent, it's actually more damaging in the long run.
Battery Saver Mode reduces background activity, limits certain visual effects, and slows down non-essential processes to lower power use when your phone is idle. It also restricts background data syncing, reduces refresh rates, and can dim the display.
These changes allow the phone’s hardware to remain in a low-energy standby state for longer, helping conserve battery and extend overall runtime.
Always-on features like 'raise to wake' or voice assistants depend on low-power sensors such as accelerometers and MEMS microphones.
The accelerometer detects small movements, like lifting your phone, so the screen can turn on without pressing a button. MEMS microphones continuously listen for wake words such as 'Hey Siri' or 'OK Google.'
While these sensors are designed to use tiny amounts of power, even their minimal draw adds up over time. Disabling them when not in use, especially overnight, helps reduce unnecessary battery drain.
Updates often improve how your phone handles tasks locally using edge processors, reducing the need for constant cloud syncing, which saves battery power.
Charging chips such as battery chargers and USB-C power controllers protect against overheating during fast charging, but using your phone during charging generates extra heat that can harm your battery. Keeping your phone cool and limiting usage while plugged in supports better battery health.
Although Analog Devices’ power ICs ensure safe charging by regulating voltage and preventing overcharge, low-quality chargers can damage your battery, harm internal circuits or, under extreme conditions, cause overheating, fire, or even explosions.
Using certified accessories with proper charging safeguards is the safest, most reliable option and ensures your battery’s longevity.