3 Charger Mistakes That Drain Your Battery—And What to Do Instead, According To An Apple Employee: Charging In Extreme Temperatures & More

Your iPhone battery is only as good as your charging habits. With that said: the better care you take when charging your phone, the more your phone will reward you with a longer-lasting battery.

Sounds easy, but what are the actual mistakes that can cost you battery power? Many iPhone users are unaware of how habits like overcharging or trying to save a few dollars on chargers and accessories can backfire. These three charger mistakes are well known for draining your battery. Here’s what Apple experts suggest you do instead.

Overcharging

There’s really no reason why your phone should charge all night long or hang out on a charger all day. Your device simply doesn’t need to be charged this much, and doing so can heat up the battery and contribute to a wearing down of the battery. A better approach is to aim to keep your phone charged between 30 and 80 percent at all times. This means, if you start to see the battery dipping below 30 percent, engage it in a short charging session. Shorter, more frequent bursts of charging throughout the day are better than one long charging session.

Your Charging Cables and Accessories Aren’t Compatible

You can save money on your charging cables and accessories or you can buy cables and accessories that are compatible with your device, deliver the exact charge it needs, and keep your battery in good condition. Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it, too — there are plenty of great companies offering deals on accessories these days, but if you have to choose just one, don’t compromise when it comes to the accessories you use to power up your device. Look for accessories that are certified by Apple and are safe for your specific model.

Charging in Extreme Temperatures

The rule when charging is: keep your phone in room temperature. If you charge your device in a hot car or a cold room, you are committing an absolute phone battery sin: exposing it to extreme temps is a surefire way to wear it down faster.