Should You Really Be Charging Your iPhone to 100%? A Tech Expert Reveals The Facts: Charging Cycles & More

Charging your phone to 100 percent can feel like you’re doing a good thing for your device — giving it an extra battery boost so that it lasts longer. But you’ve probably heard time and again that a full charge isn’t just unnecessary, it can also create problems for your phone.

So, what’s the truth? And how potentially dangerous is it to charge your phone all the way to 100 percent? Here’s everything you need to know about whether you should change your phone all the way or be mindful about keeping it hovering between 30 and 80 percent.

Charging To 100% Isn’t Necessary

It’s not necessary to charge your phone 100% — experts agree. Doing this once in a blue moon likely won’t negative affect your device, but if it becomes a habit, your phone can suffer in the following ways.

Heat

When your phone repeatedly charges to 100 percent and stays there, it produces heat. The more heat that is produced, the more detrimental this is to your phone battery — and it can degrade your battery faster, as well.

Stress

Regularly exposing your phone battery to 100 percent charge puts it at a high voltage that can wear down your battery.

Charging Cycles

Continuing to charge your phone to its maximum charging capability and then discharging it until it reaches 0 percent is a recipe for disaster. This habit can reduce your phone battery’s lifespan.

Use Optimized Battery Charging

Optimized Battery Charging is a feature on your iPhone that actually “learns” your charging routine and responds to it. Based on the length of time you usually charge your device, you phone delays fully charging it by slowing down the charge it delivers after 80 percent. This reduces stress placed on your battery and can help keep it healthier for longer.