It used to be easy to replace a broken smartphone battery. Just buy a new pack, pop the back open, remove the old one, and slap in the new one. And voila, your phone’s got a new lease on life. Today’s phones, however, are much more complicated. The newest models of 2020 from known brands like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and more have departed from this practice. Even the first iPhones didn’t have removable backs. And there’s no sign of any of these brands backtracking their decision anytime soon. But why?
A Mashable article outlined the reasons manufacturers are trashing the removable battery design. The first one is more room for other features, since sealed batteries don’t need the extra protection that removable ones have, making them slimmer. The second point is water resistance. People expect their phones to be resilient against dust and survive the unfortunate dunks into the pail or toilet. A removable back just allows for dust and water ingress.
Chances are, your smartphone probably has an enclosed back, too. And you likely need to bring it to the cell phone service center if it gets damaged. Avoid this hassle by learning how to take care of your battery.
Mind the Temperature
Phones can get hot when you’re using a power-hungry application or just charging it. And heat is the worst enemy of batteries. Hot temperatures can cause the chemicals inside of it to react differently and cause problems like making the device drain faster or bloating the battery itself. Temperatures for the average smartphone battery should never reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not everyone can check their phone’s temperature. As a rule of thumb, don’t let your phone rest in a hot environment like a closed car. And when your phone gets really hot to the touch while charging, disconnect it immediately to let it cool down. If it has a protective case, remove it to let your phone release more heat. Charge it again a few minutes after.
Swear off Intensive Tasks While Charging
Some people treat their phones like laptops that they can use while charging. The occasional scrolling on social media or word processing work probably won’t harm your phone’s battery life. You should avoid apps that demand a lot of performance and power like games, video recording, and video editing. These create heat, which, as discussed earlier, is bad for the battery.
Plus, resource-heavy apps create what’s called a “parasitic load,” which happens when the battery drains while it’s still being charged. This distorts the battery’s cycles, causing it to deteriorate faster. The best thing to do is to leave your phone alone while charging to ensure it tops up with no interruptions.
Always Use Official Accessories
If you lose or break your charger or charging cable, it’s tempting to buy the cheap universal chargers you see on Amazon. While these can charge your phone up, they likely won’t have the same safeguards your original charger has. As such, it may open your phone to electricity fluctuations and overcharging. This could degrade the battery’s lifespan or outright damage it permanently. Always stick to adapters and cables from your phone’s manufacturer to keep your phone safe from harm.
Your battery is one of the most important parts of your phone. If it fails, your device is as good as dead. Plus, they also have the potential to explode if severely damaged. Follow these tips to ensure your battery lasts a lifetime, or at least until your next phone upgrade.