Turns out we've been charging our smartphones wrong this entire time
It's hard for most people to go a few hours without their smartphone.
The small device is so deeply ingrained into our everyday lives that it's hard to imagine life without the convenience of checking up with friends on the go.
But there's one part of our phones that can be a huge pain point, and that is battery life. And it seems like we've been making the problem worse.
Don't keep charging when full
The worst time to charge your phone is overnight because once our phones hit 100% something called 'trickle charge' begins. This basically means the battery is continuously charging to keep it at 100% and causes your phone to go into a high-tension, high-stress stage - affecting the battery's chemistry.
Once your phone is charged, you should remove it from the charger. In fact, NOKIA state that you shouldn't even charge your phone fully to 100%. Mindblown!
"Li-ion [the battery] does not need to be fully charged, nor is it desirable to do so. In fact, it is better not to fully charge, because a high voltage stresses the batter," we're told.
Give your phone a charge wherever, whenever
Charging your phone throughout the day is actually really good for your battery and is better than a big charging session when it's nearing the dreaded 1%.
The best scenario is to charge your phone when it loses 10% of charge, according to NOKIA. However, this isn't very practical for most people so charge your phone whenever you can - and this can be done multiple times a day.
This ensures your battery is optimised and performing for longer periods of time. It will also let you use your phone for longer.
Cool it... don't cover it
Bet you've never read the documentation that came with your iPhone or Android phone! Apple suggests that you remove your phone case before you charge your iPhone.
"If you notice that your device gets hot when you charge it, take it out of its case first," Apple writes.
Also, while you're outdoors keep your phone out of direct sunlight as high temperatures will affect your battery's health over time.
