Extending Your Smartphone's Battery Life

CEBU, Philippines - While the makers of smartphones are constantly keen on affording consumers with performance-enhanced devices, the reality of their batteries going flat after a long day remains to be a serious rut specific to smartphones.

But as frustratingly short as the battery life spans of today's smartphones can be described, this prevailing norm doesn't mean that mobile device users can't do anything to help improve their battery's long-term performance power.

Following is a quick look at the simple things you can do to help keep your smartphone's battery in tiptop shape. By following these battery-care pointers, and you'll be surprised to see how your smartphone's battery lifespan improves.

Top off, as opposed to charging from zero

You may have heard about how beneficial the "charging from zero" principle can be in enhancing your mobile's battery lifespan.

Also known as the "only charge your phone when its battery is nearly empty" principle, this practice is not exactly applicable to today's spectrum of Android and iOS-driven mobiles, considering that it works well with nickel-based batteries - not with lithium-ion batteries, the battery type that is used in almost all of today's range of smartphones and tablets.

To be clear, you won't exactly damage your device if you charge it when it is already nearly empty. However, regularly topping lithium-ion batteries to stay within 40% to 80% enhances its capacity to hold a charge, optimizing its overall performance as your mobile device's primary power source.

Steer clear from heat

Lithium-ion batteries don't work well with heat. They tend to degrade faster when hot - whether they are charging or on standby mode.

As such, making sure that your smartphone is cool greatly affects its battery's lifespan. Thus, plugging it to a charger overnight or leaving it in a hot car is a practice that should be curbed.

Use the charger that came with your smartphone

While third-party chargers for mobile devices can be readily found in cell shops and electronics specialty stores, their ready availability doesn't mean that they are made to specifically meet with your device's charging requirements and standards.

As a rule, it is best to use the charger that came with your smartphone, given that its inner-workings are calibrated to comply with its battery's particulars and specifics.

Though third party chargers can charge the batteries of different smartphone models and types, their capacity to do so is no assurance that your battery's lifespan won't be adversely affected by their long term use. (FREEMAN)