Back when cell phones were the size of bricks and had antennae, it wasn’t unusual for them to last a week before you’d have to charge them up again. But, somewhat ironically, as technology has advanced, our devices’ battery lives have depleted to a few days if you’re lucky. If you’re on your smartphone for several hours a day, you can expect to have to charge it up every 24 hours.
Ever wondered if there are ways to stop your phone’s battery life getting worse and worse as it ages? There are a few. Keep reading to find out how to extend your phone’s life and get the most power out of it.
1. Use a Charging Case
Gone are the days of having to carry around a charger and cable with you — your phone case can actually act as a spare battery. Charge up the case as you would your phone or a battery pack, pop your phone in, and switch on the backup battery whenever you need it.
Be sure to pick up a lightweight model as battery cases can be heavy. Casely iPhone 12 Mini (and all other iPhone models) charging cases are a good option, and come in dozens of designs too.
2. Turn the Brightness Down
Having your screen on full brightness isn’t necessary in the daytime and is a sure-fire way to drain all your phone’s juice super-fast. Go to settings and look for a screen brightness option — turn it down to the lowest setting you can still see without squinting!
3. Switch Off Bluetooth and WiFi
When you’re not using them, turn off your Bluetooth and WiFi settings. This stops your phone from constantly looking for signals, preserving some of its power for when you need it most.
4. Stop Charging Beyond 100%
Once your phone reaches full charge, unplug it. This can be a tricky thing to catch, as you’re probably not sitting around watching your battery percentage climb.
One way you can avoid overcharging is to fuel your device up during the day rather than overnight — that way you can unplug it after a few hours rather than the average 7-9 hours you’re asleep for! Try plugging it in as you work or study instead.
5. Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Batteries don’t like to be freezing cold or too hot, just like the rest of us. Leave your phone at home if you’re going out to sunbathe or sledding in the snow. Extreme temperatures degrade and strain the battery. It’s also not a great idea to leave it in your car, where it can quickly get hot on a warm day and very cold when temperatures drop.
6. Use Low Power Mode
All smartphones have some form of low power mode. iPhones send autonotifications when their power dips to 20% and again at 10% asking you if you want to turn on low power mode. You can also switch it on any time you like in your settings.
This reduces some of the phone’s functions, like location services and automatic app refreshing, but these aren’t really necessary all the time. If you’re worried about your battery life making it through the day, put your phone on its power-saving mode.
The Bottom Line
Don’t despair over your device’s poor battery life — these six tips are just a few ways you can get the most out of your smartphone before you need to plug it in again.
Grab yourself a charging case, don’t refuel overnight, and keep it out of direct sunlight to keep its battery happy!