You can't afford a new iPhone: here's how to maximize battery life on an old model
While many fans of Apple products are lining up for the new iPhone 15, there are those for whom it is a very expensive pleasure. And all they can do is hope that their old iPhone models will last as long as possible.
In this regard, SSPDaily writes: "If you want your iPhone to last as long as possible, maximize the life of its battery. The battery in your iPhone should last for several years, but it depends on many factors, such as ambient temperature, charging method, drops, or ongoing battery failures.
If you're not sure what to do to extend the life of your iPhone battery, here are Apple's tips to help extend its life.
Make sure the battery is turned on
While it's not possible to overcharge the battery, it can be subjected to additional stress when charged to 100%. To prevent this, your iPhone has a setting that takes into account your daily charging routine (for example, you always plug your phone in before going to bed and unplug it in the morning). In this case, instead of quickly charging the battery to 100%, it will wait until it's 80% charged.
This will reduce battery aging. Although this useful feature should work by default, it's still better to check if it does. In the Settings section, go to Battery - Battery Health & Charging and make sure that the Optimized Battery Charging option is enabled.
Protect iPhone from extreme temperatures
Extreme temperatures can affect iPhone battery life. Too high of a temperature increases the rate of chemical reactions inside the battery, which causes it to work harder and therefore drain faster.
According to Apple, to avoid irreversible damage to the battery, you should protect your phone from temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). That is, just keep your iPhone away from heat sources.
In turn, Apple offers several settings to prevent overheating and damage, such as turning off the phone or stopping further charging when it overheats. However, you shouldn't rely on these features to maintain battery health. It's better to take preventive measures than to wait until your iPhone overheats.
Get rid of the case
If your iPhone gets hot while charging, you may want to remove the case beforehand. Some cases, especially protective ones, trap heat and overheat the device, which negatively affects battery life.
In addition to removing the case, while charging the phone, it is not recommended to use apps, play games, and in general, it is advisable not to use it at all.
How to protect your iPhone during long-term storage
You may have a new phone, but you want to keep your old one and extend its battery life. In this case, before you put it in a box, do the following:
- Keep the charge at about 50%. You don't want the battery to be full or empty before you turn it off, or it may stop holding a charge (if it's full) or lose capacity and shorten its life (if it's empty).
- Turn off your iPhone. This prevents increased battery consumption.
- Store your phone in a cool, moisture-free place. Ideally, the temperature should not exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).
- If you're storing your iPhone for more than six months, turn it on and charge it to 50% every six months.
If stored for a long time, iPhone may be in a low battery state, which means you need to charge it for 20 minutes before it turns on.