A PHONE expert has revealed the most common mistakes people make which drain their handset batteries.
Kewin Charron, senior lead refurbishment operations manager at Back Market, thinks most of us are charging our mobiles entirely wrongly.
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In fact, it seems the way many people charge their phones, by leaving it on charge overnight or plugged in while at our desks, can actually damage the battery, permanently reducing the amount of charge the device can hold.
Kewin also said letting the phone drain entirely of battery life is also harmful.
He told DailyMail.com: “Leaving your phone plugged in, or letting it die, rapidly reduces the lifespan of your battery.
“Instead, you should aim to keep your charge level between 20-80 per cent.”
While that may sound like a pain to actually achieve, Kewin added that many new handsets off the option to optimise charging, which means the phone doesn’t have stress on the battery.
However, he said this was easier on newer Apple models.
Kewin said: “For iPhones with iOS 13 and beyond, go into your iPhone Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, and select Optimized Battery Charging.
“This setting will automatically reduce the wear on your battery, improving its lifespan.”
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According to Apple, this feature delays charging iPhone past 80 per cent, using machine learning to understand your daily routine so that Optimised Battery Charging is activated at the right time.
Kewin warned though it was slightly trickier on Android devices because the settings can vary between different manufacturers.
He said: “By going into your Settings, and then selecting Battery > Battery Usage, you can see your battery health.
“Then, under Manage Battery Usage, tap Optimized to automatically help extend the longevity of your battery.”
On Pixel phones, it can still be found under Battery, but it looks slightly different.
Kewin also warned that dirt in the charging port can damage battery life over time.
He said, “Crumbs and dust are the enemies of your mobile devices and your battery life.
“Dust accumulates in the charging ports of your phone, causing the device to overheat or stop charging.
“Cleaning your phone safely can ensure your battery isn’t overheating, which can cause long-term damage.”
He recommended using a toothpick and damp cloth to clean out the charging port to get rid of any debris that could be lodged in there.
Kewin said: “The first thing to do before cleaning your phone is to switch your device off.
“Then, shine a light on your device to see how much dust you’re dealing with.
“Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to wipe around the area of the charging port.
“To remove the debris within the port, use a toothpick, moving it from side to side, making sure you’re gentle as this area is very susceptible to damage.
“As debris comes out, wipe it away with your cloth and go in again with a clean toothpick.”
Leaving your phone in direct sunlight can also permanently damage the battery.
He warned that if you get warnings that your phone is overheating it could mean the battery is taking long-term damage.
Kewin said: ”‘It’s best to keep your phone away from extreme temperatures.
“Below 0°C is too cold, whilst anything over 35°C is too hot, and both can damage your battery life.
“So, keeping your phone out of direct sunlight for long periods of time and limiting use in hot cars or trains is really important.
“If your device’s internal temperature exceeds the normal operating range, you’re likely to notice the display dimming, going completely black, or the camera flash being disabled.
“You may also get a notification saying ‘Charging On Hold’ or receive a temperature warning.”
If you do get a warning like this, Kewin advised it was best to charge your phone in a cool place and avoid charging it wirelessly.
He said: “Whilst charging your phone, find a cool, moisture-free environment that’s less than 32° C (90° F).
“Wired charging is also better and preferred over wireless charging to avoid overheating.”
If you are somewhere hot, then there also steps you can take to avoid your handset getting too warm.
Kewin said: “When your phone isn’t on charge, you can avoid overheating by lowering your brightness.
“If your phone is on low battery and searching for a signal, this can cause the device to overheat.
“So, if you’re somewhere with a weak signal, turn Airplane Mode on, then switch it back off when you’re in an area with better connectivity.”
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