Have you ever wondered why newly bought cell phones have to be charged for seven to eight hours at a stretch before use, even when they come with lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries with partial charge that can get fully charged within about 2 hours? It turns out that despite technological advances, manufacturers still insist on charging them for eight hours before the first use. But is it really necessary to follow this advice?
According to experts, it’s not. In fact, you do not need to fully charge a new phone or battery before using it. While it doesn’t hurt to charge it before you use it, you can grab it out of the box and go. Just make sure you unplug it from the charger after it reaches 100%, and don’t leave it charging overnight.
Most smartphone makers suggest you keep your phone’s battery charge between 30% and 50% when you plan on storing it away for a while. Lithium-ion batteries don’t like being at 100%, at least for long periods. Similarly, avoid allowing your phone battery to get below 20%.
When you get a new phone, you should simply drain out the battery below 10% and only fully charge it. Repeating this for two to three cycles will extend the life of the battery. On average, charging time is 2.5 hours, but it depends on the capacity of the battery. Giving your phone a full recharge is not fatal for a phone battery and it seems almost counterintuitive not to do so, but giving it a full recharge every time you charge it will shorten its lifespan.
As for first-time charging, it is not necessary to charge the phone up to seven to eight hours. Charging it until it is full is enough. Charging it for a long time after it has reached 100% could actually give the phone trickle charges and can be bad for the battery if done repeatedly in the long run.
In conclusion, the initial charge of a new phone is important, but you do not need to charge it for eight to twelve hours. Charging it until it is full is enough, and charging it for a long time after it has reached 100% could actually be bad for the battery if done repeatedly in the long run. The average charging time is 2.5 hours, but it depends on the capacity of the battery. So, stop being superstitious and take these simple steps to extend the life of your phone’s battery.