4 Common Misconceptions About Mobile Device Batteries

There are many misconceptions about mobile device batteries, with some causing people to do outrageous things in the name of maintaining their device battery.

Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 common misconceptions about mobile device batteries.

Don’t Use Your Device While It’s Charging

Using a device while it charges is very unlikely to have a negative impact on your device. It has virtually no impact on the quality of charge the battery of your device gets, unless of course you’re using a low quality knock off charger (in that case, the bad charger is the one most likely to negatively impact the quality of charge your device’s battery gets).

Turning Off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS Will Prolong Battery Life

The only time these services drain your battery is when they are in use. Having your Bluetooth turned on when you’re not using a Bluetooth device, or having your Wi-Fi on when you’re not accessing the network or surfing the net, is hardly going to drain your battery. It just pulls an insignificant amount of energy from your device, which isn’t enough to drain it over the course of the day. One of the things that does help in prolonging your device battery is reducing your screen’s brightness.

Surfing the Net Will Drain Your Battery Faster Than Anything

This isn’t the complete truth. Though surfing the net can in fact drain your battery over time especially if your internet activity involves watching online videos or doing graphic-intensive activities, gaming is actually what drains your device battery faster than anything else. The graphic engine for most games is a massive ‘energy drainer’ and if you play games on your device a lot, it’s advisable to dim the screen of your device.

You Should Always Charge Your Device Till It Is Full Before First Using It

When mobile phones and devices were still using NiMH and NiCd batteries, it was necessary to fully charge them before first using them (this was known as the memory effect). Modern batteries are Li-ion and actually perform better when they are not fully discharged (though you should avoid letting them deplete completely). As a result, the best percentage for your device battery is between 50 to 80 percent (which is considered the sweet spot for your battery’s charge cycle that helps to avoid high number of charge cycles, which can over time degrade battery performance). Most new devices are sold with battery percentages within this range, so it’s unnecessary to charge it till it’s full.