As almost every user of digital gadgets already knows, every device from mobile phones and tablets to computers has a finite lifespan. After two or three years of constant recharging, the battery life dwindles, draining faster and taking longer to fill back up again. But don’t consign yourself to shelling out money for yet another new gadget though, there are ways to increase the life cycle of your electronics. Here are our top four tips to prolonging your gadget’s battery life.
Avoid full charges and discharges
As with everything in life, extremes are not your friend. Pushing your phone to a full 100 percent places stress on its battery life, causing it to become less efficient in the long run. On the flip side, letting it dwindle down to nothing and letting the battery die is also not recommended either. Instead, opt for short but frequent shallow charges and keep your device in that sweetspot between 50 percent to 90 percent.
Don’t leave your device plugged in
If you do like the safety of having a device fully charged – and let’s face it, many do – disconnect it immediately afterwards. Having the battery continually try to top itself up at full power levels causes its lifespan to shorten considerably.
Perform monthly battery maintenance
While shallow charges are the recommended norm, you should occasionally allow your battery life to deplete itself in order to maintain its ability to self-assess its productivity. This is what allows that useful “estimated battery time remaining” indicator to remain as accurate as possible.
Avoid extreme temperatures
Lithium ion batteries do not like extreme temperatures, so avoid leaving them out in direct sunlight, next to heaters or in chilly rooms. In particular, avoid charging your device in warm spaces, as it’s likely to cause overheating and a major sapping of your battery’s efficiency.