Latest news with #charging
CNET
11 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
I Have a Good Reason for Only Charging My iPhone to 95%
Most modern phones, even midrange or budget options, can get you through a full day on a single charge. I have the latest iPhone, which means I have enough battery to get me through 24 hours and then some. So instead of prioritizing day-to-day battery life, I'm focusing on my phone's battery lifespan, or how long the battery remains in good condition over the course of my phone's life. One way to improve your phone's battery lifespan is by minimizing the time it spends charging when the battery is 100%. A fully charged battery can experience stress, which reduces its health in the long term and causes it to degrade faster. If you have an iPhone, it may already be learning your charging routine thanks to Optimized Battery Charging. With this feature enabled, you can keep your device plugged in overnight, and it won't charge to 100% until the next morning. How to set a charge limit If you want even more control over your iPhone battery, you can use a feature called Charge Limit. By setting a Charge Limit, you can prevent your device from reaching its maximum capacity, which can help reduce strain on the battery. You can enable Charge Limit on iPhone 15 or newer models by going to Settings > Battery > Charging. There, you can choose a percentage at 5% increments between 80% and 100%. (Note that Optimized Battery Charging can only be toggled on at 100%.) The Charge Limit feature is available on iPhone 15 or newer models. Screenshot by Jason Chun/CNET Should you ever charge your phone to 100%? According to Apple, a Charge Limit can improve your phone's battery lifespan and iOS might recommend it based on your use patterns. Even if you only limit your charge to 95%, the feature can have long-term benefits for your iPhone. However, you shouldn't lose sleep if your phone is still plugged in when the battery is full. "There are so many different variables that affect battery age and longevity besides just filling it to 100%," says Patrick Holland, CNET editor and phone reviewer. "Apple and other phone-makers use software to minimize those factors, and even give customers ways to take control of that if they like. But there's a balance and people shouldn't be afraid of topping off their phone completely." You might occasionally still see your iPhone charge to 100% when you've enabled Charge Limit. "If you have Charge Limit set to less than 100 percent, your iPhone will occasionally charge to 100 percent to maintain accurate battery state-of-charge estimates," according to Apple. For more iPhone battery tips, check out the iOS settings that can drain your iPhone battery, and learn whether permanent Low Power Mode can make your old iPhone battery last longer.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Can I leave an electric car unattended for a long time?
Dear Alex, I live in the UK, but I am away for up to six months. I am considering buying a small electric vehicle as a runaround. How long will a fully charged electric car hold its charge? What happens if the battery is left to go flat? Is this bad for the battery, and will I lose all the computer information etc? How should I get it ready for use after such a long absence? Finally, is it safe to leave a car on charge for up to half a year? – PN Dear PN, There are no hard and fast figures on how quickly an EV battery will lose its charge, but most of the experts I've spoken to reckon a battery will lose one or two per cent of its charge each month. If you're going to take an EV off the road for a longer period, it's generally agreed that it's best to charge it to 80 per cent, which is better for long-term battery health than a full charge. By doing so, even at a rate of two per cent loss each year, it would still take just over three years to flatten the battery completely. Even then, the battery wouldn't be entirely dead, because even when an EV reads zero, there's still a little bit of charge left – manufacturers tend to leave a small margin because flattening a battery completely is not good for its long-term health. So if you leave the car with 80 per cent charge for a few months, you should still have a healthy amount remaining when you return. I wouldn't recommend leaving it on charge on a three-pin socket all that time, however, three-pin sockets aren't designed for continuous high power use, so while charging that way is fine on occasion, I wouldn't leave a car plugged in for that length of time. In terms of getting the car ready for use, disconnecting the 12V battery (which powers the ancillaries) before you leave is a good idea, as parasitic drain will almost certainly flatten it while you're away. You may lose some of the settings on the car's computers, but otherwise you shouldn't see any ill effects. If you don't fancy that, you could instead use a trickle charger to keep the battery topped up. Also, increase the tyre pressure – to 50psi, say – to avoid flat-spotting, but remember to return the pressures to normal before you drive.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
You be the judge: my girlfriend unplugs all my chargers because of the ‘fire risk'. Should she stop?
Waking up to find your phone or toothbrush are out of charge gets the day off to a really bad start My girlfriend, Amber, goes around the house before bedtime turning off my chargers for various appliances – my phone, my gaming laptop and my iPad – because she believes it to be a fire risk. We have lived together for almost five years now and this has been a problem for a while. When I plug my phone in overnight, I often find it uncharged in the morning. It's very annoying. Or sometimes when I get home from work and fancy playing a game on my laptop, I'll settle down on the sofa with my snacks ready, and there will be no charge on my laptop. I then have to get off the sofa and recharge it. Now I make Amber get up to plug my laptop in if she's unplugged it. She says it's a minor inconvenience, but waking up to go to work with an uncharged phone ruins your day. She's also done it with my electric toothbrush – I've gone to brush my teeth before work and found it dead. I never know what is going to be unplugged. Sometimes she switches off sockets at the wall; other times she physically unplugs my chargers. Amber says it's for safety, but then why does she unplug things in such an inconsistent way? There's either a fire hazard with all of them or none – I don't understand her reasoning. Amber's dad was a firefighter and he drilled this stuff into her. I get that there are safety guidelines but there aren't fires breaking out all over the place because people leave their phones charging overnight. When I asked Amber's dad about it, he was very chilled. He said: 'It's better if you don't leave things plugged in,' and shrugged. I have house insurance. I'd rather risk burning the house down. Amber thinks I don't care about our cats getting toasted, but of course I do. I just don't think there's much chance of that happening. As a compromise, she now doesn't turn off switches at the wall. But she still unplugs chargers if she leaves the house and no one is in, so I still find some of my devices uncharged and get irritated. I would rather unplug things and live with the slight inconvenience than burn the house down I always unplug my chargers before I leave the house – then plug them back in when I get back and actually need to use them. I turn off all Dillon's stuff too, which annoys him. It's not about wasting electricity, as the amount a phone charger costs to run is very small; it's about safety. I've always had a habit of turning things off as my dad was a firefighter and used to tell me stories of things catching fire. I probably take fire safety more seriously than Dad does now. Dillon likes to leave his laptop charging overnight, which I think increases the risk of fire. When he comes home and it's not fully charged, he only has to lean forward maybe half a metre to plug it back in, but he complains. He moans and says to me, 'Can you plug it back in?' We've been together for six years but this problem has been more pertinent over the last year or so since we got three cats. I've always been worried about things catching fire, but I particularly don't want our cats to be burned alive while we're out. I'd rather unplug things and be just a little bit inconvenienced than set the house on the fire. Phones aren't fridges, they are not designed to stay on overnight. If I wake up and touch our phone batteries, they're really hot. I think Dillon is overreacting. For example, when I unplugged Dillon's toothbrush, he just used a manual one instead – it wasn't a big deal. Now as a compromise, if Dillon has left something charging, I will unplug it, but I don't turn sockets off at the wall any more as that seemed to annoy him more. He would assume the switch at the wall was on and when he realised it wasn't and something wasn't charged, he would get upset. From a fire safety perspective, I'd rather err on the side of caution. It's similar with security: if you don't double lock your door, it doesn't mean you will get broken into, but you increase the risk a little by not doing it. Should Amber stop unplugging things? I get the fear of fires from electronics as I live in an old house, but that is no reason to unplug everything every night. A compromise would be to only buy electronics from certified venders that provide trustworthy 23 It seems as though Amber just wants some peace of mind. If she grew up hearing about house fires, they've probably stuck with her. It would be much easier for Dillon to charge his devices during the day than for Amber to change her 18 As long as you're using devices that meet high safety requirements, the risk is small. Maybe compromise by unplugging things when you're both away for a while, but doing so every night is 52 I honestly had never even considered this as an issue before reading this case. But now I'm convinced that Amber is right and this is a fire hazard. I'll be unplugging all my devices tonight!Anna, 45 Amber isn't guilty as technically she's right about the fire risk. But she shouldn't unplug things Dillon thinks are charging without telling him, while he should be more understanding of her concerns (although Amber might want to reflect on whether her habit of unplugging things points to an underlying anxiety).Taylor, 33 In our online poll, tell us who you think is in the wrong? The poll closes on Wednesday 4 June at 10am BST We asked whether Kady should get a tattoo on her travels, like she promised her friend she would.2% of you said yes – Kady is guilty 98% of you said no – Kady is not guilty
Geeky Gadgets
3 days ago
- Health
- Geeky Gadgets
iPhone Charging Myths DEBUNKED: Are You Making These Mistakes?
How you charge your iPhone plays a critical role in determining its performance and lifespan. Improper charging habits can gradually degrade the battery, leading to reduced efficiency and usability over time. By understanding and implementing best practices, you can optimize your iPhone's battery health and ensure it continues to perform reliably for years to come. The video below from iReviews gives us more details. Best Practices for Charging Your iPhone To maintain your iPhone's battery health, it is essential to adopt proper charging habits. Apple's lithium-ion batteries are designed to function optimally when charged within a specific range. Following these guidelines can help you preserve battery performance: Charge between 20% and 80%: Avoid letting the battery drain completely or charging it to 100% unnecessarily. Keeping the charge within this range minimizes stress on the battery. Avoid letting the battery drain completely or charging it to 100% unnecessarily. Keeping the charge within this range minimizes stress on the battery. Partial charging is beneficial: Unlike older battery technologies, lithium-ion batteries thrive on partial charges, which can extend their lifespan. Unlike older battery technologies, lithium-ion batteries thrive on partial charges, which can extend their lifespan. Use Apple-certified accessories: Chargers and cables certified by Apple ensure compatibility and reduce the risk of damage caused by substandard products. By integrating these practices into your daily routine, you can reduce battery wear and maintain your device's efficiency over time. Preserving Battery Health While all batteries experience natural degradation, you can slow this process with mindful habits. One of the most effective tools for preserving battery health is the Optimized Battery Charging feature. This feature learns your daily charging patterns and reduces the time your battery spends fully charged, thereby minimizing chemical aging. Temperature management is another critical factor. Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can negatively impact battery performance and longevity. To protect your device, avoid exposing it to direct sunlight, freezing conditions, or other environmental extremes. Keeping your iPhone within its recommended temperature range is key to maintaining its health. Common Charging Mistakes to Avoid Many users unknowingly engage in charging practices that can harm their iPhone's battery. Avoiding these common mistakes can significantly extend your battery's lifespan: Overnight charging: Leaving your iPhone plugged in overnight can expose the battery to prolonged high charge levels, accelerating wear and tear. Leaving your iPhone plugged in overnight can expose the battery to prolonged high charge levels, accelerating wear and tear. Excessive use of fast chargers: While fast chargers are convenient, they generate heat, which can damage the battery if used excessively. While fast chargers are convenient, they generate heat, which can damage the battery if used excessively. Using uncertified chargers: Third-party chargers without proper safety certifications can cause overheating, short circuits, or even permanent damage to your device. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you can protect your battery and ensure your iPhone remains reliable. Optimal Charging Habits for Longevity To maximize your iPhone's lifespan, it's important to establish a balanced charging routine. Here are some effective strategies: Charge in intervals: Instead of waiting for the battery to deplete completely, charge your iPhone in short intervals throughout the day. This reduces stress on the battery. Instead of waiting for the battery to deplete completely, charge your iPhone in short intervals throughout the day. This reduces stress on the battery. Store with care: If you plan to store your iPhone for an extended period, charge it to around 50% before turning it off. This prevents deep discharge, which can render the battery unusable. These habits not only preserve battery health but also ensure your device remains dependable over time. Insights into iPhone Battery Care Apple's charging technology is designed to protect your battery, but understanding how it works can help you further enhance its longevity. The iPhone's built-in power management system regulates charging to prevent overheating and overcharging, making sure the battery operates within safe parameters. To complement this system, avoid performing intensive tasks—such as gaming or video streaming—while your device is charging. These activities generate heat, which can strain the battery and reduce its efficiency. By being mindful of how you use your iPhone during charging, you can support its built-in safeguards and maintain optimal performance. Power Optimization Tips Beyond charging habits, optimizing your iPhone's power usage can reduce battery strain and improve overall efficiency. Consider these practical tips: Enable Low Power Mode: This feature conserves energy by reducing background activity and limiting performance when your battery is running low. This feature conserves energy by reducing background activity and limiting performance when your battery is running low. Adjust settings: Lowering screen brightness and disabling background app refresh can significantly reduce power consumption. Lowering screen brightness and disabling background app refresh can significantly reduce power consumption. Keep software updated: Regular updates from Apple often include improvements to power management, helping your device run more efficiently. Incorporating these adjustments into your daily routine can help you get more out of each charge and reduce overall battery wear. Device Longevity Strategies Extending your iPhone's lifespan requires more than just proper charging practices. Adopting good maintenance and usage habits can also make a significant difference. Here are some strategies to consider: Protect against environmental stressors: Avoid exposing your device to direct sunlight, high humidity, or other harsh conditions that can damage internal components. Avoid exposing your device to direct sunlight, high humidity, or other harsh conditions that can damage internal components. Clean the charging port: Regularly inspect and clean the charging port to ensure a secure connection and prevent debris buildup. Regularly inspect and clean the charging port to ensure a secure connection and prevent debris buildup. Handle with care: Protect your iPhone from physical damage by using a durable case and avoiding drops or impacts. By combining these strategies with optimal charging habits, you can enhance your iPhone's longevity and maintain its performance for years to come. Enhance your knowledge on iPhone charging best practices by exploring a selection of articles and guides on the subject. Source & Image Credit: iReviews Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy
Geeky Gadgets
3 days ago
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
10 Must-Have New MagSafe Chargers for iPhone
MagSafe-compatible chargers continue to evolve, offering a wide range of features tailored to meet the diverse needs of Apple users. Whether you prioritize multi-device charging, portability, or advanced cooling systems, the latest chargers are designed to enhance both convenience and efficiency. Below is a detailed look at ten new MagSafe chargers that are redefining how you power your devices in a new video from Stephen Robles. Watch this video on YouTube. Three-in-One Qi2 MagSafe Charger (Amegat) The Amegat Three-in-One Qi2 MagSafe Charger is a versatile and efficient solution for charging multiple Apple devices simultaneously. It is specifically designed to power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods with ease. Key features include: 15W MagSafe charging for iPhones for iPhones Fast charging for Apple Watch for Apple Watch Magnetic alignment for AirPods Additional features include an adjustable tilt mechanism for convenient device use, active cooling with an optional fan for quieter environments, and a durable braided USB-C cable paired with a power brick. Priced at $100, this charger is a practical choice for nightstands or workspaces, offering both functionality and style. MagSafe Puck with Active Cooling (Amegat) For users seeking portability without compromising performance, the Amegat MagSafe Puck is a compact and reliable option. This charger is designed to provide optimal charging conditions, even during intensive use. Features include: Active cooling to maintain efficient charging temperatures to maintain efficient charging temperatures An integrated temperature display for real-time monitoring This lightweight charger is ideal for activities such as gaming or filming while charging. At $40, it offers a practical and affordable solution for users who need dependable charging on the go. Qi2 Car Charger (Amegat) The Amegat Qi2 Car Charger is designed to make charging during commutes seamless and efficient. With its user-friendly design, it ensures your devices stay powered while you're on the move. Key highlights include: 15W MagSafe charging for iPhones for iPhones Active cooling to prevent overheating to prevent overheating A ball joint for flexible positioning Priced at $40, this charger is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who value accessibility and safety while driving. Ultra-Slim GaN Chargers (Nomad) Nomad's Ultra-Slim GaN Chargers are designed with portability and efficiency in mind, making them a must-have for professionals and frequent travelers. These chargers are available in 100W and 65W versions, offering robust power delivery in a compact form. Features include: Retractable prongs for easy packing for easy packing Support for multiple devices simultaneously Starting at $65, these chargers are ideal for users who need reliable power solutions without adding bulk to their travel gear. Compact Travel Chargers (Satechi Qi2) Satechi's Qi2 foldable chargers are tailored for travelers who require multi-device charging in a compact design. These chargers are available in two-in-one and three-in-one configurations, allowing you to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. While power bricks are not included, their foldable designs make them highly portable. Prices range from $80 to $100, offering flexibility for users with varying needs. 12 South Power Cord The 12 South Power Cord is a straightforward and reliable charging solution for users who prioritize simplicity and functionality. It features: A 30W power adapter for efficient charging for efficient charging An attached USB-C cable available in 4-foot and 10-foot lengths At $40, this charger is perfect for everyday use, providing a no-frills option that delivers consistent performance. Reevus Water Bottle with Find My (Journey) The Reevus Water Bottle by Journey combines practicality with innovative features, making it a unique accessory for active lifestyles. While it doesn't charge devices, it offers: A detachable Find My puck for tracking for tracking An insulated stainless steel design for temperature retention for temperature retention A MagSafe ring for phone mounting Priced at $90, this water bottle is ideal for users who value both utility and style in their everyday accessories. Qi2 Charger with Spotlight (Anker) Anker's Qi2 Charger with Spotlight is a multifunctional device designed for bedside use. It combines charging capabilities with adjustable lighting, making it a practical addition to any nightstand. Key features include: Single-device charging with MagSafe compatibility with MagSafe compatibility Adjustable spotlight controls for brightness and color temperature At $60, this charger is a versatile option for users who want both charging and lighting functionality in one compact device. Four-in-One MagSafe Charger (Zens) The Zens Four-in-One MagSafe Charger is designed for shared spaces, offering the ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Features include: Charging for up to four devices at once at once 15W power delivery to each device Priced at $150, this premium charger is an excellent choice for living rooms or offices where multiple devices need to stay powered. Four-in-One Wireless Charger with USB-C Port (Zens) Zens' Four-in-One Wireless Charger adds extra versatility with the inclusion of a 60W USB-C port. This charger is designed to accommodate multiple devices while maintaining a compact and stylish design. Features include: Charging for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods An adjustable tilt mechanism for convenient nightstand use for convenient nightstand use A space-saving design for clutter-free setups At $150, this charger is a practical and aesthetic solution for users with multiple devices. Final Thoughts These ten new MagSafe-compatible chargers highlight the latest advancements in charging technology. Whether you need portability, multi-device charging, or unique features like active cooling and integrated lighting, there is a solution to suit your lifestyle. With options ranging from compact travel chargers to premium four-in-one setups, these chargers are designed to meet the evolving needs of Apple users while enhancing convenience and efficiency. Advance your skills in MagSafe technology by reading more of our detailed content. Source & Image Credit: Stephen Robles Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
