A common charging habit was quietly killing my iPhone's battery - here's the fix
Excessive heat from car charging is the #1 battery killer, but you can avoid it easily.
Deep Dive
ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes found that charging his iPhone in a car—whether wired, wireless, or on a built-in pad—causes overheating that accelerates battery degradation. He notes that cars act like greenhouses and that the only time he saw Apple's "Charging on Hold" feature was during car charging. Heat is the enemy of batteries, and the article states that you can still charge in the car but must take precautions—though it does not specify which precautions.
Key Points
- Car charging is the leading cause of iPhone overheating, accelerating battery degradation.
- Apple's 'Charging on Hold' mode only activates in car scenarios, indicating dangerous temperatures.
- Use a low-wattage charger (≤12W) and remove the phone case to keep battery cool.
Why It Matters
Battery replacement costs time and money; this fix can save iPhone users $89-$169 annually.