I stopped this common charging habit that was quietly killing my iPhone's battery
Avoiding this one charging location preserves battery life significantly.
Deep Dive
ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tracked his iPhone 17 Pro Max battery after nearly 200 cycles and found that car charging—whether wired, wireless, or built-in—consistently causes overheating, which degrades the battery. He now takes precautions when charging in the car to avoid the overheating that triggers 'Charging on Hold' mode.
Key Points
- Charging iPhone in a car (wired or wireless) causes overheating that damages battery health.
- The 'Charging on Hold' alert is a sign of thermal stress; it appeared only during car charging in the author's test.
- After 200 recharge cycles without car charging, the iPhone 17 Pro Max battery remains in excellent condition.
Why It Matters
Simple behavioral change—avoiding car charging—can double an iPhone battery's lifespan without sacrificing convenience.