Stop Charging to 100%: Simple Setting Doubles Phone Battery Life
Your phone's battery dies too fast—here's how to make it last longer.
When you get a new phone, the battery seems to last forever. But after a few years, it barely makes it through the day. Part of that is normal aging, but part is because we charge to 100% every time, which stresses the battery. Lithium-ion batteries degrade faster when kept at full charge. Limiting charging to 80% can significantly extend battery lifespan.
Many phones now offer a setting to stop charging at 80%. On Google Pixels, it's under Settings > Battery > Charging optimization > Limit to 80%. iPhones have a similar option: Settings > Battery > Charging > Charge Limit: 80%. The author turned this on for both phone and Mac, and found they still easily last a day without needing the full 100%. When the battery ages and you need more capacity, you can turn it off.
Ideally, phones would ship with this behavior enabled and automatically adjust as the battery ages. But manufacturers compete on battery life, so they set phones to charge to 100% to look better on spec sheets. This means consumers unknowingly shorten their battery's lifespan. A simple change in settings can make a big difference, saving you money on repairs or replacements and reducing e-waste.
So next time you get a new device, consider limiting charge to 80%. It's a small habit that can double your battery's useful life. And if you need the extra juice later, you can always switch back.
- Charging to 100% wears out batteries faster; stopping at 80% can extend lifespan.
- Google Pixels and iPhones have a built-in setting to limit charging to 80%.
- Phone makers don't enable this by default because they compete on battery life specs.
Why It Matters
This simple setting can make your phone battery last years longer, saving you money and hassle.