If you’re like most of us, always on the go—staying connected and getting things done—a dying battery can be frustrating. Whether it’s your phone, tablet, laptop or headphones, do you find yourself constantly reaching for a charger? Worse, does a full charge seem to take less and less time over time?
It’s not just a part of using electronics – two things happen:
- You use more battery power.
- Your battery is losing its capacity.
Let’s see why this happens and what you can do about it.
Why your battery won’t last forever
Batteries, like people, age over time. Most devices use lithium-ion batteries, which lose capacity after about 500 charge cycles, dropping to 80% of their original power and continuing to decline with use.
For example, the iPhone 12 Pro battery starts with a capacity of 2815 mAh. After 500 cycles, this shrinks to around 2252 mAh. So, if your phone is 100% charged, you will only get 80% of its original power – meaning that if you once used it for 10 hours, you will now get about eight.
What drains your battery?
Several factors contribute to battery drain. Newer apps require more power, constant updates, and background processes like notifications, GPS, messaging and other social media apps can drain power without you realizing it. Screen brightness also plays a big role – more brightness means more power consumption. Sometimes, software bugs can also cause unnecessary power drain.
Environmental factors that affect battery life
Just like in a car, extreme temperatures affect your device’s battery. Cold weather forces the battery to work harder, while excessive heat accelerates its wear and tear – similar to how food spoils faster in hot weather. Keeping your device in a moderate temperature range is key to extending battery life.
Using knock-off or cheap third-party cables and chargers can slow down charging and damage your battery over time. Poor quality materials and poor voltage regulation can cause overheating or even short circuits, damaging your device – or what it’s connected to, such as your car’s electrical system. A family member learned this lesson the hard way that saving a few dollars is not worth risking a $1,000 appliance and a $2,000 repair bill
Smart charging habits: The key to longevity
One easy way to extend battery life is to keep it charged between 20% and 80%. According to Battery University, lithium-ion batteries last longest when their charge stays within this range. Avoid regularly draining it to 0% or keeping it at 100% for extended periods.
While fast charging is convenient, slow charging is better for long-term battery health. Slow charging generates less heat, reducing stress on the battery. Many devices now have smart charging features to help with this.
Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging slows charging down to 80% and finishes just before you wake up or use your device. Samsung offers a battery protection mode that limits charging to 85% to reduce battery wear, while Adaptive Fast Charging adjusts the power supply for efficient and safe charging. Similarly, Microsoft’s Battery Conservation Mode limits the charge to 80% when plugged in for long periods. Check your device’s manual to see if it supports these features.
Remember: It’s not just phones and laptops
When we think about battery health, we often focus on smartphones and laptops. But Bluetooth headphones, earphones and speakers also rely on rechargeable batteries. Unfortunately, when these batteries degrade or fail, many are embedded in the device or accessory and often impossible to replace, rendering them useless. This makes it even more important to follow smart charging habits on all your devices.
Introducing Leo: The Battery Life Extender
Leo, developed by Dutch Liion Power BV, is a plug-and-play gadget that helps extend the life of lithium-ion batteries in USB-charged devices up to 100 watts. It plugs between your charger and your device, analyzes the battery to set optimal charge limits, regulate speeds and schedule breaks for better health. Need a quick boost? Switch to ghost mode for 100% fast charging.
Recognized with the CES 2025 Innovation Award in the Sustainability & Energy/Power category, Leo is an effective solution for improving battery life while promoting environmentally friendly charging practices.
Bottom Line: Small Changes, Big Results
We rely on our devices every day, so charging them properly is crucial. Simple habits – such as keeping the charge between 20% and 80%, avoiding extreme temperatures, and using slow charging – can extend battery life and reduce frustration.
Products like Leo offer environmentally friendly ways to help. With a little care, batteries can last longer and keep them out of landfills.
According to the International Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum, a whopping 5.3 billion phones will be discarded in 2022. Shockingly, about one-third of smartphones will be replaced due to aging batteries.
Since gadgets are lifelines for many, it’s worth taking care of your battery health like your own well-being.
The syndicated edition of the article appears at Troy Media and 32 affiliated syndicated sites. A print version of the article appears on the Active-Life Magazine blog and print PDF.
Greg Gazinalso known as the Gadget Guy and Gadget Greg, is a syndicated veteran tech columnist, communications, leadership and technology speaker, facilitator, blogger, podcaster and author. Reach him @gadgetgreg or at GadgetGuy.ca.