Myths and truths about battery charging

A few days ago, we recommended some apps to save battery life on your smartphone or tablet.

Battery life is one of the biggest concerns for every mobile device user, hence the large number of "myths" that have arisen around this issue.

Surely you've also been advised not to use your phone while it's charging, not to charge it until the battery is completely depleted, or to leave it charging for a whole day. But how true is this advice? Are they true or just a loosely held belief?

Below, we'll share some of the most popular tips and recommendations about battery charging, revealing whether they're true or false. These myths, repeated a thousand times, won't become true.

• First load: FALSE

When we buy a smartphone ortablet , once the battery level is depleted, it's advisable to keep it connected to the power outlet for a full day . They say that the first charge will ensure subsequent full charges, which will extend the device's lifespan.

A classic piece of advice we're given when we get a new phone or tablet. However, this is a myth , as today's batteries automatically stop charging when they reach 100% . So there's no need to keep the device plugged in for a whole day; just wait for it to fully charge.

• Non-original chargers damage batteries: TRUE

This also depends on the charger we use, as there are currently some that, although generic, are of high quality and do not damage the battery . However, a very cheap and low-quality charger can damage the battery and may not even guarantee a full charge.

• It is best to charge it when the battery is completely empty: FALSE

Charging frequency doesn't harm the battery, whether it's at 70%, 40%, or 10% capacity. Since most smartphones currently use lithium batteries, we can charge them whenever we need to ; there's no need to wait for the battery to completely drain. The ideal charge to keep a lithium battery in good condition is between 20% and 80% of its capacity.

• The battery charges faster in airplane mode: TRUE

This statement is partly true. It's true that in Airplane Mode, charging time is shorter, since 3G and Wi-Fi functions are disabled . However, it's also true that you can't make or receive calls or use the internet.

• You should not use your mobile phone while it is charging: FALSE

In reality, there's no problem using your phone or tablet while it's charging . This won't affect the battery at all. The origin of this myth lies in some users' fear of suffering a short circuit or electric shock, although this can also happen with regular use of the device, not just while it's charging. To avoid these types of accidents, we recommend using only original, high-quality chargers .

And one more recommendation: if you have very little battery left, charge the device for at least 10 minutes before using it.