I've been trying to keep my device batteries drained to around 20% before I recharge them. But sometimes I end up leaving them on the charger until they hit 100%, especially during trips or long waits. I'm curious if this practice is really necessary for maintaining battery health, or if it's okay to keep them charged to 100%.
3 Answers
For laptops, leaving them charged to 100% can harm the battery health over time. Many manufacturers have settings that limit charging to around 80%. You can check your laptop's battery health, and iOS and Android also have similar settings to help with battery longevity.
Some modern phones and laptops have built-in features that limit charging to around 80%. I know my Pixel has an adaptive charging option that slows down charging while I sleep. Personally, I think this is overkill for most cases. My batteries last for at least four years without worrying too much about it. If you’ve got a high-end phone with fast charging, it might be a different story though.
It really depends on your device. Most newer ones manage charging well, so leaving your devices plugged in is usually fine. They draw power from the charger for their operations and then slowly maintain the battery level at 100%. If you can set your battery to charge only up to 80%, that’s a solid practice to prolong its lifespan too!
That's good to know! I didn't realize that about laptops. Thanks!