Best way to preserve long-term battery life

[geordisjd]

I almost always have access to a computer at work/home and I can leave my iPhone plugged in most of the time. I heard through other threads that the battery may only last through 400 charges before losing performance.
What is the best way to preserve that life as long as possible? To let the phone discharge almost completely before recharging? To charge it frequently even if the charge is still decent? To leave it plugged in all the time as long as I'm in a place where I can do that, which is 80% of the time?
Does anybody know? Thanks.

[TrippalHealicks]

I almost always have access to a computer at work/home and I can leave my iPhone plugged in most of the time. I heard through other threads that the battery may only last through 400 charges before losing performance.
What is the best way to preserve that life as long as possible? To let the phone discharge almost completely before recharging? To charge it frequently even if the charge is still decent? To leave it plugged in all the time as long as I'm in a place where I can do that, which is 80% of the time?
Does anybody know? Thanks.

I've always heard it's not a good idea to leave a phone or any other type of rechargeable battery on a charger, after it has a full charge. When it's full, take it off, in other words.
Also, the # of "charges" the battery gets before losing performance, means FULL, 100% charges. Meaning, the battery would have to go completely dead, and have to be COMPLETELY recharged to 100%, before it even counted as one. It will take a while to reach that numbe, don't worry.

[rumpelgeist]

I've always heard it's not a good idea to leave a phone or any other type of rechargeable battery on a charger, after it has a full charge. When it's full, take it off, in other words.
Also, the # of "charges" the battery gets before losing performance, means FULL, 100% charges. Meaning, the battery would have to go completely dead, and have to be COMPLETELY recharged to 100%, before it even counted as one. It will take a while to reach that numbe, don't worry.

Just a note: I have heard that on both the iPhone and on an iPod, it is totally okay to leave the device hooked to a charger as long as you like. One the device is charged up, iPhones and iPods are smart enough to not overcharge themselves. Also, they do not develop a "memory".

Rumpelgeist

[TrippalHealicks]

Just a note: I have heard that on both the iPhone and on an iPod, it is totally okay to leave the device hooked to a charger as long as you like. One the device is charged up, iPhones and iPods are smart enough to not overcharge themselves. Also, they do not develop a "memory".

Rumpelgeist

Hmm, sounds believable.
Apple does make some quality "smart" products. :)

[JMSinTX]

I won't be leaving my iPhone/iPod in the car any more.

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

[art]

What is the best way to preserve that life as long as possible?

Here is what I do that has extended the battery life from an average of one year to two full years on my mobile phone and my laptop. Buy one spare battery for each and alternate with the procedure below.

1) Remove the battery from the device.
2) Put it in the refrigerator
3) Install the spare battery (out of refrigerator, let sit until room temp, then install)


With 2 batteries for each, alternating them and storing them in the refrigerator, I get 2yrs life per battery or 4 years total for both the phone & the laptop.

However unfortunately Apple has locked us out of the opportunity to do this.

[Bluesy1]

Just a note: I have heard that on both the iPhone and on an iPod, it is totally okay to leave the device hooked to a charger as long as you like. One the device is charged up, iPhones and iPods are smart enough to not overcharge themselves. Also, they do not develop a "memory".

Rumpelgeist

This is the same information I received today from the Apple genius. He also directed me to this area on the Apple website for more information on battery care. He recommends doing a full discharge once a month for the iphone. He also does this for his laptop and ipod.

http://www.apple.com/batteries

[dsuppa]

So then in theory according to that apple battery info If i kept my iPhone plugged in all the time at work I would use 0 charge cycles during the week and then on the weekends use it normally and keep it off the charger. I would probably only use 2 - 3 cycles a week which would last over 2 years of battery life. Im sure by then I'll have an iPhone 3.0 which would have a nuclear battery and no need for charging or charge cycles.

[GP78]

I was just gonna say... if you wanna get better battery life...

just stop showing it off to all those who ask! :-)

(My buddy and I figured that it's appropriate for the IBIN (Intl Brotherhood of iPhone Nerds, the official iPhone Union) to adopt the rule of... "the iPhone can't stay in a pocket for longer than 5 minutes." :-P

[TrippalHealicks]

Here is what I do that has extended the battery life from an average of one year to two full years on my mobile phone and my laptop. Buy one spare battery for each and alternate with the procedure below.

1) Remove the battery from the device.
2) Put it in the refrigerator
3) Install the spare battery (out of refrigerator, let sit until room temp, then install)


With 2 batteries for each, alternating them and storing them in the refrigerator, I get 2yrs life per battery or 4 years total for both the phone & the laptop.

However unfortunately Apple has locked us out of the opportunity to do this.

Just put the iPhone in the freezer! LOL

[rittchard]

OK so let's say it's safe to assume it's OK to leave it charging overnight, but that still doesn't answer the question as to what would be the *best* for longterm battery life.

I posed this in another thread but I think it got lost. Which is the best option overnight (assuming you don't need to charge)?

1 - Shut it off completely
2 - Leave in charger in sleep mode
3 - Leave off of charger in sleep mode