An unsung hero of mobile technology is the battery. It enables users to carry the phone, a high-tech device with endless innovative features, anywhere they like without worrying about power. Additionally, their rechargeable feature means that you can use them for years without needing to replace their power source. You only need to repair or replace a phone battery if it’s losing its efficacy, dead or becoming a hazard.
Phone batteries are robust accessories, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their flaws. Good maintenance will make a battery last, but a time will come when you will need to replace it. You can look out for signs to tell when that time has come.
How Phone Batteries Work
Battery technology is essential to mobile technology; it gives devices their mobility. Not only does the battery have to be robust and portable, but it must also be easily rechargeable. Some users may remember having batteries of different sizes, shapes, and power necessary to give devices life back in the day.
Those batteries were cumbersome to own and handle; you constantly had to change them out. Even those that claimed to be rechargeable had a short lifespan that got shorter with each recharge.
Fortunately, the innovation came to the rescue. The batteries you will find in your devices nowadays are either Lithium-ion (Li-ion) or lithium-polymer (Li-poly) batteries.
Lithium-ion gained popularity in the 90s due to its high energy density, ability to keep charging over a long period, and cheap cost of production. Their invention and commercialization were a leap forward in the tech industry. Despite their benefits, Lithium-ion battery capacity decreases over charge cycles, and the battery discharges power even when it isn’t in use.
The chemical composition of Lithium-ion batteries limits them to a rectangular shape. They can also become unstable under extreme temperatures or if they are punctured. Although cases are rare, reports have come out of batteries exploding or igniting into flames.
Lithium-polymer battery technology is a more recent battery technology, which gained popularity due to the need for quick charging smartphones. Li-Poly offers more flexible and robust designs than Li-Ion. But their manufacturing process is more expensive, has a shorter life-cycle, and stores less energy than the same sized Li-ion.
Both Li-ion and Li-Poly batteries are used today for various phones and other devices. Despite their differences, both batteries are robust and safe.
Knowing the Signs
Cell phone batteries usually have 300 to 500 charging cycles, which can equate to about two years. So on average, you may need to replace your phone battery every two years.
If you maintain it well, a phone battery can last for a long time, but not forever. Over time the battery will wane and show signs that it is diminishing. Here are some of the signs that your battery needs replacement;
- The phone is slow to respond to taps and prompts.
- The apps take longer to launch or respond to your commands.
- The battery drains more rapidly than in the past.
- The phone is slower to power up
- The phone never powers up to 100%,
- The phone shuts down unexpectedly under normal conditions.
- The phone doesn’t run unless it is plugged into the charger.
- The phone heats up while charging
- There is a bulge in the battery area.
- No sign of life, no matter what you do.
The above situations point to a battery in decline, dead, or one that has become a hazard. You can check the status of your battery in the iPhone under Settings > Battery > Battery Health. For Android phones, you can view that information on Settings > Battery. There are also a number of third-party apps you can install that can give you information on your battery.
When you receive a warning from your phone about the battery, you should heed it. Android phone batteries are generally easy to repair and replace. iPhones, on the other hand, have several restrictions. It’s not possible to open an iPhone with standard tools; parts are hard to find, and only authorized dealers should handle it. You can book an onsite MacBook repair service to come in and look at your iPhone.
Keep an Eye on Your Battery
A battery isn’t something you want to malfunction. So take care of it. If you have battery issues, check the battery status under settings. If indications are that you need to change your battery, do it immediately before it becomes a bigger problem.
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