Why Charging Your Phone to 100% Daily Might Be Reducing Its Battery Life – Experts Explain

In today’s always-connected world, keeping your phone battery fully charged feels like a necessity. However, battery experts warn that charging your mobile phone to 100% every day may actually reduce its overall lifespan.

According to Zhou Yang Wang, Director of the Electrochemical Engine Center at Penn State University, fully charging your battery to 100% on a daily basis causes accelerated wear and tear on the battery. “Charging the battery to full capacity puts it under stress, especially when done regularly,” he explained. Wang estimates that consistently charging a phone to 100% instead of 90% can reduce the battery’s lifespan by 10 to 15%.

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Similarly, Debabrata Dutta, an Associate Professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, explains that maintaining a phone at full charge exposes the battery to high voltage, which is harmful in the long run. He also advises against letting your battery drop to 0%, noting that charging should begin once your phone reaches 20% battery for optimal health.

What's the Best Charging Practice?

The consensus among experts like Wang and Dutta is to keep your daily charging range between 85% to 90%, and avoid both the extreme highs of 100% and the lows of 0%. Occasional full charges — such as when you're traveling or expecting to be without power for a long time — are acceptable, but they shouldn't become a habit.

Zhou Yang Wang further warns that fast charging, which is popular in many modern smartphones, produces additional heat. This heat buildup can reduce battery life over time, especially if you're charging in hot environments.

"High temperatures combined with full charges accelerate the degradation of the lithium-ion battery," he noted.

Should You Stop Charging to 100% Completely?

Not necessarily. Charging to 100% occasionally isn’t harmful if done mindfully, particularly when you need extended usage during travel or work. But for everyday usage, it’s best to adopt a moderate charging routine to ensure your battery remains healthy for longer.

Many modern smartphones now come with battery optimization features, such as smart charging or charging limit options. If your phone supports it, enabling these features can help extend your battery’s lifespan automatically.