Title:Why iPhones only charge to 80%?Decoding Apple's battery health strategy
In the smartphone world, Apple has always been known for its innovation and user experience. However, sometimes users will find that their iPhones can't fill up 100% while charging, but stop at around 80%. This phenomenon has sparked a lot of questions and concerns from users. Why does iPhone have such a charging limitation? This article will delve into the reasons behind this phenomenon from multiple angles.
1. Smart Strategies for Battery Health Management
Apple has introduced a feature in iOS called "Optimize Battery Charging". This feature is designed to manage battery charging through intelligent algorithms to extend the life of the battery. When iPhone detects that the device stays near 80% for a long period of time while charging, for example, at night, it will automatically adjust the charging strategy to avoid excessive battery depletion during a long period of high power.
About Optimized Battery Charging on iPhone
iPhones with iOS 13 and later learn your daily charging habits to extend battery life.
The life of a battery is related to its chemical life, not just the length of time the battery has been assembled. The chemical age of a battery is determined by a number of complex factors, including temperature history and charging patterns. All rechargeable batteries are expendable and will degrade as the battery chemistry ages. As lithium-ion battery chemistries age, the amount of charge they can hold will decrease, which in turn will result in shorter battery life and lower peak performance.
In iOS 13 and later, Optimize Battery Charging works to reduce battery drain and extend battery life by reducing the amount of time iPhone spends in a fully charged state. When this feature is enabled, iPhone will hold off charging beyond 80% in certain situations. iPhone uses machine learning on the device to learn your daily charging habits and enables Optimize Battery Charging only when iPhone anticipates that it will be connected to a charger for an extended period of time. This algorithm is designed to ensure that iPhone remains fully charged when the charging cable is unplugged.
If Optimize Battery Charging is active, a notification displays on the lock screen indicating when iPhone will be fully charged. If you need to fully charge your iPhone as soon as possible, press and hold the notification, then tap Charge Now.
When you set up your iPhone, Optimize Battery Charging is on by default.
To change the charging options, follow the steps below:
- For iPhone 14 models and earlier, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, then turn off "Optimize Battery Charging.
- For iPhone 15 models, to choose between Optimize Battery Charging, 80% Upper Limit, and None, go to "Settings > Battery > Charge Optimization and select an option.
Turning off the Charge Optimization feature increases battery drain and shortens battery life.
About the "80% Cap" for iPhone 15 models
For each iPhone 15 model, you can choose between Optimize Battery Charging, 80% Upper Limit, and None.
When "80% Upper Limit" is selected, iPhone will only charge up to approximately 80% and then stop charging. If the battery level drops to 75%, charging will continue until the battery level reaches approximately 80% again.
When "80% Upper Limit" is enabled, iPhone will occasionally charge up to 100% in order to maintain an accurate battery state-of-charge valuation.
If "Optimize Battery Charging" is not activated
The Optimize Charging feature will only work in the locations where you spend the most time (such as your home and office). If your usage habits are more varied (e.g., while traveling), this feature will not work. Therefore, to activate Optimize Battery Charging, certain location settings must be enabled*. Location information used for this feature is not sent to Apple.
Please follow the steps below:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn on Location Services.
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services, and turn on "System Customization.
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Important Locations. Turn on "Important Places" and then turn on "Important Places".
The chemistry of the battery dictates that it will age faster during the charging process, especially when charging to near 100%. To avoid this, Apple's optimized charging technology automatically delays the charging process when it approaches a full charge, thus holding the charge at around 80% until the device actually needs it to complete charging to 100%. This strategy effectively reduces the number of charging cycles the battery goes through, which extends the overall lifespan of the battery.
2. Charging speed and heat management
Charging in a high power state not only accelerates battery aging, but also causes the device to overheat. Apple manages the temperature of iPhone during charging very strictly to ensure the safe and stable operation of the device. When charging to 80%, the battery heats up relatively little, so Apple restricts charging at this stage to reduce the overall temperature of the device.
When the iPhone is charged up to 80%, the charging speed of the device is reduced so that the temperature of the battery can be effectively controlled. High temperatures are not only harmful to the battery, but can also affect other internal components of the device. By controlling the amount of charging, Apple is able to keep the device within a relatively safe temperature range, ensuring that the user experience is not compromised by overheating.
3. User habits and charging modes
The iPhone's "Optimize Battery Charging" feature takes into account not only the health of the battery, but also the charging habits of the user. Modern users often connect their phones to chargers, especially at night. Apple's charging optimization algorithm learns the user's charging habits and adjusts the charging strategy accordingly. For example, if a user typically charges their iPhone to 100% at night, the system will pause charging at 80% and charge the battery to 100% only when the expected usage time is close.
This charging pattern not only protects the battery, but also ensures that users have enough power when they need it most. By understanding the user's behavioral patterns, Apple is able to provide a smart and personalized charging solution.
4. System updates and technical improvements
Apple is constantly making technical improvements to optimize battery charge management. Battery health management technology is continually upgraded in different versions of iOS. The updated system may adjust the charging strategy to adapt to new technical standards and user needs. As a result, the charging limitation strategy of iPhone may also change with system updates.
In addition, Apple may introduce new battery management features through software updates that may alter charging strategies for better battery maintenance. Users should update their systems regularly to ensure they enjoy the latest technological improvements and optimal battery performance.
summarize
The phenomenon of iPhone charging only up to 80% is a smart charging strategy adopted by Apple to prolong battery life, control device temperature and optimize user charging experience. This strategy not only protects the health of the battery, but also ensures the safe operation and long-lasting stability of the device. By learning from users' charging habits and continuously optimizing with system updates, Apple is able to provide users with a more efficient and intelligent charging solution. While this charging restriction may be uncomfortable for some users, it certainly helps to improve the longevity and overall performance of the device in the long run.
