Let Android Phone Battery 'Run Down'

[llamekuf]

Someone has been told that letting their phone battery rundown to no power (and then recharging it) is beneficial for the phone _ true or nonsense?

[TonyV]

I do that, cannot remember where I saw it recommended.

[bookbinder]

If a mobile phone battery runs right down when you're in the North Sea, and searching for a lifeboat or the coastguard, that's not really a good idea.

[gingejbee]

Quite the opposite...it's never a good idea to let any Li-ion battery run right down...charge them when about at 10% remaining.

[barry1010]

True - if you do it now and again. Harmful if you do it every time.
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/04/02/smartphone-battery-myths-need-die/99852532/

But false according to this
https://www.androidauthority.com/maximize-battery-life-882395/

[KARL]

Here is my understanding: There is such a thing as "memory" when it comes to charge and discharge of batteries. Simply put, a battery which is consistently recharged before it is right down to more or less nothing begins to "think" less than empty equates to empty - the total usable capacity becomes reduced. A way to "reset" bis to drain the battery right down - but there is a risk attached because you can unintentionally drain it past a point wbeyond which it will not recharge at all.

However, this applies to the likes of nickel based batteries and possibly one or two other types. But mobile phones more or less universally use Lithium batteries which do not exhibit memory to any significant degree.

[KARL]

*is, not bis

[KARL]

...and beyond, not wbeyond

[llamekuf]

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

[pixie374]

I've seen the idea many times, never done it. It doesn't make any obvious difference.

[TheChair]

Absolute nonsense. It used to be the case with NiCad batteries, but exactly the opposite is the case with the lithium batteries in modern phones. Every time you put the battery through a full charge-discharge cycle, you reduce its life.

[gingejbee]

pixie...it does make an obvious difference. A little research will show that you can significantly reduce the overall lifespan of a Li-ion battery by constantly discharging fully and then charging fully...and they're not cheap!

[198kHz]

The general consensus seems to be that the best life is obtained by maintaining the percentage charge between 20% and 80%.
On Android I use Battery Alarm Pro by Zoran Vujacic to achieve this.

[pixie374]

Gingibee.... I meant u have never had a battery problem, or had to change a phone due to it.