Is Battery Health Important? Here's The Lowdown

There’s nothing like the joy of taking a new smartphone or laptop out of its box and thinking of ways to maximize it to the hilt. You may even promise to take better care of it this time around, so you make sure not to be so careless—especially with charging it. You might even be serious enough to check how your battery’s health is doing on the regular.

You’re not alone, though. Several tech online forums are fraught with the same question–with most users being very concerned about what it exactly means, and how to proceed forward. If you’ve been wondering if it even matters, read on. 

What is battery health?

Battery health is loosely defined as your gadget’s capability to stay switched on and functional in between charges. We say “loosely defined” because even until now, there aren’t exact metrics to properly assess how a device’s battery is doing. Even measuring how much a battery’s current charge is still leads to inaccuracies. 

The truth is that all batteries degrade over time. Over time, and with continued use, you may notice that your new device requires more charging than usual–and it stands to reason because the health of your battery will gradually decrease, no matter how much care you give your device. 

One of the main reasons your battery’s health lowers is because of charging cycles. This means using up your battery’s energy–but not necessarily going from 100% to 0%. Another factor is charging beyond 100% for an extended period, which most of us already know and try not to do any longer.

To prevent overcharging, manufacturers of most of today’s smartphones and tablets have built-in charging optimization. Putting it simply, your devices are smart enough to figure out your charging habits, then eventually stop charging when it hits around 80%. In the case of laptops, however, it’s always best to maximize power-saving or battery-saving modes and adjust your settings as you see fit. 

Your usage habits are also key to your battery health. Here are some tips you may want to consider, especially if you use your laptop or mobile device quite heavily:

• Tweak some settings while you’re gaming. If you’re an avid gamer, playing games can quickly drain your battery. Lowering your screen brightness and sound level and adjusting your game settings can help. If you play on your Android smartphone, switching off Force 4x MSAA might render less detail, but save your battery.

• Keep your battery level at 20 to 80%. These numbers ensure that your battery remains at an optimal state, minimizing wear and making it last longer. 

• Switch to a faster and more stable Internet connection. Your device will consume more power by looking for a stronger connection or searching for more stable networks. This will quickly heat up your phone, draining your battery in the process. Connect to a strong and more robust WiFi network to prevent this from happening. 

So how will I know if I need to replace my battery?

The best way to gauge your device battery health is through your own experience. If you’re suddenly finding that your device shuts down even if it has 25% power left, or if certain functions take longer than usual, then it’s time to have your battery replaced. Interestingly, your phone’s built-in battery health indicator may indicate a fairly good rating–though you might want to reconsider the numbers you see onscreen compared to what you’re currently experiencing.

Of course, you can always upgrade to a newer device, too. Either way, battery health is and should not be a major indicator of how your device is faring. It still boils down to healthy charging habits.