iPhone Optimized Battery Charging: Basics and Benefits

As Apple's iOS 13 is becoming more widely-used, some iPhone users have begun to experience issues where instead of charging fully, their device instead stops charging at 80%. While you may think this is a glitch or some kind of damage-related issue, it's actually not -- rather this is the result of a new feature, one known as Optimized Battery Charging mode.

At Bad Apple, we're happy to offer a variety of iPhone repair and related services, plus tips and expertise to clients on how to use any new features or applications that are present when they upgrade their operating system. What is the Optimized Battery Charging feature, what's the science behind its conception, and how can you know when it's active and/or turn it off? This two-part blog series will go over everything you need to know.

Optimized Battery Charging Basics

Before you simply assume that Optimized Battery Charging refers to a program that stops charging at 80% for all users no matter what, it's important to realize that it's actually a more intelligent program. Specifically, this feature uses machine learning to understand your daily charging activities -- based on the data it collects, if it believes the phone is being left on the charger for a long period, it will delay charging past 80%. This doesn't mean charging is limited in all circumstances, however. Rather, it means the phone won't go to full power immediately after being plugged in -- rather it waits until you're finished using your iPhone or have a period of idle time on your hands before re-enabling charging. In essence, this feature is doing its best not to overload battery components.

Why 80%?

To understand the answer to this question, you need to know about about the lithium-ion batteries used to power iPhones. These batteries naturally see their performance diminish over time, and this is based on both chemical age and temperature.

The 80% stoppage figure is present to reduce the amount of time the battery spends fully charged. This stops the battery from overheating as often as it may have previously, which in turn prolongs its lifespan in the long run.

Benefits of Using Optimized Battery Charging

By utilizing this feature, you'll see both short-term and long-term benefits. First off, by keeping your battery in the optimal temperature range it's much less likely to overheat during periods of high use. This means that your device won't shut down unexpectedly or lag as often -- which is something that typically only occurs when the phone is really pushed to its limits.

Additionally, by keeping your battery in the optimal temperature range, you're doing your best to reduce chemical degradation -- which really does affect how long your iPhone lasts on a single charge. This is especially important for newer iPhones that have had their batteries replaced with third-party components, as this can cause short-term issues while Apple deals with supply chain concerns.

For more on why your phone stops charging at 80% and why you should utilize the Optimized Battery Charging feature in new iOS versions, or to learn about any of our iPhone or iPad repair services, speak to the staff at FixITMobile | Bad Apple today.