Phone charging slowly? Here’s why
There could be
hardware or software issues at play that prevent your phone from charging as
fast as it once did
Your smartphone can do a whole lot—but not if the
battery’s exhausted. Unfortunately, as your phone gets older, it might take
longer to charge. Let’s talk about how mobile device charging works and the
different charging methods available for current-generation phones. We’ll also
see why older phones might require more time to charge and what you can do
about it.
Understanding rechargeable
batteries
A cell battery contains two electrodes (one positive
and one negative) and an electrolyte. Through usage, ions form in the electrodes,
which drives a flow of electronics to your battery’s negative outer terminal,
thereby giving off a charge.
With rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, like the
ones found in phones, the chemical reactions are “reversible.” Thus, recharging
allows the cell to absorb power.
“Fast Charging” technology has increased wired
charging speeds considerably in recent years. This technology typically
requires a newer USB Type-C. Fast charging specifications differ by
manufacturer and device. Most claim a certain percentage of the battery becomes
recharged in 30 minutes. For example, with fast charge, you can recharge an
iPhone to 50 per cent in 30 minutes.
The most significant reason to stick with wired
charging, at least for now, is efficiency. Not surprisingly, cables are the
biggest reason to ditch wired charging technology. Cables are annoying and can
become worn over time. Besides, they’re ugly to look at.
This brings us to an increasingly popular form of
phone charging: wirelessly. Here, you just set your phone on a stationary
charging pad. This means less wear and tear on your device and fewer costs, at
least in the long term. Convenience is another reason consumers are embracing
wireless charging, and many charging pads now allow you to charge multiple devices
at the same time.
However, wireless charging is still slower and less
efficient than wired charging. Wireless chargers also tend to generate some
wasted heat, which could lead to your phone overheating. To avoid injury, make
sure you only buy certified wireless charging bases, which are more expensive.
Why your phone is charging
slowly
Now that you know how battery charging works, it’s
time to look at what might be slowing down your older phone while charging.
Most likely, it’s because of one of the following reasons:
Bad accessories
The most straightforward reason your cell phone might
be charging slower than before might have nothing to do with the phone itself.
Instead, you could have a bad cord or adapter, or weak power source.
USB cables get put through a lot, especially in homes
with multiple users and devices. These cables are often dropped, bent, kept in
locations where temperatures can vary significantly, and even stepped on.
Therefore, before anything else, change the cable and see if that eliminates
the problem.
You should also switch out the adapter and see if
that makes a difference. In your household, do you continue to use the same
adapter even after buying a new phone? You should probably use the newer one.
Many like to charge their mobile devices using a port
on their computer. This isn’t always an ideal solution, depending on your
computer’s age and whether other ports on your machine are in use at the same
time.
Port issues
Your cable isn’t the only element that could have
problems from daily charging. Your phone’s charging port could also suffer some
damage. Look at the port for corrosion or an obstruction. While this probably
isn’t the reason it’s taking more time to charge your device, you should at
least rule it out.
To find the latter, use a flashlight and
magnification to look around inside your phone’s port. Try to remove any object
(lint, dust, etc.) that doesn’t belong, being very careful not to cause damage
to the port’s components.
Background apps
Phones that take forever to charge can also have a
hard time keeping a charge when in use. A rogue app, or background apps in
general, could be the reason for this.
Both Android and iOS now have tools for you to find
out what apps are running in the background. For Android-based devices, check
out the battery usage menu located at Settings > Battery. On your iPhone,
select Battery in the Settings app to see which apps are using the most
battery.
When you think you’ve located the nasty app, delete
it and see if your battery life and charging speed improves.
Aging battery
If you’ve exhausted the other tips on this list and
the battery still seems to take forever to charge, you might think about having
the battery replaced.
Apple was criticised for how the company handled
batteries in aging iPhones. It did so for a reason, though.
The little industry secret is that lithium-ion
batteries don’t last forever and can only be recharged a limited number of
times. Therefore, it could be that the battery itself is what’s causing the
slow recharging. Take your phone to an authorised dealer for more information
on replacing the battery in your device.
The problem is you
Are you the type of person that has to use your
smartphone even when it’s charging? Perhaps you’re the reason the device takes
so long to recharge. Apps such as Facebook are notorious for sapping battery
life on phones. Nowhere is this more apparent than when you’re attempting to
recharge your device while also leaving posts on your social network.
Instead of doing this, take a break. Make a rule that
you won’t use your phone while it’s charging.
| Bryan Wolfe MM 19MAR18
THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED ON MAKEUSEOF.COM
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