So I was always told with new electronics that you need to charge the battery to 100%+ before you use it for the first time as that effectively sets the size if the battery – you can’t charge it past that point in future so if you only charge it to 50% you’re limiting yourself to a half capacity battery. I’ve just bought a new phone that comes with the battery partially charged.
Was I lied to all my life? Or is it that batteries have evolved over the years so things have changed? Or do I now have a limited capacity battery? Or…?
In: Technology
You’re thinking of the memory effect from old Nickel Cadium (NiCad) or Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. Those are typically disposable-battery sized rechargeable batteries (think AA batteries).
With Lithium Ion batteries, the effect is far less prevalent.
In addition, more advanced batteries these days have multiple cells that work in series, and some cells can be allowed to fully drain, which would allow them to fully recharge afterwards.
that used to be true but it’s no longer the case, also it’s possible it was fully charged when it left the factory but lost half the charge by natural discharge
That was somewhat true in the long past with old battery tech, but not with Lithium batteries that we’re now using. These don’t have a memory effect to this extent, and in fact fully charging or discharging them is what’s worst for the battery. It’s better to always keep them in the 10%-90% range, and some smartphones even do that themselves.
It can still be a good idea to do one full charge and one full discharge on new devices – but not for the battery itself, just so the battery management systems learns the capacity of the battery and the phone can accurately tell you how full the battery is.
For the most optimized battery in modern smart phones you should never drop below 20% and never charge above 80%- 85%
and fast charging is ridiculously bad for battery life.
Even with NiCd the memory effect only appeared after dozens of recharge cycles. You have indeed been fed 100% homegrown bullshit by somebody.
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