Our smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, in fact, at times, they feel as if they are an extension of ourselves. We can customize their look and color to fit our own personal styles; they serve as our planners, calendars, to-do lists, contact lists, and alarm clocks. We use them to check and send our emails or connect with friends on social media. When we are lost or need directions they serve as our maps and GPS. At a touch of a button we use our phones to pay bills, check bank statements, order food or coffee, and set up or cancel appointments. If we need an answer – to (nearly) any question – it is in the palm of our hand. Our smartphones have become less like phones and more like friends. Siri has become our own AI Personal Assistant/Companion, like Ironman’s JARVIS, KITT from Knight Rider, or Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Two things are for certain, we are pretty dependent on our phones, and second, most of us have issues with our the battery life of our phones. Whether that be due to overcharging our phones, having too many applications running, or some other unknown reason, it is an annoyance we all deal with from time to time. What can solve this dilemma? Does closing Apple Apps extend your battery life?
What can solve this dilemma? Does closing Apple Apps extend your battery life?
Closing the apps on your smartphone is usually the go to action people make when they are having issues with their battery’s life. Why have your phone waste its battery power on running several apps you aren’t even using currently…. what an obvious way to save your phone’s battery life, right? Nope! This is a common misconception! Closing apps on your phone do not save any battery life. According to Apple’s head of software development, Craig Federighi, swiping off the various running applications will not affect the battery’s life whatsoever1. In fact, Federighi admitted, “He does not quit his multitasking apps frequently, and it is not necessary for the battery life.”2 Furthermore, Kyle Richter, a former Apple technician and CEO of MartianCraft, wrote an extremely thorough and detailed explanation recently about why closing unused apps could actually hurt your phone’s battery life and make it even worse!.
So how can someone maximize their phone’s battery charge or keep the battery from becoming disrupted and easily discharged? The following tips, from Apple3, are a great place to start!
- Update your phone with the latest software!More times than not the latest Apple software updates will include some energy saving technology that will keep your device charged longer!
- Avoid leaving your smartphone in excess heat!High temperatures are known to damage and hurt smart phones beyond repair. Think or your smartphone as a small child or animal you dare not leave in a vehicle with the windows rolled during the summer.
- Your phone’s case may be causing issues! Some phone cases are heavily insulated causing heat to get trapped in the phone. When your phone is charging feel it carefully with the back of your palm, if it ever feels too hot, unplug it immediately and remove the case before attempting to charge it again.
- Store your phone smartly!If you are not using your phone for the day or an extended period, make sure you keep it stored in a cool moisture-free place. You may also consider bringing down the power to about 50% before shutting it off.
- Optimize your smart phone’s settings. The two simplest ways to do this that will affect your battery’s life is adjusting the brightness of your phones screen and enable Wi-Fi only for your phone.
Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire way to keep your battery in the pristine factory condition that you first received it in.However, Apple is an innovative and revolutionary tech company, who knows what they may have up their sleeve that could solve our battery charging crises. In the meantime, following the above five tips will keep your battery, phone, and other Apple devices healthy. And functioning properly.