HTX Studio this week shared the results from a six-month battery test that compared how fast charging and slow charging can affect battery life over time.
Using six iPhone 12 models, the channel set up a system to drain the batteries from five percent and charge them to 100 percent over and over again. Three were fast charged, and three were slow charged.
Another set of iPhones underwent the same test, but with charging initiated at 30 percent and stopped at 80 percent, so the iPhones were always in that range.
Prior to the experiment, the capacity for each phone was tested, and after 500 cycles, the capacity was tested again. The results suggest there is minimal additional battery drain from fast charging, but keeping an iPhone between 30 and 80 percent charge could be minimally beneficial.
HTX Studio concluded that the best way to charge an iPhone is "however you like," without overthinking it and trading mental energy for a tiny bit of battery life. The same video also includes Android tests, and is well worth watching in full for those curious about the effects of fast charging.
Top Rated Comments
Marginal benefits if you make some pretty significant compromises every day for forever.
If you only charge to 80%, your capacity will hold slightly longer. Capacity that... you're not using.
If you fast charge every day for years all the way to 100%; you'll still have 80% capacity at the end of several years. Capacity that you would've been artificially limiting yourself to the entire time.
Feels very "cover the couch in plastic" to me. Sure I guess it improves it somewhat; but is it worth not getting to actually use the "thing"?
And ultimately, battery replacements from Apple are both reasonably priced and available for a very long time, with third party options virtually indefinitely.
I keep my phones for a really long time so, in theory, I'm the one this information most benefits. The only thing I actually do is make sure to use a slow charger on my nightstand. When I plug it in at night, it's going to be plugged in for the next several hours so there's no benefit to fast charging. Beyond that, it gets hit with a fast charger if I ever need to charge in the middle of the day. Always to 100%. And after 3-4 years the battery capacity starts to get noticeably poorer. A hundred bucks (give or take) at the Apple Store (free with AppleCare+) and I walk away with a brand new battery. And most people will have replaced their phone long before then.
I've always felt the same way about OSes. You shouldn't have to work so hard to keep your OS organized, secure, updated, etc., again, you got a computer/device to improve your life, not complicate it.