5 Common Smartphone Battery Misconceptions and What Actually Works

As smartphones become more central to our daily routines, preserving battery health has become a top priority for many users. The internet is flooded with battery-saving advice, but much of it is outdated and not applicable to today's advanced mobile devices. In this article, we debunk some of the most widespread myths about smartphone battery care—and share what really works.

Myth 1: Closing Background Apps Saves Battery Life

One of the most persistent myths is that keeping apps open in the background drains your phone’s battery. While this held some truth over a decade ago, modern operating systems like Android and iOS are now built to efficiently manage background activity. Apps that aren’t in use are paused automatically, minimizing power usage.

In fact, repeatedly closing and reopening apps can use more battery, as the phone must reload them from scratch. The only time you should manually close apps is when they are frozen or you won’t be using them for an extended period.

Myth 2: Charging Overnight Damages the Battery

The concern that overcharging degrades your phone battery stems from earlier battery technologies. Older lithium-ion batteries could overheat and lose capacity if left charging for too long. However, today’s smartphones come with built-in safeguards.

Modern devices switch to trickle charging when nearing 100%, slowly topping off the battery without stressing it. That’s why your phone may charge slower after reaching 80–90%. Overnight charging is generally safe for newer devices.

Myth 3: Third-Party Chargers Are Bad for Your Phone

Manufacturers often recommend using only official chargers, warning that third-party chargers could harm the battery. While there’s a kernel of truth here—especially if using low-quality accessories—many current smartphones support universal charging standards.

Phones like the iPhone 15, Google Pixel 9, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra support USB Power Delivery (PD) and PPS fast charging, making them compatible with many reputable third-party chargers. The key is to avoid cheap, uncertified products and stick to trusted brands.

Myth 4: Leaving Wi-Fi and Bluetooth On Drains Battery

It was once common advice to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to conserve battery. While this was valid in the early days of smartphones, it no longer holds true. Thanks to hardware and software improvements, keeping these connections enabled uses minimal power.

Turning them off might save a few minutes of screen time, but the difference is negligible. If you regularly charge your phone or have access to a charger during the day, there’s no harm in leaving them on.

Myth 5: You Should Let Your Battery Reach 0% Before Charging

Letting your battery fully drain before recharging is not only unnecessary but potentially harmful in the long run. This myth is a leftover from the nickel-cadmium battery era, where full discharges were needed to reset battery memory. Today’s lithium-ion batteries function differently.

Experts suggest keeping your phone’s charge between 20% and 80% to optimize battery health over time. Though modern phones can withstand regular charging patterns, keeping the battery from hitting 0% too often can still help extend its life span.