There are more myths around batteries than around almost anything in tech. Charge overnight, drain to zero, an eight-hour first charge? Most of this advice comes from the era of old batteries and no longer holds today. We will go through the most common myths, say what is true and advise what really harms the battery.

Myth 1: Charging overnight destroys the battery

Mostly a myth. A modern smartphone and laptop stop charging once they reach 100 percent and do not overcharge. Overnight charging destroys nothing. The only mildly unfavourable thing is staying at a full charge in the heat for a long time. That is why most devices offer optimised (adaptive) charging, which tops up to 100 percent only just before you wake. If you have it, enable it.

Myth 2: You have to drain the battery to zero regularly

A myth. Today’s lithium batteries are actually worn by deep discharge. They are happiest roughly between 20 and 80 percent and topping up suits them. Draining fully to zero made sense with old battery types, not today’s.

Myth 3: The first charge must take 8 hours

A myth. This rule applied to older batteries (Ni-Cd and Ni-MH) that suffered from the so-called memory effect. Lithium batteries need no special “formatting”, you can start using a new device right away.

Myth 4: A non-original charger always harms

A partial myth. A quality certified charger or cable from a trusted brand will not harm the battery and can serve for years. The risk comes only from very cheap unbranded chargers without protections, which can deliver unstable voltage and overheat the device. On choosing a good one, see how to choose a phone charger and GaN chargers.

What really harms the battery

  • Heat. The biggest enemy. Charging and using it in hot weather, a car in the sun or demanding games while charging age it the fastest.
  • Staying at 100 or at 0 percent for a long time.
  • Very cheap chargers without protections.
  • Extreme cold, which temporarily reduces capacity.

How to care for the battery

  • Keep the charge roughly between 20 and 80 percent if the mode allows.
  • Do not expose the device to heat or frost.
  • Use a quality certified charger.
  • Enable optimised charging if your device offers it.

For more tips on longevity, see laptop battery life.

Conclusion

The battery is a consumable and will lose capacity over time anyway, but most myths shorten its life rather than extend it. Charging overnight is fine, you do not need to drain to zero, and the eight-hour first charge is long outdated. The real enemy is heat and charge extremes. Keep the battery cool and it will last you significantly longer.

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