We’ve all been there: you’re halfway through a busy day in Lagos, perhaps stuck in traffic or navigating a project, and that dreaded “10% Battery” warning pops up. While modern phones are more powerful than ever, they still rely on lithium-ion batteries that require proper care to stay healthy.
At Ernest Gadgets, we don’t just want to sell you the best tech—we want to make sure your devices serve you for years. Here are 5 simple, expert-backed habits to keep your battery running stronger for longer.
1. Stay in the “Sweet Spot” (20% – 80%)
Most people think they should charge their phone to 100% and wait for it to hit 0% before plugging it back in. This is a myth! * The Habit: Try to keep your battery level between 20% and 80%.
- The Science: Charging to the extreme ends (0% or 100%) puts more stress on the battery cells. Frequent “top-ups” during the day are actually better for the battery’s lifespan than one long overnight charge.
2. Battle the Heat
Heat is the #1 enemy of battery health, especially in our Nigerian climate. If your phone feels hot to the touch, your battery is degrading faster.
- The Habit: Keep your phone out of direct sunlight and avoid leaving it in a parked car.
- Ernest Tip: If you notice your phone getting hot while charging, remove the protective case to allow heat to escape more easily.
3. Tame Your Screen
The display is the biggest power consumer on any smartphone. Small changes here make a massive difference.
- The Habit: Use Adaptive Brightness (which adjusts to your surroundings) and set your Screen Timeout to 30 seconds or 1 minute.
- Pro Tip: If you have a phone with an OLED/AMOLED screen (standard on most modern iPhones and Samsung Galaxys), switch to Dark Mode. Since OLED screens turn off pixels to show black, you’ll save a significant amount of energy.
4. Stop Using Your Phone While Charging
We call this “parasitic charging.” When you play games or stream videos while the phone is plugged in, it creates a cycle where the battery is being drained and charged at the same time.
- The Habit: Put the phone down while it’s plugged in.
- Why it matters: This habit causes the device to overheat, which can eventually lead to a “swollen battery”—a common issue we see in repair shops.
5. Clean Up Your “Background Activity”
Many apps continue to work even when you aren’t using them, “phoning home” to check for updates or tracking your location.
- The Habit: Periodically go into your settings and disable “Background App Refresh” for apps that don’t need to be up-to-the-second (like shopping or travel apps).
- The Benefit: This not only saves battery but also reduces your mobile data consumption!
Is your battery already failing?
If your phone dies at 20% or won’t hold a charge for more than a few hours, it might be time for a replacement. Don’t wait until your battery swells and damages your screen!
Visit us at Ernest Gadgets for a free battery health diagnostic. We stock 100% original replacement batteries and high-quality power banks to keep you powered up.
📍 Locations:
- Ikeja: Glory Plaza, 15 Olayeni Street, Computer Village.
- Agege: Shajim Plaza, 1 Shitta Street, Off Dopemu Road, Cement.
Call/WhatsApp: +234 (813) 154 – 0754 | +234 (906) 816 – 3128
