**Does Fast Charging Damage Your Phone Battery? Insights from a Two-Year Study**
In the constantly changing realm of smartphones, maintaining battery health is a vital issue for users. The discussion regarding whether fast charging negatively influences battery lifespan has been ongoing. To investigate this, the YouTube channel HTX Studio initiated a thorough two-year study involving 40 smartphones to reveal the facts.
**The Experimental Design**
HTX Studio’s study was carefully crafted to mimic actual usage scenarios. The research focused on both iPhone 12 and iQOO 7 models, categorized into fast and slow charging groups. The fast-charging group utilized 20W for iPhones and 120W for iQOO devices, whereas the slow-charging group employed standard chargers. The study included uninterrupted charge and discharge cycles, with devices being drained from 100% to 5% and then automatically recharged. Additional tests involved charging between 30% and 80%.
**Primary Results**
Following 167 days and 500 charge cycles, which equate to roughly 1.5 years of average smartphone usage, the findings were notable:
– **iPhone 12 Slow Charging**: Experienced an 11.8% battery capacity reduction
– **iPhone 12 Fast Charging**: Experienced a 12.3% battery capacity reduction
– **iQOO Slow Charging**: Experienced an 8.8% battery capacity reduction
– **iQOO Fast Charging**: Experienced an 8.5% battery capacity reduction
The results imply that fast charging does not substantially affect battery health in comparison to slow charging. In fact, charging between 30% and 80% revealed even less effect on battery health.
**Battery Performance and Replacement Considerations**
HTX Studio also examined battery deterioration when devices were idle at various charge levels. Keeping iPhone 12 units at 1%, 50%, and 100% for a week displayed no significant change in battery capacity, indicating that brief storage at full charge poses no risk to the battery.
Nevertheless, after numerous cycles, battery health inevitably declines. Performance remains stable until the battery health drops to about 85%. When below this level, throttling becomes more apparent, and battery life further diminishes once health falls below 79%. These observations suggest that replacing the battery at this juncture can restore performance and battery life.
**Final Thoughts**
HTX Studio’s extensive study provides significant insights into smartphone battery health. Contrary to common belief, fast charging does not severely diminish battery lifespan compared to slow charging. Users can use fast chargers with confidence, without fearing substantial effects on battery health. However, tracking battery health and contemplating replacement when it declines notably can help maintain optimal performance and extend your device’s longevity.
