I’m not 100% sold on adaptive charging making a noticeable difference, but I definitely think heat degrades batteries. Avoiding heat seems like the more convincing thing to do which granted isnt easy if your phone is regualrly on your car dash/windscreen, in your pocket all day etc.
Unfortunately modern phones batteries do degrade and it's not an easy job to swap them compared to when we were allowed to take the backs off our phones...
Unfortunately modern phones batteries do degrade and it's not an easy job to swap them compared to when we were allowed to take the backs off our phones...
Avoiding heat and reducing time spent fully charged address different stresses, so I wouldn’t treat them as alternatives.
Batteries also have a limited cycle life, but a cycle isn’t counted every time you connect the charger. Using 50% of the battery, recharging, and later using another 50% adds up to roughly one full cycle. Frequent small top-ups don’t automatically wear it out faster.
Optimized overnight charging delays the final part of charging until closer to when you need the phone. An 80% limit reduces time spent at a high charge level.
If 80% comfortably lasts your day, the limit makes sense. If you need the full capacity, optimized charging is a practical compromise.
Batteries also have a limited cycle life, but a cycle isn’t counted every time you connect the charger. Using 50% of the battery, recharging, and later using another 50% adds up to roughly one full cycle. Frequent small top-ups don’t automatically wear it out faster.
Optimized overnight charging delays the final part of charging until closer to when you need the phone. An 80% limit reduces time spent at a high charge level.
If 80% comfortably lasts your day, the limit makes sense. If you need the full capacity, optimized charging is a practical compromise.
They’re complementary rather than competing. Adaptive charging mainly helps if the phone sits plugged in overnight; if you already unplug soon after it hits 100%, it has little to delay. The 80% cap is the more direct lever, but only if it still covers your day—otherwise it just adds inconvenience without much benefit.
