The charging debate

[Dan Oliver1]

I've had my P4 XL for eight months and after reading articles about keeping the phone charged between 20 to 80% I wondered what other owners do? Tbh I've just sacked that approach as you just end up looking at the charge on an already weak set up. Just curious

 

[Rukbat]

20% id far too low to allow the battery to get. The normal range is 50% to 99% (not 100% unless you're watching it and you can unplug the charger about 10 minutes after it hits 100% - just in case the automatic cutoff circuit fails).

Read Battery University - How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries. Cadex has probably had more experience with all battery types than any other company. (I was in the business for a few years - we always relied on what they said - and they were always right.)

 

[mustang7757]

Hi, welcome to AC!

[Moved this from pixel xl forums to pixel 4]

 

[Dan Oliver1]

Thanks....my bad.

 

[hub1]

I have never been concerned about battery life on any phone I've ever had. I put my 4xl on my pixel stand every night when I go to bed and take it off when I get up in the morning and use it all day and don't worry about it. Just my 2 cents....

 

[fwn]

My experience also. I just try to keep the battery cool and then not fret. This phone's battery definitely lasts the day.

 

[JSOL1]

I use Accubattery. it notifies you when your charge hits 80% and keeps track of battery health. works great!

 

[lacough]

I have never been concerned about battery life on any phone I've ever had. I put my 4xl on my pixel stand every night when I go to bed and take it off when I get up in the morning and use it all day and don't worry about it. Just my 2 cents....

I do the same but an ANKER charging stand. Never a concern and I have had since launch

 

[Theot]

Yeah I don't worry about it. I have the adaptive charging turned on and it slow charges on my stand until my alarm goes off and I don't worry about it.

 

[anon(40376)]

Charge mine every night same as all phones I have ever had. Plug it in and place it on the table. If the battery ever goes, I'll just replace it. Not that hard.

 

[Mooncatt]

If the battery ever goes, I'll just replace it. Not that hard.

That's no longer the case for most phones. It's no as simple as popping the cover off and swapping a $10 battery. It's now a case of taking it to a repair shop and spending $150 because it requires them to physically disassemble part of the phone with special tools so they don't crack the fragile glass bodies. That's why these debates are so common now, there's a lot more at stake, especially if you keep the phone long term.

 

[anon(40376)]

That's no longer the case for most phones. It's no as simple as popping the cover off and swapping a $10 battery. It's now a case of taking it to a repair shop and spending $150 because it requires them to physically disassemble part of the phone with special tools so they don't crack the fragile glass bodies. That's why these debates are so common now, there's a lot more at stake, especially if you keep the phone long term.

Since my retirement, I have replaced many batteries in many smart phones for friends and disassembled quite a few laptops to replace keyboards, memory, etc.

The pixel 4xl battery replacement is quite simple with some torx screwdriver bits and plastic tools to pull off the back cover (torx screws hold in a lot of brackets). The battery itself is about 30 bucks; not a bad price.

Also, out of curiosity, talking with someone in a local store about replacement, I was told about 70-80 bucks, including the battery...not a bad price.

Is it for everyone? Probably not; however, for many it is a simple few hours and all is well again. Those special tools are very inexpensive.

However if an old retired ex Federal gunslinger can do it at 73; most anyone can. Besides, it is almost as fun as disassembling and cleaning handguns and a lot cleaner.

 

[Mooncatt]

Since my retirement, I have replaced many batteries in many smart phones for friends and disassembled quite a few laptops to replace keyboards, memory, etc.

The pixel 4xl battery replacement is quite simple with some torx screwdriver bits and plastic tools to pull off the back cover (torx screws hold in a lot of brackets). The battery itself is about 30 bucks; not a bad price.

Also, out of curiosity, talking with someone in a local store about replacement, I was told about 70-80 bucks, including the battery...not a bad price.

Is it for everyone? Probably not; however, for many it is a simple few hours and all is well again. Those special tools are very inexpensive.

However if an old retired ex Federal gunslinger can do it at 73; most anyone can. Besides, it is almost as fun as disassembling and cleaning handguns and a lot cleaner.

The $150 estimate was based on what I've seen others post here (I've personally stuck with replaceable batteries until my current phone). Just because you are able to do it doesn't mean everyone can, and even an $80 charge is a hard pill to swallow for many. Both from a budgeting standpoint, and in comparison to prices for traditional batteries.

It also sounds like your phones are mechanically joined. Many are now glued together, which requires different procedures and delicacy to separate.

 

[cbreze]

Still rocking a pixel 2 and always charge all night long and still lasts all day, tho, barely sometimes. By the time the battery finally gives out to the point of being annoying I think it’s time for a new phone anyway. Hoping to make it to the pixel 6 and further hoping it trips more triggers than the pixel 5 did which I decided to pass on.

 

[Greedog]

I also use Accubattery and have always had phones with replaceable batteries until this one.
I keep a good eye on it. I only charge to 70% and usually put it on charge for awhile when I'm watching tv at night. Maybe 20 minutes. Probably would make it until I shut it off around 12pm without the small boost but it seems to have less of an effect on the battery when I charge at small increments (according to Accubattery). I've had the phone since November and have only used 2% of the battery according to Accubattery.
Since I'm new at not being able to swap out the battery I suppose I'm being a bit anal but we'll see if my due diligence pays off in the long run.
I try to keep my phones as long as I can or until they get boring and I just want a newer one.
I still have a LG G5 and two V20's that still work great.
My two cents...

 

[Morty2264]

Welcome to Android Central! This is a very interesting and complex discussion topic! I try not to let my phones get too low in battery or stay charged at 100% for too long. But I also try not to let charging my phone stress me out too much!