Chargie - smart phone charging

[Ambleton]

With superfast phone chargers and the like nowadays, as well as more demanding phone usage for batteries, has anyone used a Chargie or similar?

Link here.
https://chargie.org/

Essentially it's an in-line limiter that's app controlled to control charging.

I guess most people plug their phones in overnight to charge. My fast charger brims my phone in maybe 1hr from empty and then sits bouncing off the battery limiter at 100% for probably 6-7hrs.

The point of chargie I think is like a battery conditioner and make sure you're not overloading the cells and fast charging, keeping capacity and charge rates sensible.

So. Does it work to maintain battery life? Anyone got one?

[Radec]

Not used that, but on Google pixels they have adaptive charging which can slow down or stop charging once it gets to a certain percentage to preserve the battery and optimise it's health built in.

[Funk]

Radec said:

Not used that, but on Google pixels they have adaptive charging which can slow down or stop charging once it gets to a certain percentage to preserve the battery and optimise it's health built in.

Yep - also learns your typical charging patterns, eg. if you regularly put it on to charge at 23:00 every night and take it off-charge at 06:00 it'll trickle-charge for 7 hours to reach 100% by 06:00 rather than full power to reach 100% by 23:40. Pretty neat.

[mattyprice4004]

Pretty good idea, and in theory will do wonders for long-term battery health.
Charging at higher currents is only good for convenience; I purposely use a 5w (very old) iPhone charger for my overnight dock and so far my 3 year old work iPhone 11 still has 96% battery health.

[Funk]

The reality is that battery tech has gotten so good these days anyway that nearly all phone makers will certify their batteries to the industry standrad which is that the battery will retain up to 80% charging capacity after 800 cycles (roughly 2-3 years). The tech is nowhere near as fickle or fragile as it used to be.

Good video on whether charging speeds can damage batteries and battery life in general from MKBHD here, the part about longevity is at 8 mins in:

Edited by Funk on Wednesday 31st August 12:49

[somouk]

iPhones have adaptive charging anyway to help save the battery life when they are plugged in overnight.

I can see the need for something like that but the big providers should be doing this anyway.

[GranpaB]

somouk said:

iPhones have adaptive charging anyway to help save the battery life when they are plugged in overnight.

I can see the need for something like that but the big providers should be doing this anyway.

Which isn't that good as my near two year old 12 battery health is down to 86% already, and it only ever really gets properly charged overnight with occasional car charging.

[Ambleton]

Interesting insights. Thanks all.

I might get one anyway as theyre relatively inexpensive.

I like to keep my phones for 3+yrs.

My current one I've had since June'19. With my SIMO contract ending in 10days I've just ordered a new phone contract (pixel6)

Edited by Ambleton on Wednesday 31st August 16:10

[Funk]

Fair enough but I think it's probably a waste of £30 if you're getting a Pixel 6 which has the battery management stuff baked in (I have the 6 Pro).

I use AccuBattery (mainly because I paid for it years ago) and I like the geek aspect of it. My 6 Pro has had 138 charging sessions since 27th April and is still at 100% battery health.

Edited by Funk on Wednesday 31st August 16:17

[jimmyjimjim]

Oneplus also has adaptive charging baked in. You're a bit screwed if you get a call and have to be up a couple of hours early, though. Admittedly you're only likely to be a few % off 100% charge.

[James6112]

After nearly 3 years, my iphone 11pro is at 80% battery health.
Would the £30 gadget have saved much? Compared to £69 for a new battery fitted by Apple..
Which should extend its life by a few years.

[Dolf Stoppard]

Worrying about battery health is a slippery slope. It’s like car detailing. Be very careful or you’ll be monitoring chargers, posting graphs on line and mocking those who plug their phone in at night and charge it up to 100%.