Charging your phone in a case could be hurting its battery life

Charging a phone in a case is a topic that often sparks controversy. Many smartphone users are unaware that this habit can impact battery life. While a case protects the device from damage, it can also lead to excessive heating during charging. High temperatures are one of the main factors that can accelerate battery degradation. Therefore, it's worth taking a closer look at this issue and considering whether charging a phone in a case is indeed safe.

Several factors influence this phenomenon, the most important being that modern chargers charge phones much faster than those from a decade ago. As a result, large amounts of heat are generated during this process. Batteries heat up more intensely, which is not beneficial since they perform best at temperatures between 64°F (18°C) and 77°F (25°C).

When the temperature exceeds 95°F (35°C), there is a risk of permanent battery damage, which reduces its capacity and lifespan (it’s worth noting that similar effects can occur when the phone is exposed to temperatures below 32°F (0°C)). If the heated battery is also in a case, the heat cannot dissipate easily, leading to even more heating of the device.

It is difficult to determine how charging a phone in a case affects the battery. Different models behave differently during charging, and environmental conditions and the material and thickness of the case are also significant.

Given all these variables, precisely measuring this effect is challenging. However, it can be certain that regularly charging a phone in a case can significantly shorten its battery life. Many device models heat up easily during charging, and removing the case can significantly improve the situation.