Yes, enabling power saving mode while charging can be highly beneficial, primarily by allowing your device to charge faster and potentially cooler.
The Benefits of Power Saving Mode During Charging
Activating power saving mode, often known as Low Power Mode on iOS or Battery Saver on Android, optimizes your device's resources. When combined with charging, these optimizations lead to several advantages:
Faster Charging Speed
One of the most significant benefits is the acceleration of the charging process. When power saving mode is active, your device automatically reduces or disables background activities, visual effects, and other power-consuming features. This strategic redirection of energy means that more power from the charger is channeled directly into recharging the battery, rather than being used by active apps or system processes. As a result, your phone's battery is likely to charge quicker in Low Power Mode compared to regular usage.
Reduced Heat Generation
Less background activity and a throttled CPU mean lower overall power consumption. This reduction in energy use translates directly to less heat generated by the device components. Charging can naturally warm up a device, and excessive heat is known to degrade battery health over time. By keeping the device cooler during charging, power saving mode indirectly contributes to the long-term health and longevity of your battery.
Optimized Battery Health (Indirectly)
While power saving mode doesn't directly improve battery chemistry, its effects—faster charging and reduced heat—are positive for battery health. Minimizing the time your battery spends at high temperatures and reducing the overall charging cycle time can contribute to a longer effective lifespan for your device's battery.
How Power Saving Mode Works While Charging
When you enable power saving mode, your device makes several adjustments to conserve energy:
- Background App Refresh: Apps stop refreshing content in the background.
- Automatic Downloads: App and system updates are paused.
- Visual Effects: Animations and some visual effects are reduced.
- CPU/GPU Throttling: The processor's speed may be slightly reduced.
- Email Fetch: Mail fetching might switch to manual or less frequent intervals.
- Screen Brightness/Timeout: Often, these settings are automatically adjusted to save power.
These actions, though aimed at extending battery life when not charging, become advantageous when plugged in by dedicating more power to the charging circuit.
Here's a comparison of charging with and without power saving mode:
| Feature/Effect | Regular Charging | Power Saving Mode Charging |
|---|---|---|
| Charging Speed | Normal, background tasks consume some power | Faster, more power directed to battery |
| Device Temperature | Can warm up with active background tasks | Cooler, reduced power consumption |
| Background Activities | Fully active (app refresh, updates) | Restricted/paused |
| CPU/GPU Usage | Full performance capabilities | Moderated/throttled |
| Battery Health Impact | Standard | Potentially better due to lower heat |
| User Experience Impact | Full functionality, potentially slower charge time | Some features restricted, faster charge time |
Practical Tips for Optimal Charging
To maximize the benefits of power saving mode while charging and ensure overall battery longevity:
- Use Original Chargers: Always use the charger and cable that came with your device, or certified alternatives, for optimal charging speed and safety.
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Charge your device in a cool, well-ventilated area. High temperatures are detrimental to battery health.
- Remove Cases (If Overheating): If your device tends to get very warm while charging, consider removing its case to allow for better heat dissipation.
- Charge Within Optimal Range: Aim to keep your battery level between 20% and 80% to prolong its lifespan.
- Consider Airplane Mode: For the absolute fastest charging, enable airplane mode in addition to power saving mode. This turns off all wireless radios (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) further reducing power consumption.
- When Not to Use It: If you absolutely need full device functionality (e.g., intensive gaming, video editing, or navigation) while charging, then power saving mode might hinder performance, though it's still generally beneficial for the battery.
Device-Specific Considerations
- iOS (Apple): Activating Low Power Mode via Control Center or Settings > Battery will initiate these optimizations. Learn more about Low Power Mode on Apple devices.
- Android (Google, Samsung, etc.): The feature is typically called Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode and can be found in Quick Settings or Settings > Battery. For more details on Android's Battery Saver, refer to your device's support pages.
Common Myths Debunked
One common misconception is that power saving mode might harm your battery or charging process. This is false. Far from being detrimental, the modes are designed to manage power efficiently and can, in fact, contribute positively to battery health by promoting faster charging and reducing heat.
In summary, enabling power saving mode while charging is a smart practice that offers tangible benefits without any drawbacks to your device's health.
