Battery Innovation to Fuel a More Mobile World

In today's technology dependent world, smartphones play a critical role. How much do you really know about these devices? Sure, the devices haven’t changed a whole lot in the past decade, but what has changed? Today, we take a look at how smartphone batteries have evolved, and what we will see in the future. 

Cell Phone Batteries

When someone mentions “cell phone,” it’s almost easy to forget that there was a time before smartphones. These cellular devices have been around for the past 35 years or so, so what was powering them then? In the 1980s and early 1990s, cell phones were powered by nickel-cadmium (NiCD) batteries. These bulky, heavy batteries really didn’t last long. They also degraded quickly, especially if you didn’t first drain the battery of its charge before recharging. Looking back, we tend to question what we were doing at the time. However, all of this technology was revolutionary. 

The next biggest change in cell phone technology came to us in the late 1990s, as the cell phone market began to expand. As demand increased, the need for a new battery technology followed. Manufacturers began creating nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. This material was much lighter, took less time to recharge, and while it still suffered from degradation, it wasn’t nearly quick. 

Smartphone Batteries

The devices that the majority of us know and love -- smartphones. What’s powering them? Well, at first it was the same NiMH batteries we mentioned before. They typically were a removable component which could be quickly replaced once the battery finally degraded. However, now these devices typically have an enclosed case where the battery isn’t able to be swapped without a technician opening them up. Why is that? The answer is lithium-ion batteries. Unlike NiMH batteries, these batteries degrade on an almost immeasurable scale. They last much longer, are lighter, and are even faster to charge. With all these pros, lithium-ion batteries come with a price -- literally. This price jump can be seen in devices used nowadays.

Future Batteries

Recently, innovations have created a new type of battery -- lithium-poly ion (Li-Poly). While these Li-Poly batteries are not only safer, but are capable of a higher energy density, costs are much too high for manufacturers to commit to Li-Poly in anything but flagship devices. 

With so much changing, and so quickly, there tends to be misinformation within the community regarding cellular device batteries. Microtechs would like to provide accurate information in order to benefit not only your everyday practices -- but your device as well. Here are common battery practices, as well as a few myths, and the truth behind them:

• Myth: You should let your batteries drain to zero before recharging. This was true a decade or two ago, but modern smartphone and laptop batteries don’t need this.
• Myth: Overcharging your batteries will ruin them. Again, this is only the case for much older devices. Today, modern smartphones and laptops have a failsafe to prevent overcharging. There is one caveat, on some smartphones, the act of charging produces excess heat. When charging for a long time, this heat can build up. You’ll always want to give your device room to breathe when charging, and avoid charging a device while it’s tucked into bed with you.
• Best Practice: Never Throw Away Batteries. Like most modern technology, batteries contain a lot of dangerous elements that shouldn’t go into landfills. It’s best to recycle them. Depending on the type of devices you are recycling, we can help you. Reach out to us at (415) 246-0101 to have that discussion.
• Best Practice: Check Your Power Saving Settings. If your battery on your laptop or smartphone seems to drain too fast for you, your device should have some options to get more out of your battery. For example, reducing the screen brightness, changing how long your screen is on, etc. Some applications will chew up battery faster than others too.

Mobile devices would not be mobile at all if it weren’t for the development of batteries. We would still be tethered via a power cord. If you would like to capitalize on the ability to be mobile and improve your business’ productivity, call us today. Our experts would be glad to help you procure the resources necessary to make secure mobility possible. Reach out to us at (415) 246-0101.